parmesan Archives - Family Dinners

Easy Basil Pesto Pasta With Meatballs

Andrea + Stef — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 02:52:00 +0000

Easy basil pesto pasta with meatballs is a delicious and crowd pleasing meal the whole family enjoys. We love how easy this homemade pesto sauce comes together in only 10 minutes. This easy weeknight meal is very versatile and can be tossed with all your favorite noodles and meat. We used spinach and turkey meatballs to make this a healthy skillet meal but you can use Italian meatballs, chicken or shrimp if you prefer. Without doubt, this easy recipe for the best fettuccine pesto will be a huge hit with your family.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: quick and easy meal bursting with fresh Mediterranean flavors, that tastes great with chicken, meatballs and shrimp
Main Ingredients: fresh basil leaves, parmesan cheese, extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts, garlic cloves, pasta noodles, cooked meatballs and spices
Cooking Method: stovetop
Nutrients: packed with antioxidants, healthy fats and calcium
Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time and 20 minutes cook time
Pairs well with: fresh crunchy salad, garlic bread, Caprese salad, roasted vegetables
Special Equipment Needed: large pot or saucepan, skillet, food processor, kitchen tongs

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this pesto fettuccine recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this pesto pasta fettuccine recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Fettuccine With Pesto Ingredients

2 cups fresh basil leaves (packed)
½ cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
⅓ cup toasted pine nuts
1 tablespoon garlic (minced)
¼ teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or more to taste)
1 lb pasta noodles
25-30 cooked meatballs

Optional Garnish

chopped fresh basil and freshly gated parmesan cheese

Variations and Substitutions

Basil: Use fresh basil from a plant or freshly cut. Do not substitute dried basil. You can, however, substitute half or all of the basil for baby spinach, if you like.

Parmesan: In case you’re in a pinch, you can use grated parmesan from your refrigerated deli section. We don’t recommend using the grated parmesan you find on the shelves in the center aisles of your grocery store.

Nuts: We love pesto with pine nuts, however, you can substitute walnuts to make tasty basil walnut pesto. It really depends on your personal preference. Use walnut pesto the same way you’d use any pesto.

Pasta: As a matter of fact, there is no best pasta for pesto. Even though we used fettuccine for this recipe, you can use any pasta of your choice.

Meatballs: You can use store-bought meatballs or make your own. Any style of meatball works great with fettuccine pesto. Have you tired our Air Fryer Meatballs, Turkey Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs or Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs?

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you loved this homemade pesto fettuccine recipe, try our Chicken Pesto Calzone. You’ll love them because they are crispy and golden brown on the outside and stuffed with melty cheese, juicy chicken and tasty pesto.

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Food Processor — We are using a food processor to make the pesto, but a blender would work well too.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook pesto pasta with meatballs on the stovetop, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

COOK PASTA: Firstly, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, add salt and cook pasta according to package instructions. When the pasta is al dente, drain and set the hot pasta aside. Reserve starchy pasta water (¼ cup) if you want to add it to your pasta later with your pesto.

HEAT MEATBALLS: Then heat meatballs if they’ve been refrigerated or frozen.

STEP 1: Place basil, parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, salt and pepper into a food processor.

STEP 2: Blend the ingredients together until the basil and pine nuts are broken up into small pieces.

STEP 3: Afterwards, slowly add olive oil to food processor while pulsing.

STEP 4: Keep adding a little olive oil at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

STEP 5: In a warm skillet, heat the pesto a little bit. Then add drained pasta to your own pesto and toss. If needed, add ¼ cup of reserved pasta water to thin out the pesto. Afterwards, add the meatballs to the top of the fettuccine al pesto.

ENJOY: Finally, sprinkle freshly grated parmesan over the basil pesto pasta with meatballs and enjoy.

Stef says….

I love using this easy and scrumptious pesto for my Pesto Pasta Salad. This beautiful, flavorful, and easy to make, pasta salad brings a little bit of the Mediterranean to your table!

