Description
Creamy Meatball and Broccoli Pasta is a warm, hearty, and nutritious dish combining tender meatballs, crisp broccoli, and perfectly cooked pasta all tossed in a luscious creamy Parmesan sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it offers a balanced blend of savory flavors and textures, making it a family-friendly, comforting weeknight dinner that’s both delicious and versatile.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground meat (beef, turkey, or chicken)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if needed)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil, for searing
Pasta and Broccoli
- 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta (gluten-free if preferred)
- 2 cups broccoli florets, steamed until tender-crisp
Creamy Sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 cup heavy cream (or coconut cream for dairy-free)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or vegan cheese alternative)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatballs: In a large bowl, mix ground meat with chopped onion, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Form evenly sized small meatballs using a scoop or spoon. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and sear meatballs, turning to brown all sides and cook through.
- Cook the Pasta: While the meatballs cook, boil pasta in salted water following package directions until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving a small amount of pasta water for adjusting the sauce consistency.
- Steam the Broccoli: Lightly steam broccoli florets until bright green and tender-crisp, avoiding overcooking to preserve texture and nutrients.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: In the same pan used for the meatballs, sauté minced garlic and onion until fragrant. Slowly pour in heavy cream, stirring continuously and gently bringing to a simmer. Add grated Parmesan cheese and stir until the sauce is smooth and cheese is melted.
- Combine Everything: Return cooked meatballs to the pan with the sauce, then add pasta and steamed broccoli. Toss gently to coat everything evenly with the creamy sauce. Season with salt and pepper, and loosen the sauce with reserved pasta water if needed.
Notes
- Use fresh garlic and Parmesan for optimal flavor.
- Shape meatballs evenly for consistent cooking.
- Do not oversteam broccoli; keep it tender-crisp.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce thickness and enhance creaminess.
- Simmer sauce gently to prevent cream from curdling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: creamy meatball pasta, broccoli pasta, easy weeknight dinner, gluten-free pasta recipe, family-friendly pasta, creamy pasta sauce
