Meatballs Nestled in Spaghetti

Here’s a cute way to dress up the classic spaghetti and meatballs that will help make even your pickiest eater excited for meal time! Buy using your favorite store bought pasta sauce and precooked meatballs (you can use store bought for these as well if you wanted) these come together in hardly any time. And little chefs love to get their hands messy helping mix up the nests (though a sturdy wooden spoon does the job too.) Having kids help with the preparation makes them all the more excited for dinner!

Inspired by Mom Always Finds Out.

Meatballs Nestled in Spaghetti

8 oz thin spaghetti noodles

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 egg, beaten

1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2 cups red pasta sauce

12 meatballs, cooked but still warm

fresh grated parmesan, to garnish, optional

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Bring water to boil in a medium pot on the stove. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain and toss with the olive oil. Allow to cool until you are able to handle the noodles without burning your hands.
  3. Add the beaten egg, 1 cup of the mozzarella, and 1 1/2 cups of the pasta sauce. Stir to combine. Little chefs can use their hands to make sure everything is mixed thoroughly.
  4. Spray a standard muffin tin with non stick spray. Evenly divide the pasta amongst the cups and make an indent in the center. Sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of cheese into each well. Bake for 15 minutes.
  5. Fill each indent with a meatball and top with the remaining pasta sauce and grated parmesan if using.