Mini Meatball Pasta
This mini meatball pasta recipe combines tender homemade meatballs with pasta in a rich, creamy tomato sauce for an easy one-pan meal.
Servings: 6
Calories: 633kcal
Ingredients
Mini Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- ¾ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup gluten free breadcrumbs
- 1 egg large
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
Pasta Sauce
- 12 oz gluten free shells
- 24 oz pasta sauce
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Fresh basil or parsley for topping
Instructions
Meatballs
- Combine the ground beef, meatball seasonings, egg, and breadcrumbs. Mix until well combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
- Roll the mixture into small meatballs.
- Brown the meatballs on all sides in oil over medium heat. Do not cook them through.
Pasta Sauce
- Add the chicken stock and pasta to the pan, cover, and boil for 2 minutes less than the package instructions for al dente.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the pasta sauce and pasta seasonings. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese. Stir until creamy. Then, simmer for 1 to 2 minutes until thickened.
- Top with fresh parsley or basil and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Overmixing meat causes the proteins to contract too much while cooking, squeezing out the juices and creating tough meatballs.
- Cook the meatballs in the skillet just until browned. They'll continue cooking along with the pasta.
- Stop cooking the pasta 2 minutes shy of what the box calls for for al dente. The pasta will continue cooking along with the rest of the dish.
- Gently stir the dish occasionally as it cooks to prevent the noodles from sticking together.
- Never allow cream-based sauce to come to a boil. It will curdle and ruin the dish.
Nutrition
Calories: 633kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 1609mg | Potassium: 777mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1364IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 184mg | Iron: 4mg
