Recipe Chicken Meatball Pasta Bake

CHICKEN MEATBALLS AND SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Stir together the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, water, and basil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes while preparing meatballs.
• Mix together the ground chicken, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, eggs, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Roll into 1 inch balls. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray. Brown the meatballs on all sides. Add meatballs to the simmering pasta sauce and cook until internal temperature of meatballs reaches a minimum of 160 degrees F (72 degrees C), about 30 minutes.
• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the spaghetti, and return to a boil. Cook until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain. Serve the meatballs and sauce over the cooked spaghetti.

CHEESY BAKED TURKEY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine the chicken, Parmesan, seasoning, egg and breadcrumbs in a large mixing bowl. I used panko breadcrumbs but feel free to use Italian breadcrumbs or fresh.
• With wet hands, form the meatballs and place on a parchment lined plate or chopping board.
• Heat a large skillet or pan (Use a slightly deeper pan to make sure the sauce doesn't boil over) over medium-high heat.
• Add a splash of oil then add the meatballs, cooking in batches until they are golden brown on all sides. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• In the same pan you cooked the meatballs, add chopped onion and cook for a few minutes until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and herbs and cook for a few seconds until fragrant.
• Pour in the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, herbs, sugar, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes then carefully add the meatballs to the sauce. Cook for another 10 minutes while the pasta cooks. If the sauce looks like it's reducing too much, add ½-1 cup water or stock.
• Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted, boiling water until al dente, approximately 10 minutes (depending on shape). Drain then add to the pan with the meatballs and sauce and toss well.
• Serve topped with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

BAKED PENNE WITH CHICKEN MEATBALLS AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, mix bread crumbs and milk; let stand 5 minutes. Add egg, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, the parsley, 2 finely chopped cloves garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper; stir to combine. Add chicken; gently combine. Shape into 32 (1 1/4-inch) meatballs.
• In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook meatballs in oil about 6 minutes, turning a few times to brown all sides. Add pasta sauce and spinach in batches; cook until sauce is hot and spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook and drain penne as directed on package. Carefully add to pasta sauce and meatball mixture in skillet.
• In medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, 1 finely chopped clove garlic, pepper flakes and remaining 1/4 teaspoons each salt and pepper.
• In baking dish, pour half of the pasta mixture. Place half of the ricotta mixture in dollops over pasta. Spread remaining pasta mixture in baking dish; top with dollops of remaining ricotta. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese over top. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until top is golden brown and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.