Description
Creamy Spinach Meatball Pasta is a hearty one-skillet dish featuring tender meatballs, fresh spinach, and a velvety cream sauce tossed with pasta. Perfect for a comforting and nutritious family meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground beef or turkey
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan (for sauce)
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
Instructions
- Combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet and brown the meatballs on all sides. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté chopped onion and garlic until soft.
- Add spinach and cook until wilted.
- Pour in cream and broth, bring to a gentle simmer while scraping browned bits from the pan.
- Stir in Parmesan until melted and sauce thickens slightly.
- Add back the meatballs and cooked pasta. Toss to coat everything evenly in the sauce.
- Serve warm topped with extra Parmesan and chopped parsley or basil.
Notes
- Use turkey for a leaner protein option.
- Red pepper flakes can add a spicy kick.
- Half-and-half or Greek yogurt can lighten the sauce.
- Use gluten-free ingredients for a GF version.
- Bake meatballs instead of pan-frying for easier prep.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 95mg