Busy day? You want something good and hearty for dinner, but it is getting late? Let me share how you can make a spaghetti and meatball dinner in under a half hour. You will be happily sitting down and eating this!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 lb lean ground beef
- 1 jar pasta sauce*
- olive oil
- 1/2 lb pasta
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs (Italian flavored)
- 1/4 cup grated cheese
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp minced onion
- 1/4 tsp each of salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, basil
- 1 egg
*Everyone has a favorite sauce they use when they don't have time to make their own. You can still fancy it up with some of your own spices.
Steps:
- When I package my ground beef, I put it in 1/2 pound packages in freezer baggies. Get all the air out, then flatten the meat as thin as I can get it, so it will defrost in just minutes. Then you do not have to use the microwave, which usually cooks the edges.
- Take the ground beef from my freezer and put it in the sink in warm water. Get out two pots; one for pasta and one for sauce.
- Fill the pasta pot with water. Add salt and olive oil. Turn on high.
- Pour the jar of pasta sauce in the other pan, and turn up to medium heat.
- When the ground beef is thawed, put in a bowl.
- Add bread crumbs, seasonings, egg and cheese. Mix well.
- Roll tiny meatballs as they will cook faster.
- I use lean meat because they have so much less fat and I can cook the meatballs right in the sauce.
- When the pasta is done, drain and add a dab of butter. Cover to keep it warm.
- When the meat balls are cooked, use a wide pasta bowl, and it is time to eat!
October 7, 20160 found this helpful
For a more authentic Italian flavor, put two tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan. Gently brown meatballs on both sides. Add sauce and simmer until pasta is cooked. The meatballs are a little crispy on the outside and moist on the inside and they don't taste boiled.
