Pasta with Meatballs
This Pasta with Meatballs is a classic dish that's simple to prepare and combines flavorful meatballs. The pasta could be homemade or store-bought, and the sauce is savory and satisfying.
Equipment
- Skillet
- Spatula
- Bowls
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
Ingredients
SPICES FOR THE MEATBALLS
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
GROUND BEEF
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
- oil for frying
PASTA SAUCE
- 1 24 oz. jar of spaghetti sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley or dried parsley
- 1 cup shredded cheese of your choice, like cheddar, mozzarella, or Parmesan
Instructions
SPICES FOR THE MEATBALLS:
- In a small bowl, combine the spices: garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and red chili pepper flakes. Use a spoon to mix all the spices.
PREPARE THE MEATBALLS:
- In a large bowl, add the ground beef and the meatball spices.
- Crack one egg, add the breadcrumbs and whole milk.
- Use your hands or spatula to toss the meatball mixture and to ensure the ground meat is evenly coated with spices.
- Line a small sheet pan with parchment paper. Use an ice cream scoop to scoop the meatball mixture from the bowl. Then roll each one on your hands to form a ball.
- Place onto a prepared sheet pan.
- Heat a non-stick skillet with oil, over medium-high heat. Place the meatballs in the pan and sear on all sides until nicely browned about 3 minutes. Set them aside while preparing the sauce.
MAKE THE PASTA SAUCE
- In a pan, add the store-bought pasta sauce. Simmer for at least 10 minutes, then add the spices to the sauce: garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried fennel seeds, red chili pepper flakes, and salt to taste. Add the honey and stir to combine.
- Return the meatballs to the pan and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Garnish with parsley.
- You can use this sauce without the pasta or use a store-bought pasta of your choice. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions if using store-bought. Or get my recipe for making pasta.
- Finish by adding the cheese and garnish with more parsley
- If you like to make pasta from scratch - here's my pasta recipe