Description
Mini Cheesy Meatball Pasta Muffins are bite-sized comfort food, blending pasta, savory meat, and gooey cheese in muffin form. Ideal for meals, snacks, or lunchboxes, they’re easy to make, portable, and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 cups cooked pasta (penne, rigatoni, or elbow)
- 1/2 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup marinara or tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil, for garnish
- Breadcrumbs (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a muffin tin with paper or silicone liners.
- Boil pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, cook ground meat with garlic, onion, and Italian seasoning until browned. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
- In a large bowl, mix the pasta, meat mixture, marinara sauce, eggs, and half of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Spoon mixture into each muffin cup, pressing gently to compact. Top with remaining cheeses and breadcrumbs if using.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until cheese is melted and golden.
- Let cool slightly before removing from pan. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired.
Notes
- Grease muffin tin well if not using liners.
- Can be made with leftover pasta or meatballs.
- Use gluten-free pasta and breadcrumbs for a GF version.
- Add vegetables like spinach or peppers for extra nutrition.
- Top with marinara for added flavor when serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 45mg