I’m one of those people who makes their meatballs different every single time I make them. I don’t know why, I just do. This Orecchiette and Meatball Skillet Dinner was something that came to mind when I was thinking about this weekends Sunday Supper theme. Bring on the Meatballs! I am addicted to skillet meals and my original thought had ravioli’s in it but of course the grocery store I was in didn’t have any so I thought what kind of pasta would my kids like. I lead my two and a half year over to the pasta isle and let him choose. I’m glad he picked something different! I loved how the sauce and cheese really clung to my sons choice of pasta. The new sauce I’ve been making has been my go to sauce because it’s super simple and it’s great for quick and easy pizza’s and pasta’s throughout the week because let me admit something right now. Pizza and Pasta are on my menu weekly. I always save a batch for a few weeks and freeze a batch. What is my secret to this new pasta sauce you ask? Sugar. My Mom taught me to add a little sugar to my sauce because it cuts down on the acid level so it’s easier on the good ol belly.
My kids are picky just like any other kid out there so I tend to make my meatballs kind of on the bland side. “What’s that green thing?” As my five year old picks at a piece of parsley or basil. So I simply made these meatballs, well boring. Since I made the meatballs boring I had to vamp up the dish by adding my homemade quick and easy sauce, mozzarella cheese and yes fresh basil, another thing I’m obsessed with! You can use your own meatballs or even jarred sauce and throw this dish together for an easy weeknight meal or make a nice loaf of garlic bread and gather the family around the table for a nice Sunday Supper.
Check out some of my other Meatball dishes too. One of my top viewed recipes is my Alfredo Turkey Meatballs. Another favorite of mine is my Cheesy Stuffed Meatball Sliders.
- 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
- 28 oz can of whole tomatoes
- 14 oz can of diced tomatoes flavored with garlic and onion (or any combo)
- 3 tbsp of tomato paste
- 1-2 tbsp of sugar
- ⅔ cup of fresh basil, chopped
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
- 16 oz of orecchiette pasta
- 1 pd of lean ground beef
- ¼ cup of oatmeal flour (I ground up oatmeal in the food processor for a healthier option)
- 1 egg
- salt and pepper
- 2 tsp of italian seasoning
- ⅔ cup of mozzarella cheese, diced
- 2 tbsp of parmesan cheese
- To Make Sauce:
- Sautee onion and garlic in the olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Continue for 5 min.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, whole tomatoes and diced tomatoes and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper and bring it to a boil. Turn heat low and allow to simmer for 30 min. Blend with an immerse blender (or carefully transfer to a blender) until most of the tomatoes are blended. Add the tomato paste, sugar, half of the fresh basil and stir to combine. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside.
- To Make Meatballs:
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- In a medium bowl combine the ground beef, oatmeal flour, egg and half of the oregano. Form into meatballs, making roughly 16 meatballs. Place them in a skillet and bake for 20 min. Meanwhile cook the pasta according to boxed directions.
- When the meatballs are done pour the pasta into the skillet and pour 2 cups of the sauce and mix to combine. Reserve the rest of the sauce for another use.
- Scatter the mozzarella cheese throughout the skillet, cover and allow the cheese to melt, roughly 10-15 min. Sprinkle with remaining fresh basil and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and serve
Once you add the ingredients to your shopping list for this week scroll on down for some more meatball madness!
