Orecchiette and Meatball Skillet Dinner #SundaySupper

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.

Orecchiette and Meatball Skillet Dinner

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.

Orecchiette and Meatball Skillet Dinner

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.

5.0 from 2 reviews
Orecchiette and Meatball Skillet Dinner #SundaySupper
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Enjoy dinner in one skillet dish! Orecchiette and Meatball Skillet Dinner is full of saucy deliciousness and cheesy goodness serve it with some crusty garlic bread and you'll have a happy family.
Author:
Cuisine: Dinner
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 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
Instructions
  1. To Make Sauce:
  2. Sautee onion and garlic in the olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Continue for 5 min.
  3. 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.
  4. To Make Meatballs:
  5. Preheat oven to 350F.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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

Orecchiette and Meatball Skillet Dinner

Once you add the ingredients to your shopping list for this week scroll on down for some more meatball madness!

Meatball Appetizers:

Meatball Soups:

Main Dish Meatballs:

Meatball Desserts:

Plus Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and More Amazing Meatball Recipes  from Sunday Supper Movement

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11 Replies to “Orecchiette and Meatball Skillet Dinner #SundaySupper

  1. 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!

    1. 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!

  2. 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. 🙂

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