Best Mini Meatball Penne Recipes

MINI MEATBALL PENNE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190C/170C Fan/Gas 5. Grease an ovenproof dish and a sheet of foil large enough to cover it. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than instructed. Drain.
• Cook the onion in the oil until soft. Add the garlic and mushrooms. Cook until the juice runs out of the mushrooms. Increase the heat and continue to cook until most of the juices have evaporated. Add the passata and 1 1/2tsp of the oregano. Simmer, covered for 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Mix the mince with a third of the breadcrumbs, the tomato ketchup, and the rest of the oregano. Shape into 12 mini meatballs. Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook until brown on all sides.
• Add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the pasta.
• Turn into the ovenproof dish. Cover with the foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and sprinkle on the rest of the breadcrumbs and the mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake for another 10 minutes.

MINI MEATBALL PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Add the ground beef, sausage, oats, Parmesan, parsley, dried oregano, milk, egg and some salt and pepper to a bowl and mix together well with your hands. Roll into approximately 48 meatballs (1 inch) and place on a baking sheet.
• To brown the meatballs, heat some olive oil in a heavy pot or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs in 3 batches and cook, turning, until brown, 4 to 5 minutes per batch. Remove and drain on paper towels after each batch. Set the meatballs aside.
• For the sauce: In a separate skillet or pot, heat some olive oil. Add the garlic and onion and cook until translucent, a few minutes. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, hot water, parsley, sugar and some salt and pepper. Next, add the meatballs and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes. Stir in the basil, then set aside to cool.
• For the layering: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions. Drain and set aside to cool.
• To assemble: Spoon some cooled sauce on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch dish. Layer on half of the pasta, half the sauce and meatballs and then half the mozzarella cubes. Repeat the layers once more and top the dish with the grated Parmesan.
• If serving immediately, baked in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F until the cheese is golden and bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool slightly and serve.
• If serving later, cover the assembled dish and refrigerate. When ready to serve, bake straight from the fridge in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F until the cheese is golden and bubbly, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool slightly and serve.