Beef & Cherry Tomato Pasta Bake

This is a simple pasta bake that is easy to make. Mixing beef and tomato is a good start, but putting in cherry tomatoes changes the texture and adds a nice twist to the traditional tomato pasta sauce. Add bacon and, of course, add cheese to the top and you have a really great weeknight meal that will fill you up as well as provide a great satisfying meal.
Ingredients:

• 500 g Beef Mince
• 700 ml Passata, Bottle
• 2 tsps Olive Oil
• 1 Brown Onion, Diced
• 1 clove Garlic, crushed
• 3 rashers Bacon, use short cut
• 1 Long Red Chilli, Finely sliced
• 1/2 cup Fresh Basil
• 300g Rigatoni Pasta
• 250 g Cherry Tomatoes
• 120 g Shredded Cheese

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat and add onion, garlic, bacon and Chilli. Cook for 5 minutes or until the onion softens.
3. Add beef mince and cook for 5 minutes or until browned. Use wooden spoon to stir and breakup the mince.
4. Stir in passata and basil and bring to boil.
5. Reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Meanwhile cook pasta per packet directions in a large saucepan. Drain and return to saucepan.
7. Add mince mixture and cherry tomatoes to the saucepan with the pasta and mix through.
8. Transfer to a 3l baking dish and sprinkle top with shredded cheese.
9. Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until golden.

For pictures and more follow the link below:
Beef & Cherry Tomato Pasta Bake

bon appetit