Meatball Appetizers:
- Bacon Wrapped Cheesy Meatballs with Maple Balsamic Sauce from The Crumby Cupcake
- Cheesy Stuffed Pepperoni Pizza Meatballs from The Weekend Gourmet
- Crab Cake Mini Meatballs with Tartar Sauce from The Texan New Yorker
- Garlicky Shrimp Meatballs from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Grilled Korean Meatballs from Palatable Pastime
- Saucy Thai Meatballs from Brunch-n-Bites
- Slow Cooker Turkey Appetizer Jelly Meatballs from Noshing With The Nolands
- Stuffed Meatballs from The Freshman Cook
- Tofu Nuggets from NinjaBaker
- Turkey Meatballs in Orange Sauce from Pine Needles In My Salad
- Turkey Meatballs with Spinach and Goat Cheese from Our Good Life
Meatball Soups:
- Russian Meatball Soup from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Main Dish Meatballs:
- All-Purpose Meatballs from Cosmopolitan Cornbread
- Baked Meatballs with Swiss Chard from And She Cooks
- Bourbon Baked Bean Meatballs from Sew You Think You Can Cook
- Cheesy Italian Meatball Sandwich from La Bella Vita Cucina
- Chicken Parmesan Meatball Casserole from Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
- Deep Dish Skillet Meatball Pizza from From Gate to Plate
- Fightin’ Irish Balls from Monica’s Table
- General Tso’s Chicken Meatballs from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Grandma’s Italian Meatball Subs from Family Around The Table
- Hamballs from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Kefta Mkaouara (Moroccan Meatballs Tagine) from Curious Cuisiniere
- Keftedakia (Greek-style Meatballs) from Tramplingrose
- Kofte-Style Lamb Meatballs in a Tomato-Pepper Sauce from Caroline’s Cooking
- Meatball Subs from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Moroccan Lamb Meatballs in Tomato Sauce from MyGourmetConnection
- Orecchiette and Meatball Skillet Dinner from Momma’s Meals
- Persian Lamb Meatballs from Food Lust People Love
- Portuguese Meatballs in Garlicky Wine Sauce from Family Foodie
- Roasted Vegetable Meatballs from Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
- Slow Cooker Meatball Ranch Stroganoff from Seduction in the Kitchen
- Slow Cooker Spanish Meatballs from The Chef Next Door
- Sriracha Sesame Turkey Meatballs from Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Sun Dried Tomato & Bulgarian Feta Chicken Meatballs over Lemon-Spinach Orzo From Simply Healthy Family
- Swedish Meatballs (Frikadeller) from Feeding Big
- Swedish Meatballs with Zucchini Ribbons from Angels Home Sweet Homestead
- Sweet & Sour Freezer to Slow-Cooker Meatballs from Wholistic Woman
- Tajine-el-Khoukh (Algerian Stuffed Peaches) from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Thai Meatball Lettuce Wraps from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Thai Spaghetti and Meatballs from Kitchen Gidget
- Thai Red Curry Meatballs with Coconut Curry Sauce from kimchi MOM
- Ultimate Pasta & Meatballs from MealDiva
Meatball Desserts:
- Brownie Meatballs with Frosting Spaghetti from Pies and Plots
Plus Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and More Amazing Meatball Recipes from Sunday Supper Movement
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Love that this is an easy skillet meal, perfect for the weeknights!
So cute you let your son pick the pasta. It’s fun to try something different. This looks like a great dinner.
Great pairing the meatballs with the cute little pasta!!
I love orecchiette, but I can never find it in my local store. This skillet looks great!
You are such a good momma, Tammi. One of my favorite things to do with my girls was grocery shopping. They loved to help pick out the fruit and vegetables and choose things like the ravioli fillings or pasta shapes. I found that letting them pick was the best way to get them to try new ingredients.
Your skillet meal looks absolutely fabulous. Love the melty cheese and those wonderful meatballs!
Oh my Stacy I battle the grocery shopping thing. I know it’s the right thing to let them be involved, you make a good point about how it probably helps try new things but man I love going alone! 🙂 my youngest is surly getting more fascinated with food and groceries so I’m going with it!
We’re with you. Every time we make meatballs they’re different, but always tasty!
I have picky kids too! I love the flexibility that meatballs offer for easy, yet hearty dinners. This is a great combo with the orecchiette pasta. 🙂
Smart woman. The best way to get kids to eat and try new dishes is to allow them to be involved in the process. Your dish looks wonderful.
Love the use of orecchiette over spaghetti. 🙂
This is true comfort food!