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love Italian inspired meatball dinners then you’ll love our Easy Baked Cheesy Meatball Sub Sandwich. This meatball stuffed sandwich bake is cheesy and full of flavor. Try pesto instead of marinara sauce for this perfect meal.

Make Ahead

Homemade pesto lasts for a about a week in the fridge. You can therefore prepare the sauce a couple of days ahead of time. Then store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best easy basil pesto pasta with meatballs.

Tip: Make sure to use fresh and bright green basil for your pesto.
Tip: Use high quality meatballs. Use your favorite frozen meatballs or make your own.
Tip: Thin out the pesto with leftover pasta water to get perfectly creamy pesto pasta.

What To Serve With Homemade Pesto Pasta with Meatballs

We love to eat easy basil pesto pasta with meatballs all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these tasty recipes:

Bread: Serve 10-minute pesto pasta with crusty bread or soft dinner rolls. Garlic French Bread is made with fresh parmesan cheese and store-bought French bread. If you have extra time make Pizza Dough Garlic Knots.

Salad: Pair this best pesto pasta recipe with a fresh salad. A green salad like our amazing Italian Salad or Chopped Asparagus Salad. Or even a Caprese Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil or Antipasto Salad.

Side Dish: This fettuccine pesto main dish would taste great with Roasted Vegetables, Parmesan Roasted Broccoli or Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus.

More Pasta Recipes

We are big fans of simple recipes for yummy weeknight pasta meals. They are quick, easy, comforting and oh so good. Here are some of our other favorite pasta dishes:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store homemade pesto pasta leftovers in an airtight container or ziploc bag for up to one week in the fridge.

Freeze: Store leftovers in a freezer ziploc bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 months.

Defrosting: Our favorite way to defrost fettuccine pesto leftovers is in the refrigerator overnight.

How To Reheat

You can reheat leftover basil pesto pasta with meatballs in the microwave the next day.

Andrea says….

I’m all about healthy eating right now and I’m pulling out my favorite healthy recipes that are full of bold flavor to keep me excited! This Pesto Chicken Wrap is super simple and such a quick and easy dish to make.

Common Questions

Can you add pasta water to your own pesto?

In case you find your pesto is sticky, you can mix your pesto with ¼ cup of the pasta water before mixing with your noodles. In case you didn’t save any pasta water, add some regular water.

What do you pair with homemade pesto sauce?

Pesto pairs naturally with cooked pasta, as a sauce on pizza or sandwiches, as a dressing on a salad or as a dip for garlic bread, for example. Additionally you can use it as a substitute for marinara sauce in a lasagna.

What flavors pair well with pesto?

Any dishes with similar ingredients (parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, basil) work well with the fresh flavors of pesto. You can also pair it well with cheese like mozzarella, for example. Pesto pairs especially well with grilled chicken or meatballs. Additionally, you can try it as a salad dressing with fresh tomatoes or dip for bread as well.

How can I use up easy pesto pasta leftovers?

In case you can’t eat all this fettuccine pesto try making it into another easy dinner. Try adding leftovers to a baking dish and then cover with fresh mozzarella slices. Bake at 350°F until the cheese is melted and any meat in your pasta is heated through again. Moreover, you can make a cold pesto pasta salad from the leftovers. Firstly, remove any leftover meat from the creamy pesto pasta. Then add sliced black olives, chunks of mozzarella, sliced grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, diced bell peppers or any other vegetables you want to add.

Easy Basil Pesto Pasta with Meatballs

Delicious pesto fettuccine pasta with meatballs makes a healthy and delicious meal for the whole family.

Course dinner

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword easy pesto pasta, easy pesto recipe, fettuccine and meatballs, homemade pesto, meatballs, pasta

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings people

Calories 540kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

large pot
Food Processor or blender
large skillet

Ingredients

Pesto Ingredients

2 cups fresh basil leaves packed
½ cup parmesan freshly grated
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
⅓ cup pine nuts
1 tablespoon garlic minced
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon pepper freshly ground

Pasta Ingredients

1 pound fettuccine pasta noodles
30 meatballs cooked

Instructions

Bring water to a boil in a stock pot or large saucepan. Follow pasta package instructions to cook noodles. When cooked, drain and set aside.
Heat meatballs if they've been refrigerated or frozen.
In a food processor, blend basil, parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, salt and pepper.
Slowly add olive oil to the food processor while pulsing.
In a warm skillet, toss pasta with pesto. Add meatballs on top of the pasta.
Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Notes

Optional: Substitute half the basil for spinach.
Optional: Substitute walnuts for pine nuts.
If your pesto is very thick, you can add a little more olive oil.
Use your favorite kind of meatball. We used turkey meatballs in this recipe.

