Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Mini Meatball Pasta Bake and Veggies

Hope you're having a good week so far! Mine seems to be flying by! I had a crazy day at work which included a very important meeting (which went well!) I just got home a bit ago, took care of Frank and got dinner prepared. Josh is having a friend over tonight to play some new video game that just came out, so I made them a big pasta and meatball bake.

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup panko
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese + more to mix into bake
2-4 tablespoons tomato sauce (or marinara)
desired amount chopped onion
1 container pasta sauce
Shredded cheese or cheese slices
1 container shaped pasta

Directions
Preheat oven to 375

Mix ground beef, panko, cheese, onion, and 2- tablespoons tomato sauce. Form into small balls and bake for ~18 minutes or until cooked through.

Boil water and cook pasta according to package directions, drain.

Mix pasta sauce, cooked pasta, mini meatballs and additional desired quantity of Parmesan cheese. Top with shredded cheese or cheese slices. Bake for 15-20 minutes:

For myself, I cooked up some eggplant and tossed it with a little pasta (which is buried) and mixed veggies. I am going to top this with marinutta or cashew cream sauce later (can't decide!)

I'm off to teach Body Attack! Doing anything fun tonight?

40 comments:

Allie (Live Laugh Eat) said...

Josh is so lucky to have a fabulous cook like you for a wifey!

I've gotta try a nut butter sauce as dressing one of these days.

Tonight I've gotta get organized and read some blogs!! Oh and sorority meetings for the rest of eternity :(

Nicci said...

I plan to sit at home and relax!

homecookedem said...

That looks so wonderful!! And how sweet of you to make such a yummy dinner for your hubby and his friend!! What a lucky guy!! :)

Jessica said...

I love panko! Love that you used it in this dish!!

Pam said...

Wonderful looking dinner...the guy's are VERY lucky that you made them a great supper! Yum!

Have Fun!

Jenna said...

Men and video games :) My boyfriend could play for HOURS!

Your dinner and the bake look great.

Not much for me tonight, just a little R&R!

Stephanie @ cookinfanatic said...

Let me guess.. Modern Warfare 2?! hahaha. My boyfriend was up from midnight to 6:30am playing that and took today off work - guys are ridiculous! Geeezeeeee ;) Yummy dinner for the boys too - you win the good girlfriend award fo' sure!

Ashley Lauren said...

That bake looks like something my husband would love!!

I'm just hanging out enjoying that I don't have to work tomorrow :) Probably watching Mad Men and Biggest Loser...I'm such an old lady, ha!

Yum Yucky said...

I'm so mad. I ate Oodles of Noodles for dinner. At least I get coffee soon.

Abby (Abbys Vegan Eats) said...

Your hub is lucky.. your meals look totally fabulous!!

My night is full of a whole lotta nothing! Im pretending its Friday night and veggin out since I have off tomorrow! :)

laura dishes said...

Guys are so funny! The pasta bake looks great... perfect video game fuel. :)

Relaxing and watching The Biggest Loser tonight!

Lauren said...

I know I always tell you this, but how incredible are you to make your hubby and his friends such great meals all the time! Geeze, when my man has his friends over to play video games, they are lucky if I remember to put some beer in the fridge! ;) lol. You are so sweet.

Glad the secret meeting went well. Can't wait to hear more about it.

Molly said...

Tonight's just homework for me.
I'm always so impressed with the meals you come up with every night!
I really need to try some cashew cream. I still haven't made a nut sauce!

Mom on the Run said...

I am catching up on my blogs, posting recipes, and drinking tea.

Have fun at class!


Your dinner looks great :)

The Purple Carrot said...

How nice of you to make Josh and his friend such a delicious looking dinner! : )

Erik and I are watching Biggest Loser tonight.

Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries said...

you are the best wifeyyy chef

lauren said...

cashew cream sauce?! whoa. and panko in the pasta/meatball bake all sounds delish.

tonight? Watching biggest loser/the hills and catching up on blog reading. :)

fittingbackin said...

Austin just poked his head over and said, "that looks goooood." I think i'll be making this - thanks, girl!!

Not much up here - TV watching with the fam!!

I Run for Fun said...

That pasta looks awesome. I am always looking for pasta recipes. This one looks so good, I must try it.

Maria said...

Hope your class went well. I really wish I could go to one of your classes! We went out for sushi tonight:)

Holly said...

That pasta bake looks SO good! I'm intrigued by marinutta sauce...I just know I would love it. Boys and their video games...it cracks me up! :-)

I just swam and lifted tonight...so now I'm cold and sore!

Anonymous said...

That's my kind of salad! I try to fill up on veggies and use pasta as a garnish, and with cashew cream sauce OR marinutta, it wouldn't be hard to do! Yum.

I did computer work tonight... not so fun, but that much less that I'll have to do tomorrow!

lynn said...

this looks soooo good. will you come over and cook dinner for me tomorrow night?

Carrie @ Cottage Cozy said...

Love that eggplant past salad!

Naomi(Onefitfoodie) said...

mmm looks fabulous! love bowties :) what a great shape!

enjoy teaching classss

MizFit said...

SERIOUSLY.
Josh is one lucky lucky man.

tonight? my arse. couch. TiVod Sons of Anarchy.

(oh and glass of wine)

bliss.

Alison said...

Eggplant dish looks divine! What a good wifey to prepare her husband and his buddy a meal, I hope they enjoyed it! I'm sure they did. ;)

Deva (Voracious Vorilee) said...

Your meatloaf bake is getting filed away for me to try for us! Last night I baked mini-pumpkin pies that now fill half a shelf in my fridge, and was able to make it to the gym for a brief but effective workout :-) Hope your day is going great!

K from ksgoodeats said...

Marinutta and cashew cream sauce are two things I need to try one of these days! They sound fantastic!

Glad your work meeting went well! I hope you had a relaxing night after all that craziness :)

Krista said...

My fam would go CRAZY for your pasta bake!!!

Julie said...

hahaha awww I love that you're cooking for the "kids" its so cute :) best wife award most definitely goes to you girl.

mmmm I've been on SUCH and eggplant kick lately! Hope you had a fun night :)

Barbara said...

What a perfect meal. Your lovely meatballs in that heavenly pasta!

Jenna said...

wow! that pasta looks delish!
jenna

Lizzy said...

that pasta looks muy amazing! you are so good to your hubby! :)

brandi said...

both pasta dishes look awesome! I love mini meatballs :)

teresa said...

it's so nice of you to cook him all of these great dishes, even when you don't eat them. they both look wonderful, i love the eggplant!

Dawn (HealthySDLiving) said...

Awww what an awesome wife you are! I've been hearing about a video came that was coming out...apparently it's a big deal!

Anna said...

Haha what is it about guys and video games?

Tonight will be a whole lotta studying plus a late night gym sesh!

Triple Threat Ladies said...

I love, love, love eggplant! That slad looks perfect!

Priyanka said...

Clearly guys and gals are different. Your meal looks so healthy and appetizing!