About This Recipe
There is just something wonderful about the combination of pesto and pasta. It can’t be because they both come from Italy! I try to think of tons of different combinations of these two ingredients to create wonderful and easy recipes like this one for Creamy Pesto Spaghetti with Meatballs.
This recipe is a takeoff on a fancy salmon dish from one of my favorite cookbooks. But I wanted to use my favorite frozen meatballs instead. And I wanted to add something to the pesto to make a creamy sauce. Just plain pesto with spaghetti can be kind of weak tasting and the pesto can clump.
Adding tomatoes was a no-brainer, as was adding peas. Some grated Parmesan cheese brought the whole thing together.
This is a rich and comforting entree recipe that is easy to make. Everyone will love it! Serve it with a nice green salad with some sliced button mushrooms and ranch salad dressing. And for dessert, make my Toffee Bark – super simple and so delicious!
Tips for the best Creamy Pesto Spaghetti with Meatballs:
- There aren’t a lot of things to mess up in this recipe. Just make sure that you cook the pasta to al dente – that means it’s tender to the bite but still a bit firm in the middle. The only way to tell if it’s cooked to that consistency is to taste it.
- And use a good brand of pesto. There are lots of refrigerated and shelf stable pestos in the grocery store to choose from.
- Finally, serve it as soon as it’s done. Hot food should be eaten hot!
Why this recipe for Creamy Pesto Spaghetti with Meatballs works:
- Adding cream to the recipe smooths out the pesto, softening what can be a sharp flavor, and ensuring that the pesto doesn’t clump.
- You can substitute half and half for the cream if you’d like.
- As the pasta cooks in the sauce for a bit, the pasta absorbs some of the flavors.
Steps
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1
Done
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. |
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2
Done
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Heat the meatballs as directed on the package. I like to put them into the microwave and heat on high for about 3 minutes. |
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3
Done
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Now start cooking the pasta. |
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4
Done
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Combine the meatballs, pesto, cream, and tomatoes in a very large skillet and bring to a simmer. |
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5
Done
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Put the peas into a colander in the sink. When the pasta is done, drain into the colander over the peas. Add the spaghetti and peas to the skillet with the meatball mixture. |
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6
Done
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Bring this mixture to a simmer, and combine the spaghetti with the sauce as best you can. I find it's easiest to use some tongs for this task. |
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7
Done
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Serve the pasta topped with the Parmesan cheese. |
