Brianas Fathers Day Pasta Skillet Recipes

BLT PASTA SKILLET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
• Meanwhile, lay the bacon in a large ovenproof skillet and cook over medium heat until brown and slightly crispy, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove the skillet from the heat, transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate and pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings. Break up the bacon into bite-size pieces.
• Return the skillet to medium heat, add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and juices, reserved pasta water, crushed red pepper, basil, escarole and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens and the escarole wilts, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Mix together the ricotta and Parmesan. Add the cooked pasta and mozzarella to the sauce and stir to thoroughly coat. Drop spoonfuls of the ricotta-Parmesan mixture on top. Sprinkle with the bacon pieces and bake until bubbly and the cheese melts, 15 to 20 minutes. Let rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with additional basil if using.

SKILLET SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Cook the spaghetti according to its package instructions, removing from the pasta water 1 minute prior to "al dente". Set aside.
• Meanwhile, combine the beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, cream, egg, half the garlic and 1 tablespoon oregano in a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Using your hands or a wooden spatula, mix together until well combined. Portion into 10 meatballs. Set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs, turning as needed, until browned on all sides, 5 to 6 minutes. Move the meatballs to the edge of the skillet.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion to the center of the skillet, along with the remaining garlic and oregano. Cook to release the flavor, a minute or two. Add the tomatoes and crushed red pepper, along with 1/2 cup hot water. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, then carefully stir the meatballs into the sauce. Simmer, allowing the sauce to reduce slightly and the meatballs to finish cooking, about 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
• Add the pasta to the skillet and toss with the sauce, making sure to thoroughly coat the noodles in the sauce. Arrange the meatballs on top of the pasta and sprinkle the mozzarella on top, being careful not to completely cover the meatballs and sauce (so it looks pretty after baking) and transfer to the oven. Bake until bubbly and the cheese is completely melted, about 12 minutes.
• Remove the skillet from the oven and top with Parmesan and the fresh basil. Serve straight from the skillet.

BREAKFAST PASTA FOR DINNER

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes. Pasta should still be firm. Drain.
• At the same time, place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels and crumble when cool enough to handle. Reserve bacon drippings in the skillet.
• Return crumbled bacon to the skillet with green onion and garlic; cook in the drippings over medium heat until onion starts to soften, about 5 minutes. Add drained spaghetti and mix well.
• Slowly add beaten eggs and scramble with the spaghetti mixture for 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and onion powder; continue to scramble until all ingredients are combined. Stir in diced tomatoes and serve.

SKILLET SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir sausage, breaking into smaller pieces, in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Mix noodles into sausage.
• Pour crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce over sausage-noodle mixture; bring to a boil. Cover skillet, reduce heat, and simmer until noodles are cooked and sauce is thickened, about 25 minutes. Add spinach, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese; cover skillet and remove from heat. Let lasagna stand for 5 minutes; top with Parmesan cheese.