Nutrition

The post Easy Basil Pesto Pasta With Meatballs appeared first on Family Dinners.

Easy Hot Cheesy Pizza Dip Recipe

Andrea + Stef — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 00:07:00 +0000

If you are a pizza lover, this cheesy, gooey and absolutely delicious hot pepperoni pizza dip is perfect for you. Mouthwatering layers of seasoned cream cheese, pizza sauce, mozzarella, parmesan and pepperoni combine all your favorite pizza flavors within this oven baked dip.

Served with crusty bread or your favorite crackers, pepperoni pizza dip is an amazing appetizer to an Italian dinner, but can also be served at your next party, movie night or on game days.

You can also easily personalize this dip by adding your favorite pizza toppings instead of slices of pepperoni. Not a meat lover? Make this easy pizza dip vegetarian by topping it with vegetables such as black olives, green bell peppers or red onions.

WHAT IS PIZZA DIP?

This super yummy and addictive oven baked dip starts out with a layer of seasoned cream cheese, that is topped with a layer of tasty pizza or marinara sauce. Then sprinkled with two of Italy’s most popular cheeses: mozzarella and parmesan and finally topped with pepperoni slices. It combines all the flavors of a pepperoni pizza in a mouthwatering dip.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: pizza dip is creamy, cheesy, full of flavor and can easily be personalized with your favorite pizza toppings
Main Ingredients: cream cheese, sour cream, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, pepperoni
Cooking Method: air fryer, oven baked
Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time and 25 minutes cook time
Pairs well with: crusty bread, pita chips, crackers, bagel chips, tortilla chips, garlic bread, french bread, pita bread, fresh bell peppers
Diets: keto friendly, gluten free
Special Equipment Needed: medium bowl, electric hand mixer, air fryer, oven-proof skillet

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this hot cheesy pizza dip recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this pepperoni pizza dip you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Easy Pizza Dip Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese (softened)
½ cup sour cream
1 ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
1 ¼ cup pizza sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
¼ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
10 pepperoni slices

Optional Garnish

Fresh basil

Substitutions

Pizza Sauce: Use your favorite store bought pizza or marinara sauce or make your own. Check out our recipe for the best, easy to make Marinara Sauce.

Italian Seasoning: You can substitute plain oregano, or make your own Italian seasoning for this easy party dip.

Cheeses: For best results, shred your own cheeses. Pre-shredded cheese contains preservatives and doesn’t melt as well or taste as good.

Pepperoni: Original or turkey pepperoni work well. You can also use mini pepperoni.

Variations:

Add extra cheese or use less cheese, depending on your preference.
Add different meat options: ham, grilled chicken, bacon, or sausage.
Try making your dip vegetarian by topping it with roasted bell peppers, mushrooms, or sliced black olives.
Make it Hawaiian by topping it with diced ham, bacon bits and pineapple chuncks.
Try a Buffalo twist, top with grilled chicken and crumbled up blue cheese, bake, and then top with just the right amount of Buffalo sauce.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this cheesy dip recipe with pepperoni, try our Rotel Dip with Sausage. You’ll love it because you only need 3 simple ingredients to make this super easy, cheesy and absolutely delicious dip.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Air Fryer – This recipe requires an air fryer. We have both this Cosori air fryer, which is wonderful, and this Cuisinart Air Fryer, which we also love. The Cuisinart also has convection oven and toaster oven capacity. You can buy an air fryer with a basket with high sides that food goes into or a tray type of machine. The trays are shallow but are usually longer and can accomodate more food in a single layer.

