One-Pan Meatball Pasta: A Delicious Family Meal

One-Pan Meatball Pasta: A Delicious Family Meal

Remember those childhood days when we all enjoyed a quick meal of canned spaghetti? Well, I’ve got a fantastic recipe for homemade meatball pasta that’s not only simple but also incredibly tasty—perfect for busy weeknights. This dish isn’t just for the kids; the whole family will love it!

Quick and Easy Recipe

To prepare this meatball pasta, you’ll need just a few basic ingredients and about 30 minutes of your time. The best part? Everything cooks in one pan, saving you precious time during those hectic evenings.

Essential Ingredients

• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 slice of white bread (about 30 grams), torn into pieces or ⅓ cup of breadcrumbs
• ¾ cup + 3 tablespoons of 2% milk
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced or grated
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 2 teaspoons of onion powder
• 8 ounces of 93% lean ground chicken or your favorite ground meat
• ½ tablespoon of olive oil
• 8 ounces of uncooked Anellini pasta
• 2 cups of chicken broth (I usually go for Swanson)
• 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
• 1 cup of crushed tomatoes

Instructions

Start by mixing all the ingredients for the meatballs together, except for the ground chicken. Let the bread soak in the milk for 5 to 10 minutes, then mix in the ground chicken. Shape the mixture into small meatballs.

Heat a large pan and add the meatballs, frying them for 2 minutes on each side until they’re golden brown. No need to cook them all the way through since they’ll finish cooking in the sauce later.

Next, add the pasta and garlic to the pan, sautéing for a few minutes to enhance the flavor. Then, pour in the chicken broth, milk, and crushed tomatoes over the pasta, sprinkling in the Italian seasoning, onion powder, and a bit of salt.

Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then add the meatballs back to the pan. Cover, reduce the heat to medium, and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Finally, uncover and cook for another 10 minutes until the pasta is tender and the sauce has thickened.

Tips and Ingredient Substitutions

If you prefer, you can swap out the chicken for ground beef or turkey. If Anellini pasta is hard to find, you can use other small pasta shapes like ditalini or alphabet pasta. Just remember to adjust the cooking time according to package instructions!

For a thicker sauce, you can add more chicken broth if you find the sauce too dry. If you’re vegetarian, feel free to omit the meatballs and use vegetable broth instead.

Storage and Reheating

To store leftovers, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 4 days. When reheating, simply add a splash of water or broth to loosen the pasta and warm it up on the stove or in the microwave.

Serving Suggestions

This dish pairs wonderfully with a green vegetable like broccoli or snap peas. Garlic bread or sourdough is also great for dipping into the sauce!

This homemade meatball pasta is a family-friendly meal you can whip up today. It’s easy, delicious, and guaranteed to please everyone!