Baked Chicken Meatballs with Spaghetti and Pesto

When preparing a family lunch, meatballs are always a hit. This time, we present a slightly different recipe for this family favorite. Instead of frying, we bake the meatballs in the oven, and instead of tomato sauce, we use pesto, an aromatic Italian sauce made with basil.

Details

  • Preparation Time: 15 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 30 minutes
  • Difficulty: 1
  • Spiciness: 0
  • Number of Servings: 4

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 500 g Meat, chicken, ground

  • 1 piece Egg, fresh

  • 60 g Breadcrumbs, dried

  • 1 piece Shallot

  • pieces Garlic, fresh

  • 40 g Cheese, Parmesan, grated

  • pieces Salt, table

  • pieces Oil, olive

  • 400 g Pasta, Macaroni

  • pieces Salt, table

  • 3 spoons Alfredo sauce

  • 25 g Cheese, Parmesan, grated

Steps

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Line a low baking dish with parchment paper.

  2. Peel the garlic and shallot, then finely chop them separately. In a bowl, add the ground meat, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, beaten egg, salt, ground pepper, and any desired spices. Mix the ingredients well with clean hands until you get a uniform mixture. With wet hands, shape medium-sized meatballs, using about 2 tablespoons of the mixture for each one.

  3. Place the meatballs on the baking dish and lightly drizzle them with oil. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, turning them halfway through to ensure even browning on all sides.

  4. While the meatballs are baking, bring a large pot of water to a boil, salting it just before it boils. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions.

  5. In a pan, heat the sauce by adding pesto along with a few tablespoons of the pasta cooking water. If you want a creamier sauce, add a bit of grated Parmesan.

  6. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and mix it with the sauce. Serve the spaghetti with the baked meatballs on plates and enjoy the prepared dish.

Nutrition Information (Per 100g)

  • Calories: 250.35 kcal
  • Fat: 6.15 g
    • Saturated Fat: 1.93 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30.4 g
    • Sugars: 0.97 g
  • Protein: 15.38 g
  • Fiber: 1.23 g