Name: Beef Meatball and Baked Bean Pasta Bake Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: italian
Ingredients: 250g spiral pasta; 500g good quality beef sausages; 400g jar passata; 555g Baked Beanz can; 1 large brown onion, finely diced; 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 10g fresh thyme, stalks removed, roughly chopped; 220g cherry bocconcini, sliced thinly; 250g cherry tomatoes, sliced in half; 2 tbs olive oil

by taram332 Last updated on 10/14/2019

This delicious easy pasta dish is perfect to feed the whole family. Plus, save time by using premade sausages to make the meatballs! - taram332

Ingredients

250g spiral pasta
500g good quality beef sausages
400g jar passata
555g Heinz Baked Beanz can
1 large brown onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
10g fresh thyme, stalks removed, roughly chopped
220g cherry bocconcini, sliced thinly
250g cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
2 tbs olive oil

Method

Step 1

Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente.
Step 2

Meanwhile, remove skins from sausages, cut into 2cm pieces and roll with your hands to form meatballs.
Step 3

Heat a large, deep frypan on medium to high heat, add 1 tbs olive oil and cook the meatballs until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside. To the same pan add in 1 tbs of olive oil and then add the onion, garlic and 1 tsp of thyme leaves and cook until the onions begin to soften. Set aside.
Step 4

Once the pasta is al dente, drain and return to pot. Add in passata, beans, sausage meatballs and onion mixture. Season with salt and pepper and stir well. Transfer mixture to a baking dish and top with bocconcini, cherry tomatoes and thyme leaves. Bake for 20 - 30 minutes until the bocconcini has melted.
Step 5

Top with fresh basil leaves and serve with crusty bread on the side, if you like.

Recipe Notes

from Australia’s Best Recipes team

For this recipe I used a 21cm square baking dish. You can use any cheese you like instead of bocconcini like cheddar, mozzarella or even parmesan. And you can use any pasta shape you like to!