This chicken meatball pasta is another fantastic recipe to add to your family meal recipes. Enjoy chicken meatballs in a tomato pasta sauce or with a carb-friendly option. It’s a delicious kid-friendly meal and is fairly easy to make with simple ingredients and easy swaps too. Plus the leftovers store really nicely in the fridge. If that is you have any leftovers!
These chicken meatballs are incredibly juicy, tender, and just fall-apart good. They’re quickly broiled in the oven and then finished off on the stovetop in tomato cream sauce with the pasta.
15ml (1 Tbsp) Food Lover’s Olive Oil Blend or B-well cooking olive oil
1 onion, chopped finely
3 garlic cloves, minced
250g bacon, chopped
30ml (2 Tbsp) tomato paste
1l (4 cups) Italian tomato passata
15ml (1 Tbsp) balsamic vinegar
125ml (1/2 cup) red wine
15ml (1 Tbsp) brown sugar
Handful of fresh basil, shredded
Salt and pepper, to taste
500g Food Lover’s Market chicken mince (or minced/finely chopped chicken fillets)
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
1cm fresh ginger, peeled and chopped finely
15ml (1 Tbsp) smoked paprika
Pinch of chilli powder
A handful of fresh parsley, oreganum, and basil, chopped
Salt and black pepper, to taste
60ml B-well cooking olive oil
Zest of 1-2 lemons
1.25l (5 cups) Moccagatta tortiglioni pasta, cooked
65g baby spinach
60g sundried tomatoes
60ml (1/4 cup) black pitted olives, chopped
Parmesan, to serve
Fresh basil, to garnish
Heat a pot over medium to high heat and add the olive oil, onion, garlic and bacon bits. Allow to brown while stirring frequently for about 5 minutes.
Add the tomato paste and cook for another minute or two while stirring. Now add the Italian tomato passata, balsamic vinegar, red wine and brown sugar. Lower the temperature to a low heat and allow to cook for about 45 minutes. In the meanwhile, make the chicken meatballs.
Add the shredded basil and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with foil and set aside until needed.
In a mixing bowl, combine the chicken mince, garlic, ginger, spices and herbs. Season to taste.
Use your hands and really work all of the flavourings into the meat.
Create golf ball-sized meatballs and place them in the prepared baking tray. Drizzle with a dash of olive oil.
Bake the meatballs in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until cooked on the inside and brown on the outside.
*if you prefer to panfry the meatballs heat a large pan over medium heat with a dash of olive oil and fry for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown and cooked.
Combine all ingredients. Set aside and allow to infuse until needed. You can make this a few days in advance and store the flavoured oil in the fridge.
Combine the warm cooked pasta sauce with the cooked pasta and stir the baby spinach through so it wilts. Top the delicious pasta with your baked chicken meatballs. Garnish with sundried tomatoes, black olives, Parmesan cheese, fresh basil and a drizzle of lemon oil.
You can make the meatballs the day before and keep in the fridge overnight.
You can double the sauce and chicken meatball recipe and freeze the leftovers for a super simple mid-week dinner.
Here are some key tips for cooking perfect pasta:
Big Pot, Big Water: Use a large pot with plenty of water to allow the pasta room to move freely and cook evenly.
Salted Water is a Must: Generously salt your water before adding the pasta. This seasons the pasta as it cooks, adding flavour to every bite.
Boil First, Pasta Second: Wait for the water to reach a rolling boil before adding the pasta. Cold water takes longer to come back to a boil after adding pasta, affecting cooking time.
Stir Occasionally: Give your pasta a good stir after adding it to the pot, then occasionally throughout cooking. This prevents sticking and ensures even cooking.
Save that Pasta Water!: Reserve a cup or so of the starchy pasta water before draining. This flavourful water can be added to your sauce to help it cling to the pasta for a delicious result.
Skip the Oil: Don’t add oil to your pasta water. It can prevent the sauce from sticking to the noodles. Instead, add a drizzle of olive oil to your cooked pasta if you’re not tossing it in sauce right away.
Sauce Last: Drain your pasta and add it directly to your waiting sauce. Don’t rinse the pasta unless you’re using it for a pasta salad, as rinsing removes the starch that helps the sauce adhere.
By following these tips, you can transform your pasta dishes from bland to restaurant-worthy!