Cast Iron Pan — A cast iron skillet works best for this recipe, because it retains heat for a long time. It therefore keeps the dip warm and gooey till it’s all eaten up. However, any oven safe pan, baking dish or a 9-inch pie plate will work as well.

Electric Mixer – Use an electric hand mixer to make the cream cheese layer for this good pizza dip.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook pepperoni pizza dip in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For printable instructions and nutritional information see the recipe card below.

Prep: Firstly, heat oven to 350ºF. Then grate cheeses and measure ingredients.

Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.

Step 2: Using a hand mixer, beat until creamy and smooth.

Step 3: Spread the cream cheese mixture into the bottom of a cast iron skillet or pie baking dish.

Step 4: Top cream cheese layer with pizza sauce and sprinkle with the two types of cheese.

Step 5: Then top with pepperoni. You can add some extra pepperoni, but note that pepperoni releases grease when cooked, so too much pepperoni could make your dip extra greasy.

Step 6: Bake uncovered in an 350 f oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown. Let rest for 5 minutes then serve with chips, crusty bread, pita crackers or thick slices of bell pepper.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love the delicious flavor of easy to make party dips then you’ll love our Million Dollar Dip. This crowd pleaser is full of yummy cheese, crispy bacon and crunchy almonds.

How To Make Pizza Dip Ahead

Hot pizza dip can also easily be made ahead. Simply assemble the dip, cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Pull the dip out of the refrigerator and bake when you are ready to serve it. You might have to increase cooking time, because the uncooked dip will be very cold.

How To Make Pizza Dip In The Air Fryer

You can also cook this easy pizza dip recipe in the air fryer if you prefer:

Preheat the air fryer to 325ºF.
In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer, cream together the cream cheese, sour cream, Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
Then spread cheese mixture into the bottom of a pie tin or cake pan that fits easily into your air fryer.
Top with pizza sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese.
Top with pepperoni slices.
Cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown.
Let the dip rest for 5 minutes, then serve with chips, crusty bread, pita crackers or thick slices of bell pepper.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best baked pizza dip appetizer.

Tip: For best results, use room temperature cream cheese. Cold cream cheese will not mix together well with the other ingredients.
Tip: Taste the pizza sauce before using if it’s store bought. Not all pizza sauce is equal. Make sure you like it!
Tip: Shred your own mozzarella cheese. Pre-shredded cheese has preservatives and doesn’t melt as well or taste as good.
Tip: Do not add too much pepperoni. Pepperoni releases grease when it’s cooked and your dip will be very greasy if there’s too much pepperoni.

More Amazing Dip Recipes

If you love this hot cheesy pizza dip recipe, then you’ll enjoy these other delicious appetizer recipes:

More Delicious Pizza Recipes

If you love love pepperoni pizza dip you’ll also enjoy Grilled Pizza, Thick Crust Pizza and these easy recipes:

How To Store

Refrigerate: You can store uncooked pepperoni pizza dip in the fridge for up to 24 hours. We recommend eating baked pizza dip immediately. You can store hot pizza dip leftovers in an airtight container or wrapped tightly with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: We do not recommend freezing this dip.

How To Reheat

You can reheat leftovers in the microwave, oven or air fryer. Preheat the oven to 350ºF and bake your dip until heated through, about 10-15 minutes. For the air fryer, put your dip in a pie tin or cake pan and air fry at 325ºF for 5-10 minutes.

Common Questions

Are pizza sauce and marinara sauce the same?

Even though they contain very similar ingredients, there are some slight differences. For example pizza sauce has a thicker consistency and often contains olive oil, while marinara sauce has a lighter consistency and often contains onions or shallots. You can use both sauces in this recipe with similar results.

Can I cook hot pizza dip in the air fryer?

Yes, preheat your air fryer to 325ºF. Prepare the hot pizza dip as described in the recipe. Use a cake pan or pie tin that fits your air fryer instead of a cast iron pan. Cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes in the air fryer. Let rest for 5 minutes then serve.

Is it possible to add other toppings to this pepperoni dip?

