Skillet Pasta Primavera with Meatballs
A hearty and nutritious dish combining pasta, fresh vegetables, and savory meatballs, perfect for any dining occasion.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- salt and pepper, to taste
For the Skillet Primavera
- 8 ounces pasta (penne or spaghetti)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium bell pepper, diced
- 1 medium zucchini, sliced
- 1 medium yellow squash, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper, to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
Preparing the Meatballs
- In a bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley, egg, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Shape the mixture into meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the meatballs until browned on all sides, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
Cooking the Pasta
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add olive oil. Stir in the bell pepper, zucchini, yellow squash, and cherry tomatoes. Sauté until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Add the fresh spinach, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook until the spinach wilts.
Combining Everything
- Add the cooked meatballs back into the skillet, mixing with the vegetables.
- Add the cooked pasta and toss everything together, ensuring that the pasta is well coated with the vegetable mixture and the flavors meld together, about 2-3 minutes.
- Plate the pasta primavera topped with additional grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy your nutritious and filling meal!
Notes
You can prepare the meatballs a day in advance and store them in the refrigerator. Both the meatballs and pasta primavera can be frozen. Allow them to cool completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers. For additional flavor, consider adding or swapping vegetables like asparagus or broccoli.