Description
A comforting pasta dish featuring tender meatballs in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for frying)
- 12 oz pasta of your choice (fettuccine, spaghetti, or penne)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add 12 ounces of pasta and cook according to the package directions until al dente, usually 8 to 12 minutes.
- Drain and hold the noodles. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining, then set the pasta aside briefly.
- Mix the meatball base. Combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan, egg, 4 minced garlic cloves, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Mix with clean hands only until no dry breadcrumb pockets remain.
- Shape the meatballs. Portion the mixture into approximately 1-inch balls, using about 1 tablespoon for each.
- Brown and cook. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the meatballs in batches for 5 to 7 minutes, turning until golden on every side.
- Start the garlic butter. Transfer the meatballs to a clean plate and reduce the heat to medium. Melt 2 tablespoons butter, add the remaining 4 minced garlic cloves, and sauté for 30 seconds.
- Build the Parmesan sauce. Pour in 1 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup chicken broth, scraping up the browned bits. Bring to a gentle simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add the cheese. Lower the heat and whisk in 1 cup Parmesan until smooth. Loosen an overly thick sauce with reserved pasta water.
- Combine and serve. Toss the pasta through the sauce until glossy. Return the meatballs, warm everything for 2 minutes, and garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
Feel free to substitute ground turkey for leaner meat. Shape meatballs ahead of time for quick weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 760
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 24g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
Keywords: meatballs, creamy pasta, garlic butter