Of course! Prepare the hot pizza dip as instructed in the recipe until the mozzarella and parmesan cheese layer. Now you can get creative and top the dip with your favorite toppings, such as green peppers, black olives or ham, for example.

What to serve with cheesy pizza dip?

You can serve this delicious pizza dip with different types of crusty bread, such as baguette slices, ciabatta, bread sticks or pizza bread. Pizza dip is also a great way to use up stale white bread. Simple cut the bread in slices and toast them in the oven until golden brown and crispy.
Pita chips, bagel chips, crackers, pretzels or thick slices of bell pepper are other great options to serve with this dip.
Oven baked pepperoni dip also makes a perfect appetizer when served with garlic knots and Italian salad.

Easy Hot Cheesy Pizza Dip Recipe

This creamy and cheesy hot pizza dip has everything you love in pizza. Enjoy dipping crusty bread, vegetables or crackers in this game day favorite.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword baked cheese dip, cheesy pepperoni dip, hot pizza dip, pepperoni pizza dip, pizza dip

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 247kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

Medium Bowl
hand mixer
spatula
cast iron pan or other oven safe pan, or baking dish

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese softened
½ cup sour cream
1½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
⅛ tsp garlic powder
1¼ cups pizza sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
¼ cup parmesan cheese grated
10 slices of pepperoni

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
Using a hand mixer, beat until creamy and smooth.
Spread the cream cheese mixture into the bottom of a cast iron skillet or pie dish.
Spread the pizza sauce over the cream cheese mixture.
Sprinkle the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses over the top of the pizza sauce.
Top the cheese with pepperoni slices. Add more if you prefer a lot of pepperoni. Note that pepperoni expresses grease when cooked, so too much pepperoni could make your dip extra greasy.
Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown.
Serve while warm.

Notes

RECIPE NOTES:

Add more or less cheese, depending on your taste.
Optional: Add an ⅛ teaspoon of salt to the cream cheese mixture.
Use any pizza toppings you prefer. Try sliced olives, mushrooms, peppers, or sausage.
To make ahead, prepare the dip up until the point of cooking but do not cook. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Cooking time may increase if ingredients are very cold.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

Serve with crusty bread, pita chips or crackers.
Serve as an appetizer with Italian Salad and garlic knots.

Nutrition

The post Easy Hot Cheesy Pizza Dip Recipe appeared first on Family Dinners.

Air Fried Fish Tacos

Andrea + Stef — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 02:26:00 +0000

Looking for some new inspiration to mix up your Taco Tuesday routine? We have found the perfect simple recipe in our mouth watering air fried fish tacos. You will love these crispy shells filled with flakey air fried tilapia, crisp veggies, fresh cheese and delicious salsa.

Impress your whole family and guests with an amazing Mexican feast by combining some of our easy to follow recipes. Homemade Air Fryer Taco Shells, Air Fried Fish, tangy Mango Habanero Salsa and creamy cilantro lime sour cream make this air fryer fish tacos recipe absolutely irresistible.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: crispy fried fish, crunchy vegetables and mouth watering sauces create the perfect mix of textures and flavors
Main Ingredients: white fish filets, panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, oil, tortillas, cilantro, salsa, queso fresco, shredded cabbage, sour cream, black beans and spices
Cooking Method: air fryer
Cooking Time: 20 minutes prep time, 15 minutes cook time
Pairs well with: pico de gallo, guacamole, Mexican rice, black beans
Special Equipment Needed: air fryer, shallow dish, knife and cutting board

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this flavorful air fryer fish tacos recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this tilapia fish tacos recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Air Fryer Fried Fish Ingredients

1 lb white fish fillets (cut into 1 inch strips)
½ cup panko crumbs
½ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ tsp garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon oil

Taco Topping Ingredients

8 Air Fryer Taco Shells (or plain corn tortillas)
2 tablespoon cilantro (chopped)
½ cup Mango Habanero Salsa
½ cup Queso Fresco (or any crumbly Mexican Cheese)
½ cup shredded cabbage or crunchy slaw
½ cup Cilantro Lime Sour Cream (or plain sour cream)
½ cup Black Beans
fresh lime wedges

Variations and Substitutions

White Fish Filets: We recommend using a firm white fish that is mild in flavor such as tilapia fillet, sea bass, cod or mahi mahi filet, for example.

