Description
Garlic Butter Meatballs with Pappardelle & Spinach is a flavorful and easy weeknight pasta dish. Juicy meatballs coated in a garlic butter sauce, tossed with pappardelle pasta and fresh spinach.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (or 1/2 beef + 1/2 pork)
- 1/3 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for browning)
- 12 oz pappardelle (or tagliatelle)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup beef broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional but tasty)
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (plus more to finish)
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (to finish)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Optional: extra Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Make the meatballs: In a bowl, mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until just combined. Roll into 1 1/2-inch meatballs (about 16–18).
- Brown the meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add meatballs and brown on all sides, 6–8 minutes (they don’t need to be fully cooked yet). Transfer to a plate.
- Cook the pasta: Boil pappardelle in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Build the sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter. Add onion and cook 2–3 minutes. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes for 30 seconds.
- Deglaze: Add broth, tomato paste, and Worcestershire (if using). Stir well and simmer 2 minutes.
- Finish cooking meatballs: Return meatballs to the skillet and simmer 6–8 minutes, until cooked through and coated in sauce.
- Add spinach + pasta: Stir in spinach until wilted. Add drained pasta and toss. Splash in reserved pasta water as needed to make it glossy and saucy.
- Serve: Top with parsley, extra red pepper flakes, and Parmesan.
Notes
- You can use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 690
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 150mg