Meatballs Cheesy Mac Recipes

FLORENTINE MAC AND CHEESE AND ROAST CHICKEN SAUSAGE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place a large pot of water on to boil for pasta. When it comes to a boil, salt it and add the pasta to cook to al dente. Strain pasta reserving 1 cup cooking liquid.
• While the water is coming to a boil, in a large mixing bowl combine the chicken, salt and pepper, rosemary, fennel seeds, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano - a rounded handful, egg and bread crumbs. *If the mixture seems too wet, add a handful of bread crumbs and mix together.
• Form 8 large round balls, about 3 to 4-inches. Coat balls in a couple of tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil and lightly grease a baking sheet with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil. Arrange balls on the baking sheet and roast 17 to 18 minutes until juices run clear.
• Defrost spinach in microwave 8 to 10 minutes on "defrost" setting depending on the microwave. Place the boxes in a shallow dish to catch any run off.
• While the meatballs roast, in a medium sauce pot over medium heat, melt butter, whisk in flour, cook 1 minute then whisk in stock and milk, season with salt, pepper and nutmeg and thicken 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 cup grated Parmigiano and reduce heat on lowest setting.
• Wring spinach completely dry in clean kitchen towel then separate as you add it to the sauce. Also add the reserved 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.
• Toss pasta with the spinach-white sauce and adjust seasonings.
• Serve Florentine Mac-n-Cheese with 2 meatballs per person along side.

JUMBO CHEESY ITALIAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Make the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and brush a baking sheet with olive oil. Pulse the bread in a food processor to make coarse crumbs. Transfer to a small bowl, add the milk and set aside to soak. Lightly beat the eggs in a large bowl, then add the beef, parsley, parmesan, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and the red pepper flakes; mix with your hands to combine. Add the bread-milk mixture and mix until just combined (do not overmix).
• Dampen your hands and shape the meat mixture into 4 large balls. Make an indentation in the center of each with your thumb and stuff with a mini mozzarella ball, then mold the meat around the cheese. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet and bake until browned and firm, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, 1 cup water, the basil sprigs and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the meatballs from the oven and add to the sauce, spooning some of the sauce on top. Continue cooking, occasionally spooning the sauce over the meatballs, until tender and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Serve with ricotta and chopped basil.
• You can form all of these meatballs a day ahead; cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.

CHEESY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, whisk egg, milk, minced onion, 2 tablespoons chili powder, salt and pepper; stir in crushed crackers. Add beef, sausage and cheese; mix lightly but thoroughly., Shape mixture into 1-in. balls. Place meatballs on greased racks in 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Bake until browned, 15-18 minutes., Meanwhile, in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker, combine soup, water, brown sugar and remaining chili powder. Gently stir in meatballs. Cook, covered, on low until meatballs are cooked through, 4-5 hours.

EASY MEATBALL MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Prepare KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese Dinner using water (to boil the macaroni), margarine, and milk as directed on the box.
• While macaroni & cheese is cooking follow the directions on the frozen meatballs to heat them in the microwave.
• When the macaroni & cheese and meatballs are done, dish one cup of mac & cheese into a bowl and top with 3 meatballs, continue until everyone is served.

BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Place meatballs on a foil lined baking sheet and bake 15-20 minutes or according to package directions.
• Cook macaroni according to package directions, drain.
• Add milk, cheese sauce packets and sour cream, stir to combine.
• Place meatballs in the bottom of an oven proof casserole, top with macaroni, cover with tomato slices sprinkled with parmesan.
• Bake uncovered 25-30 minutes.

MEATBALLS & CHEESY MAC

Steps:

• Heat 2 Tbsp. dressing in large skillet. Add 1 cup onions; cook and stir 5 min. or until crisp-tender. Cool slightly. Mix with meat and crackers; shape into 12 (2-inch) meatballs. Cook in same skillet 7 min. or until evenly browned, stirring occasionally.
• Blend tomatoes, remaining dressing and onions in blender until smooth; pour over meatballs. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on medium heat 20 min. or until meatballs are done (160°F), stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, prepare Dinners as directed on package.
• Spoon meatballs into serving bowl; sprinkle with Parmesan. Serve with prepared Dinners.

MIGHTY MAC AND BISON MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Mix bison, turkey and eggs in a bowl and stir by hand until well combined. Mix kale, onion and garlic in another bowl until well combined, then stir by hand into the bison, turkey and egg mixture. Mix yeast, oat flour, oregano, fennel seeds, red pepper flakes and salt in a bowl, then add into the wet mixture, stirring by hand until evenly incorporated.
• Roll into 1.5-ounce balls and space evenly on lined cookie sheet. Bake until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, 15 to 17 minutes. Serve with Chimichurri Sauce and Mighty Mac.
• Combine parsley, cilantro, lemon juice, oil, oregano, pepper flakes, salt and garlic in a food processor and pulse until the cilantro and parsley are finely chopped, 3 to 4 minutes. Allow to sit for 30 minutes prior to serving to allow the flavors to meld. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
• Start roux in a large saucepan by combining squash, broth and milk and cook until squash is softened and beginning to fall apart, 10 to 15 minutes. Pour the mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. In a large pot, bring 6 quarts water and the olive oil to a boil. Meanwhile, return the roux mixture to the saucepan on low heat and add butter, stirring until the butter is melted, 5 to 7 minutes, then remove from heat. With the water at a boil, pour chickpea noodles in and cook, stirring frequently, for 11 minutes. Meanwhile, add the cheese to the roux, off heat, stirring frequently until cheese is fully melted and incorporated, about 5 minutes. Add the salt and nutmeg to the roux and stir well. Once the noodles have been cooked, strain well and return to the large pot, then pour in the cheesy roux and combine well.
• Disclaimer: When blending hot liquid, first let it cool for five minutes or so, then transfer it to a blender, filling only halfway. Put the lid on, leaving one corner open. Cover the lid with a kitchen towel to catch splatters, and pulse until smooth.

MAC & CHEESE WITH SAUSAGE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain. Reserve the pot.
• Meanwhile, combine 1/2 cup crushed cheese crackers and 1/4 cup milk in a medium bowl; let sit until slightly softened, about 10 minutes. Add the sausage and 2 tablespoons Parmesan and mix well to combine. Form the sausage mixture into 1-inch meatballs (about 28); arrange on the prepared pan. Bake until golden and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the flour and the remaining 2 cups milk to the reserved pot and whisk until smooth. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the cheddar and processed cheese and stir until smooth. Stir in 3/4 teaspoon salt and the mustard.
• Add the pasta and 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking water to the cheese sauce and stir to coat. Add the meatballs and stir to coat; thin with the remaining 1/4 cup cooking water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed.
• Combine the remaining 1/2 cup crushed cheese crackers and 1 tablespoon Parmesan in a small bowl. Divide the mac and cheese among bowls and sprinkle with the cracker mixture.