Bread Crumbs: Use regular panko bread crumbs or substitute Italian bread crumbs. When using Italian bread crumbs, omit the Italian seasoning.

Italian Seasoning: You can substitute plain oregano, or make your own Italian seasoning by mixing oregano, dried basil, and thyme.

Oil: We like to use oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable oil or avocado oil, for example.

Cilantro Lime Sour Cream: You can substitute your favorite lime crema. Additionally, you can simply mix some greek yogurt with lime juice, in case you prefer a healthier option.

Gluten Free Substitutions

To make your air fried fish tacos gluten free, use gluten free bread crumbs. Make sure your corn tortillas are gluten free. Some brands mix flour into corn tortillas so look for the “gluten free” label on your package.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you loved this simple recipe for yummy air fried fish tacos, then try our Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas. You’ll love them because they are an easy and delicious one-pan meal packed with veggies, protein, and smoky chipotle flavors.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook crispy fish tacos in the air fryer, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

MAKE BREADING: Firstly, combine bread crumbs, parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika and black pepper in a shallow bowl.

PREPARE FISH: After brushing the fresh fish with 2 tablespoons of oil, gently roll it in the panko mixture to cover. Afterwards, put gentle pressure on the fish to make the seasoning stick to the fish, using your hands or a rolling pin. The crispy coating will stay on the fish better this way and less will fall off while cooking.

PLACE IN AIR FRYER: Then spray your air-fryer basket/tray with cooking spray to prevent fish from sticking. Place pieces of fish into the air fryer basket/tray in a single layer. Make sure there is space in between each piece of fish. Do not overcrowd the basket. You may need to cook the fish in batches. Use air fryer parchment paper to keep the fish from sticking.

AIR FRY: Cook at 400°F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cook time depends on the thickness and width of your fish pieces. Therefore check on the fish intermittently. Internal temperature should be 145°F.

SERVE: Warm the tortillas in the microwave or a skillet, or air fry them to make crispy tacos. Then place a piece of fish into your tortilla. Top with chopped cabbage, crumbled cheese, salsa, cilantro and any other toppings you choose!

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love meaty tacos as much as food truck fish tacos then you’ll love our Instant Pot Carnitas. They are tender, juicy, crispy on the outside, melt in your mouth and bursting with flavor.

Stef says….

I always add my super yummy Mango Avocado Salsa to these amazing air fryer fish tacos.

Make Ahead

If you are in a time crunch, here are a couple of ways to pre-prep fried fish tacos.

You can prepare most taco toppings in advance, then store them individually in airtight containers in the fridge. Black beans and refried beans can easily be made a day ahead. Then simply reheat when you are ready to serve the tacos. Additionally you can shred the cabbage and crumble the cheese in advance.

Most Mexican condiments like salsa and guacamole are best made fresh. However, they can be prepared a couple of hours ahead of time. The added lemon and lime juice as well as storing them in the fridge will keep them fresh until ready to serve.

Air fried fish is ready in only 16 minutes, so there is no real need to make the tilapia ahead of time. Fried fish is definitely best when eaten fresh.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best air fried fish tacos.

Tip: Cut your fish into thin strips. Wide pieces of fried fish don’t work well in fish tacos because corn tortillas are small.
Tip: Press the bread crumb mixture into the fish. If the crumbs are falling off they’ll blow off in the air fryer.
Tip: Balance the textures in the tortilla. Fish tacos need a good mixture of crunchy, spicy and soft ingredients inside the tortilla. Cabbage works well for a crunch so don’t skip that if you’re using soft corn tortillas.

What To Serve With Air Fried Fish Tacos

We love to eat street tacos with air fried fish all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Fish: Not in the mood to bread fish? Air fryer tilapia is another absolutely scrumptious, quick and easy option to make fish tacos with.

