Spaghetti Squash Meatball Casserole Recipes

SPAGHETTI SQUASH MEATBALL CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cut the squash lengthwise in half; discard seeds. Place halves on a microwave-safe plate, cut side down. Microwave, uncovered, on high until tender, for 15-20 minutes. Cool slightly., Preheat oven to 350°. Mix 1/4 teaspoon salt with remaining seasonings; add to beef, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls. In a large skillet, brown meatballs over medium heat; remove from pan., In same pan, heat oil over medium heat; saute onion until tender, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in collard greens, spinach, ricotta and remaining salt; remove from heat., Using a fork, separate strands of spaghetti squash; stir into greens mixture. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. or 3-qt. baking dish. Top with the plum tomatoes, meatballs, sauce and cheese. Bake, uncovered, until meatballs are cooked through, 30-35 minutes.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cut squash in half lengthwise; scoop out seeds. Place with cut side down in a baking dish; add water. Cover and bake at 375° for 20-30 minutes or until it is easily pierced with a fork. When cool enough to handle, scoop out squash, separating the strands with a fork. In a skillet, cook beef, onion, red pepper and garlic until meat is browned and the vegetables are tender. Drain; add tomatoes, oregano, salt, pepper and squash. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Transfer to an ungreased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with the cheese and parsley; let stand a few minutes.

SPAGHETTI-AND-MEATBALLS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Brush a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with oil.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions for al dente. Strain, add back to the pot and toss with some oil.
• Meanwhile, make the meatballs: Soak the bread with 2 tablespoons of the milk in a medium bowl, tossing occasionally, until completely soft, about 5 minutes. While the bread softens, combine the beef, pork, 1 of the eggs, 1/3 cup of the Parmesan, the minced garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in another medium bowl. Add the soaked bread to the meat mixture. Gently incorporate all the ingredients with your hands until well combined.
• Brush a baking sheet with oil, and drop teaspoonfuls of the meatball mixture onto it. Brush your hands with a little oil, roll the mounds into balls and space them out evenly on the baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and almost completely cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Add the meatballs, mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes to the cooked pasta, toss to combine and transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Whisk together the marinara sauce, the remaining 5 eggs, 2/3 cup Parmesan and 1/4 cup milk, the sliced garlic and 1 teaspoon salt in one of the empty bowls. Pour the sauce mixture over the spaghetti mixture, and press the spaghetti into a flat, even layer. Sprinkle the parsley over the top. Cover with foil, and bake until the casserole is hot and almost completely set, about 30 minutes. Remove the foil, and continue baking until the top of the casserole is set, about 10 minutes more. Let cool for a few minutes. Cut into squares, and serve warm.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Halve the squash lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Sprinkle the cut sides with 1/2 teaspoon salt, then brush both sides with olive oil. Put the squash, cut-side up, in a baking dish and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Roast 20 minutes, then uncover and continue roasting until the squash is tender, about 35 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the meatballs: Brush a baking sheet with olive oil. Pulse the celery, carrot, onion, garlic and parsley in a food processor to make a paste. Transfer half of the vegetable paste to a bowl; add the ground beef, ground pork, eggs, breadcrumbs, 1 cup parmesan and 1 teaspoon salt and mix with your hands until just combined. Form into about 24 two-inch meatballs; transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Bake until firm but not cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Make the sauce: Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the remaining vegetable paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until it looks dry, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato puree; rinse each can with 1 cup water and add to the pot. Stir in the basil, oregano and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a simmer, then add the meatballs and simmer until the sauce thickens and the meatballs are cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the basil.
• Use a fork to scrape the spaghetti squash flesh into strands; transfer to a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons grated parmesan. Season with salt. Divide the squash among bowls and top each with some meatballs, sauce and the remaining 1 tablespoon parmesan.
• This recipe makes extra sauce and meatballs. Let cool completely, then freeze in a storage container for up to one month.