Best Mini Meatball Pasta Bake Recipes

MINI MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl or mixer, thoroughly mix the beef, pork, breadcrumbs, milk, parsley, eggs, garlic, onion and some salt and pepper. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Shape into meatballs and place on a foil-lined shallow baking pan. Bake 30 minutes for medium or 25 minutes for bite-size. Stick toothpicks in the finished meatballs to serve as an appetizer.

CHEESY MEATBALL BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to broil on high. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil and coat lightly with oil.
• Put the breadcrumbs in a large mixing bowl and pour the milk over the top. Stir to combine and let stand 5 minutes. Add the beef, pork, Parmesan, oregano, garlic, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and mix to combine with your hands. Add the egg and mix well to incorporate. Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls, arranging them in the prepared baking dish.
• Broil the meatballs about 3 inches from the element until browned on top, about 4 minutes. Turn the meatballs over and continue to broil until golden brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes more.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic is golden, about 2 minutes. Add both cans of tomatoes and 1 cup of water. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer rapidly, uncovered, until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, cook the fusilli in the salted boiling water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain the pasta and transfer to a large bowl.
• Add the tomato sauce, meatballs and half of the mozzarella and Parmesan to the bowl and stir well to combine. Transfer the pasta to a 3- to 4-quart baking dish. Dollop the ricotta by spoonfuls onto the pasta. Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake, uncovered, until browned, about 15 minutes. Let the pasta stand about 10 minutes before serving.

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.

MINI MEATBALL PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Mix the mince with the breadcrumbs, half the oregano, 4 tablespoons of cold water, a good pinch of salt and lots of pepper. Form into 16 small balls.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a frying pan and fry the meatballs for 5 minutes, turning regularly.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan and fry the onion, mushrooms, peppers and courgette for 8-10 minutes, or until softened and beginning to brown, stirring regularly. Add the garlic and cook for a few seconds more, stirring constantly.
• Tip the tomatoes into the pan and stir in the tomato purée, stock, remaining oregano and the bay leaf. Add the meatballs and bring to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and lots of pepper.
• Meanwhile, half-fill a large saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Add the pasta to the water and return to the boil. Cook for 10-12 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally
• Preheat the grill to high. Drain the pasta and return to the pan. Add the tomato and meatball sauce and toss. Transfer to a warmed, 2-litre/3½-pint shallow ovenproof dish - a lasagne dish is ideal.
• Sprinkle the cheddar over the top and place under the hot grill for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese has melted, then serve.

MEATBALL PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes less than the package instructions, about 8 minutes. Drain pasta.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking dish.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook meatballs until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add marinara sauce and ricotta cheese; mix to combine. Add cooked pasta and mix to combine. Season with Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
• Cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish with a layer of sauce without meatballs. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese on top. Add another layer of sauce with meatballs on top and sprinkle with 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Add another layer of 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Add the rest of the sauce and meatball mixture on top, followed by remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake until cheese starts to turn golden brown, 10 to 20 minutes. Enjoy!

MINI MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix really well.
• Roll meat into 1" balls- at this point, you can either continue or freeze them for later use, providing your beef wasn't pre-frozen.
• Arrange the meatballs on a rack over a foil-lined pan (for easy clean-up).
• Bake in a 400ºF oven for about 10 minutes, or until meatballs are browned- you can also freeze them at this point, or use them in other dishes (or just eat them plain).

BAKED RIGATONI WITH MINI MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat oil in a straight-sided skillet over medium-high. Add meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned all over, 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 45 seconds. Add pureed tomatoes and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain pasta; return to pot and toss with sauce and cubed cheese.
• Transfer mixture to an 8-inch square baking dish; cover with parchment-lined foil. Bake until bubbling, 15 minutes. Uncover; top with sliced cheese. Adjust oven to broil; cook until cheese is melted and golden brown, about 2 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes and serve.