Mexican Condiments: Pair these air fryer baja fish tacos with homemade Pico De Gallo, Salsa with Canned Tomatoes, Mango Habanero Salsa, Guacamole, Queso Blanco ,or Cilantro Lime Sour Cream.

Sides: We love serving healthy air fryer tacos with homemade Air Fryer Taco Shells, Black Beans, Instant Pot Refried Beans, Cilantro Lime Rice or Mexican Rice.

How To Store

Refrigerate: We recommend storing all taco toppings separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Let any air fryer fried fish leftovers cool completely. Then store them in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Already assembled fish tacos need to be eaten right away.

More Taco Recipes

If you are also a big fan of everything taco related, her are some of our other easy and delicious Mexican inspired taco recipes:

How To Reheat

Reheating: Reheating air fried fish in the air fryer is super easy and beats reheating it in the microwave by miles. To bring your fried fish back to almost perfect crispiness, simply put your pre-cooked fish back into the air fryer and cook at 400ºF for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Your fish fingers should once again be crunchy on the outside and soft and flaky on the inside.

Common Questions

What kind of fish can I use to make air fryer fried fish?

Any mild tasting white fish works well with this easy dinner recipe. Besides tilapia and cod, you can also try haddock, halibut, grouper, pollock, flounder or whiting.

Are air fried fish tacos healthy?

Yes, because fish cooked in the air fryer uses a lot less oil than traditional deep fried fish. Additionally, most taco toppings are fresh, cut up vegetables. Eating fish tacos therefore also provides you with a healthy serving of raw, nutritious vegetables.

Air Fried Fish Tacos Recipe

These crispy taco shells filled with battered and air fried tilapia, crunchy vegetables and delicious salsa will be a sure hit on your next taco night.

Course dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword air fryer, air fryer tilapia, battered fish tacos, fish, fish tacos, habanero salsa, how to make fish tacos, tacos

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Total Time 35

Servings tacos

Calories 255kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

knife and cutting board
shallow dish
Air Fryer

Ingredients

Air Fryer Fried Fish

1 lb white fish filets cut into 1 inch strips
½ cup panko bread crumbs
½ cup parmesan cheese grated
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tbsps oil high heat oil like vegetable oil or avocado oil

Taco Toppings

8 Air Fryer Fried Tortillas or plain corn tortillas
2 tbsps cilantro chopped fresh
½ cup Mango Habanero Salsa
½ cup Queso Fresco or any crumbly Mexican cheese
½ cup shredded cabbage
½ cup Cilantro Lime Sour Cream or plain sour cream
½ cup Black Beans optional

Instructions

Air Fryer Fried Fish:

Combine bread crumbs, parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika and black pepper in a shallow dish.
Brush fish with oil.
Gently roll fish in the crumb mixture to coat. Press down to prevent it from falling off while cooking.
Spray the air fryer basket/tray with cooking spray or use air fryer parchment sheets. Place fish into the basket.
Cook at 400°F for 10-12 minute. Cook time depends on the thickness and width of your fish. Internal temperature should be 145°F.
Remove from the air fryer.

Make Tacos:

Warm the tortillas in the microwave or a skillet, or air fry them to make crispy tacos.
Place a piece of fish into your tortilla. Top with chopped cabbage, crumbled cheese, salsa, cilantro and any other toppings you choose!

Notes

Use your favorite type of fish. We love using our Air Fryer Fried Fish recipe.
Substitute the mango habanero salsa for pico de gallo or your favorite salsa.

Nutrition

The post Air Fried Fish Tacos appeared first on Family Dinners.

