Chipotle Meatball Pasta Bake

Ingredients:

Meatballs:

• 250g Cumberland sausages (deskinned)
• 250g lean steak mince
• 3 tbsp chipotle paste

Sauce:

• 2 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 large brown onion, chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp onion granules
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 500g chopped tomatoes + 150ml water

Pasta Bake:

• 300g rigatoni
• 1 tsp salt
• 100g red Leicester cheese, grated
• 100g cheddar cheese, grated
• 25g mozzarella balls
• 1 tsp parsley

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Instructions:

1. Make the Meatballs:
   In a large bowl, combine the deskinned Cumberland sausages, lean steak mince, and chipotle paste. Mix well until fully combined.
   Roll the mixture into meatballs, about 40g each.

2. Brown the Meatballs:
   Heat 2 tbsp of sunflower oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the meatballs and sear them until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes.
   Remove the meatballs from the skillet and set them aside.

3. Prepare the Sauce:
   In the same skillet, use the leftover oil to sauté the chopped onion and garlic. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
   Stir in the onion granules, smoked paprika, oregano, and salt, and cook for another minute.

4. Add Tomatoes and Simmer:
   Add the chopped tomatoes and water to the skillet, stirring to combine. Then, return the seared meatballs to the skillet and let the sauce simmer for 25 minutes, until slightly thickened.

5. Cook the Pasta:
   While the sauce is simmering, cook the rigatoni pasta according to package instructions in a large pot of salted boiling water. Drain and set aside.

6. Combine Pasta and Sauce:
   Once the sauce and meatballs are cooked, add the drained pasta to the skillet and mix well to coat the pasta with the sauce.

7. Assemble the Pasta Bake:
   Transfer the pasta and meatball mixture to a prepared ovenproof baking dish.
   Sprinkle the grated red Leicester and cheddar cheeses evenly over the top. Tear the mozzarella balls into small pieces and scatter them over the cheese.

8. Bake:
   Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake the pasta for 15-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

9. Serve:
   Remove from the oven and sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

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Enjoy your delicious, cheesy, and spicy pasta bake with meatballs!