Description
Tender mini meatballs simmered in rich tomato sauce and tossed with small pasta shells, finished with parmesan and fresh parsley for a cozy, crowd-pleasing meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 12 ounces small pasta shells
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
- In a mixing bowl, gently combine ground beef with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Form into small bite-sized meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the mini meatballs and cook until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside. In the same skillet, sauté chopped onion until soft, then add minced garlic and cook briefly.
- Pour in tomato sauce along with remaining salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Return the meatballs to the skillet and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package instructions and drain well.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss gently to coat in the sauce. Stir in half of the grated parmesan cheese.
- Serve in bowls topped with remaining parmesan and fresh parsley.
Notes
- Do not overmix the beef to keep the meatballs tender.
- Salt the pasta water well for better flavor.
- If the sauce feels thick, add a small splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: mini meatball pasta bowls, pasta with meatballs, easy pasta dinner, family pasta recipe, stovetop pasta