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meatball zucchini pasta

30-Minute Meatball Zucchini Pasta That Kids Devour


  • Author: lucy
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Low Lactose

Description

A quick and flavorful pasta dish featuring Italian-style meatballs, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes in a simple marinara sauce.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz rotini pasta
  • 1 lb Italian-style meatballs (beef or chicken)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium zucchini, sliced
  • 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes
  • ½ small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup marinara sauce
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  3. Add meatballs and cook until browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
  4. In the same skillet, add onion and garlic and sauté until fragrant.
  5. Add zucchini and cherry tomatoes and cook for 4–5 minutes until tender and blistered.
  6. Stir in marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  7. Add cooked pasta and meatballs back to the skillet and toss until evenly coated.
  8. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.

Notes

  • Use pre-cooked meatballs for faster preparation.
  • Substitute rotini with penne or fusilli if preferred.
  • Add red pepper flakes for extra heat.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 420
  • Sugar: 8g
  • Sodium: 780mg
  • Fat: 18g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 42g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 32g
  • Cholesterol: 65mg

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