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Pasta with Meatballs

I always keep jars of organic marinara sauce in my pantry for convenient Glorious One-Pot Meal options, including this easy version of pasta with meatballs. Use whatever type of ground meat you prefer: beef, pork, turkey, chicken, or even soy or other meat substitutes. Make a quantity of meatballs in advance and freeze them individually on cookie sheets. Then drop the frozen balls into a plastic storage container and keep in the freezer for spur-of-the-moment Glorious One-Pot Meals.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 2

Ingredients

Olive oil spray
2 cups rotini or fusilli
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 to 3/4 pound ground meat
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
One 12-ounce jar marinara sauce
2 carrots, sliced into coins
1/2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch slices
1/2 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and sliced

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 450°F.

    Step 2

    Spray the inside and lid of a cast-iron Dutch oven with olive oil.

    Step 3

    Scatter the pasta in the pot. Add 2/3 cup water and olive oil and stir to make an even layer.

    Step 4

    In a medium bowl, mix the ground meat with the egg, bread crumbs, salt, and parsley. Shape the mixture into balls, about 2 tablespoons each, and drop into the pot. Cover with half of the marinara sauce.

    Step 5

    Layer in the carrots, zucchini, and bell pepper; then lightly season with salt. Pour the rest of the marinara sauce over all.

    Step 6

    Cover and bake for about 45 minutes, or until 3 minutes after the aroma of a fully cooked meal escapes the oven. Serve immediately.

  2. nutrition information

    Step 7

    Calories: 724

    Step 8

    Protein: 45g

    Step 9

    Carbohydrates: 74g

    Step 10

    Fat: 28g

    Step 11

    Cholesterol: 206mg

    Step 12

    Sodium: 133mg

    Step 13

    Fiber: 8g

Glorious One-Pot Meals
TagsPastaMeatballFusilliItalian AmericanItalianEuropeanGround BeefBeefMeatParsleyHerbs & SpicesCarrotRoot VegetableVegetableZucchiniSquashBell PepperMainDinnerOne-Pot MealsWeeknight MealsEasyOven BakeDutch OvenCookbooks
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