Pasta Essentials Pasta Meatball Cupcakes Recipes

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALL CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
• Prepare the cake mix according to package directions. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake until cupcakes are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack and cool completely.
• Scoop the vanilla frosting into a medium bowl; tint the frosting with the cocoa powder and yellow food coloring; using an electric mixer, beat to combine. Spread a thin layer of tinted frosting on top of the cupcakes. Arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter.
• Spoon the remaining tinted frosting into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Pipe (Noodles) frosting all over the cupcakes, piling it high and having some of the (Noodles) frosting hang over the edges of the cupcakes
• Unwrap the hazelnut chocolates. Pour strawberry preserves into a medium bowl; toss the chocolates with preserves to coat. Place a (Meatball) coated chocolate on top of each cupcake; spoon cupcakes with the remaining (Spaghetti Sauce) strawberry preserves.
• Sprinkle the cupcakes with (Parmesan Cheese) grated white chocolate and serve.

ONE-PAN PASTA AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In 10-inch skillet, heat water and pasta sauce to boiling. Stir in macaroni, meatballs and olives. Return to boiling.
• Reduce heat to medium. Cover; cook 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until macaroni is tender. Sprinkle with cheese.

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS MUFFIN BITES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 7 minutes. Drain and toss in a bowl with olive oil; refrigerate until cooled, about 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray 12 muffin cups with cooking spray.
• Toss cooled spaghetti with 1 cup Parmesan cheese. Divide spaghetti between the 12 prepared muffin cups, arranging noodles in each cup to create "nests" for the meatballs.
• Top each "nest" with 1 tablespoon pasta sauce, 1 meatball, and 1 more tablespoon pasta sauce, respectively. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese over the tops of each meatball "nest."
• Bake in the preheated oven until pasta and meatballs are heated through and cheese melts, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool slightly before transferring muffin bites to a serving platter.

PASTA WITH MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Prepare meatballs: In a large bowl, combine pork, beef, egg, Parmesan, garlic, oregano, bread crumbs, salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly but lightly, handling mixture as little as possible.
• Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of meat mixture into balls 1 inch in diameter, and place on plastic. Refrigerate while making sauce.
• Prepare sauce: Combine onion, garlic and oregano in a food processor, and puree until smooth. Combine butter and oil in a wide, deep pan, and place over low heat until butter melts. Add onion-garlic mixture. Simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes; do not brown. Add passata and 2 cups water to pan. Season with sugar, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Simmer for 10 minutes, then add milk and bring sauce back to a simmer. Gently drop in meatballs one by one so that they do not break (make sure the meatballs are submerged); do not stir pan. Cover pan partially with a lid, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Adjust seasonings to taste. Place hot pasta in a large serving bowl. Pour most of sauce (reserving meatballs) on pasta, and toss to combine. Top pasta with meatballs, and serve.

CHEESY MEATBALL PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Pour olive oil into a 9-inch square baking dish. Place Boursin cheese in the middle of the dish. Add cherry tomatoes around the cheese, then sprinkle garlic, salt, and pepper over top.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven; crush the tomatoes and mix with the melted cheese.
• Add frozen meatballs and return to the oven; bake until meatballs are heated through, about 15 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.
• Remove meatballs and tomato mixture from the oven. Add pasta and mix until well combined. Serve immediately.

ITALIAN MEATBALL PASTA

Steps:

• In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened.
• Add hot water, milk, tomatoes, and sauce mix (from box); stir to combine. Stir in uncooked pasta (from box) and frozen meatballs. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 9 to 11 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender. Remove from heat.
• Top with cheese; cover and let stand 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley.

MEATBALL PASTA BAKE (PASTA AL FORNO)

Steps:

• Mix the grated onion, 1 crushed garlic clove, mince, breadcrumbs, milk, parmesan and parsley in a large bowl. Season well with salt and pepper. Mash the mixture together with your hands until combined. Mould the mix into small balls (about walnut-sized) with damp hands. There will be about 20 meatballs.
• Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a deep frying pan and fry the meatballs for 6-8 mins until golden brown all over. Fry in batches if you need to - they don't need to be cooked through, just browned on the outside. Set aside on a plate.
• Heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in the pan and fry the chopped onion for 5 mins until softened. Add the remaining garlic, fry for another minute, then add the chopped tomatoes and simmer for 10 mins until thickened and the tomatoes have broken down. Season well with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta for 5 mins less than the pack instructions state, in boiling salted water. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Stir the meatballs into the tomato sauce, adding a splash of water if too thick, and bring to a simmer. Drain the pasta and tip into an ovenproof dish. Pour over the sauce and meatballs and mix well. Stir in most of the mozzarella, then scatter the remaining over the top. Bake for 15-20 mins until the cheese is golden and bubbling, and the top is slightly crisp.