“Stuffed” Spaghetti & Meatballs
Dressing (aka stuffing) has long served as a faithful sidekick to turkey. Here, the side steals the show in traditional meatballs, lending moist texture and tons of flavor.
Photo: Darren Kemper
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Ingredients
- 1 cup prepared vegetable-rich dressing (TIP: Try our Classic Dressing Heavy on the Veggies at cleaneating.com.)
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1½ tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp each ground black pepper and red pepper flakes
- 12 oz whole-grain spaghetti (TRY: Jovial 100% Organic Einkorn Whole Wheat Spaghetti)
- 3 cups low-sodium marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a food processor, pulse dressing until finely ground. Transfer to a large bowl and add beef, egg, cheese, garlic, oregano, salt, black pepper and pepper flakes. Stir or mix with hands until combined. Shape into balls about 1½ tbsp each, about 30 meatballs total. Arrange ½ inch apart on prepared sheet. Bake just until no longer pink inside, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot, cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain.
- In a saucepan, heat marinara sauce on medium-low until warmed through. With a slotted spoon, transfer meatballs to sauce, stirring gently to coat. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Divide pasta among bowls and top with meatballs and sauce. Sprinkle with basil.
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size 1/2 cup pasta, 1/2 cup sauce, 5 meatballs
- Calories 414
- Carbohydrate Content 48 g
- Cholesterol Content 82 mg
- Fat Content 11 g
- Fiber Content 0 g
- Protein Content 28 g
- Saturated Fat Content 4 g
- Sodium Content 415 mg
- Sugar Content 7 g
- Monounsaturated Fat Content 0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat Content 2 g