Meatball Spaghetti Gratin

- 500g / 1 pound spaghetti
- 60g / 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 30g / 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 450g / 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large egg
- 60g / 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 5g / 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2g / 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1g / 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 375ml / 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 vegetable broth cube
- 225g / 2 cups grated cheddar cheese (31% fat)
- 0.5g / 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 0.5g / 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1. Preheat the oven to 190°C or 375°F.
2. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente then set it aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl combine the ground beef egg breadcrumbs flour salt black pepper oregano and a pinch of paprika. Mix well with your hands until just combined do not overmix.
4. Use your hands to shape the mixture into meatballs about 3.8 cm or 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Melt 15g or 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once melted add the diced onion and cook until softened about 5 minutes. Add the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides about 5-7 minutes.
6. Add the vegetable broth cube to the skillet scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits. Stir in 240ml or 1 cup of milk and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let it cook for 5 minutes stirring occasionally until the sauce has thickened slightly.
7. In a separate saucepan melt the remaining 15g or 1 tablespoon of butter over low heat. Stir in 15g or 1 tablespoon of flour to make a roux cooking for 1 minute. Gradually add 115g or 1 cup of grated cheese stirring until smooth and creamy. Season with salt black pepper and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
8. In a large mixing bowl combine the cooked spaghetti meatballs and creamy cheese sauce. Mix well to combine.
9. Transfer the spaghetti mixture to a 23cm x 33cm or 9x13-inch baking dish and top with the remaining grated cheese.
10. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the gratin is hot and bubbly.
- mixing bowl
- baking sheet
- parchment paper
- large skillet
- wooden spoon
- saucepan
- whisk
- 9x13-inch baking dish
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