Meatball Stuffed Biscuits

Andrea + Stef — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 07:06:00 +0000

This easy recipe for mozzarella and meatball stuffed biscuits comes out absolutely delicious and can be baked in the oven or air fryer. Flaky layer biscuits are stuffed with juicy meatballs and melty cheese before being topped with a flavorful mixture of Italian herbs, garlic and salt. Serve these warm biscuits with meaty centers as a scrumptious appetizer, game day snack or fun weeknight dinner. For best flavor, dip these homemade biscuit bites into warm marinara sauce. Everyone will love this tasty crowd pleaser.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: fluffy biscuits filled with gooey melted cheese and tender meatballs, they are soft, flaky and most flavorful
Main Ingredients: canned biscuit dough, cooked meatballs, mozzarella cheese, olive oil, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic salt
Cooking Method: oven baked
Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time, 20 minutes cook time
Pairs well with: fresh green salad, pasta salad, warm marinara sauce, fries
Special Equipment Needed: pie pan, knife and cutting board, pastry brush

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this meatball stuffed biscuits recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making these garlicy biscuits with meatballs you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Meatball Stuffed Biscuits Ingredients

1 can Grands biscuit dough
16 pre-cooked meatballs
16 cubes of mozzarella
1 tablespoon olive oil
1-2 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ tsp garlic salt

Substitutions

Meatballs: Use one of our favorite meatball recipes: Italian Style Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs, Air Fryer Meatballs, Turkey Meatballs, Buffalo Chicken Meatballs. A bag of ready-made meatballs works in a pinch.

Mozzarella: Use fresh low moisture mozzarella cheese, such as cut up sticks of string cheese, thick deli slices mozzarella, or shredded mozzarella.

Biscuits: We like Grands by Pillsbury, however, any kind of refrigerated canned biscuits should work fine. In case you don’t have any canned biscuits at hand, you can also use refrigerated canned crescent dough or pizza dough.

Possible Variations

Add Veggies: Use your favorite vegetables like onions, black olives, mushrooms, or spinach.

Swap Cheeses: Provolone or swiss cheese would pair well.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this delicious mini meatball sandwich recipe, try our Meatball Calzones. You’ll love them because they are so easy to make and ready in no time. Switch up the pizza toppings and you’ll never eat the same version twice!

Recommended Tools

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Pie Pan — We are using a 9inch pie plate for this recipe. However, a square baking dish would work well too. Make sure to grease the baking dish with butter, oil, or cooking spray. If you don’t want to grease the pan, you could cut out a round sheet of parchment paper.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook meatball stuffed biscuits in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

PREPARE: Firstly, heat oven to 350ºF, then grease the bottom of a 9 inch pie dish using butter or non stick cooking spray.

SHAPE THE BISCUIT DOUGH: Open the canned biscuits, separate dough and cut each one in half. Then roll each half into a ball, and flatten it into a small circle.

ADD MOZZARELLA AND MEATBALL: Afterwards, place a piece of cheese and one delicious meatball into the center of each biscuit circle.

COVER AND ROLL BISCUITS: Pull the sides of the dough up and wrap dough around the cheese and juicy meatball. Roll each biscuit bite between your hands until it’s round.

PLACE IN DISH: Place each dough ball seam-side down in the greased baking dish. Afterward, brush biscuits with olive oil, if you like, before sprinkling the tops with parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt.

COOK: Bake for 20 minutes until the tops are golden brown. Finally, brush the tops with olive oil and serve with a cup marinara sauce!

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love juicy meatballs with melty cheese then you’ll love our Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders. These chicken meatball sliders are great for game day appetizers or a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

Make Ahead

You can prepare these yummy biscuit bites a couple of hours ahead of time. (Follow steps 1-7 of the recipe.) Then cover tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. That way there wont be any prep time left by the time you are ready to bake them, and dinner is ready in only 15 minutes.

Air Fryer Cooking Method

You can also cook your stuffed biscuits in the air fryer. Simply place meatball biscuit bites into the air fryer basket in a single layer so they are not touching. You might have to do two sets, depending on the size of your air fryer. Cook in the air fryer at 350ºF for 5-6 minutes. Remove from air fryer when the tops are a deep golden brown and they are baked through. See our Air Fryer 3 Cheese Bites, Air Fryer Pizza Bites or Air Fryer Breakfast Bites.

Andrea says….

These flaky biscuits are super easy. I like to make them ahead and store them in the fridge so when we’re ready to eat we just pop them into the oven. I love to add a little green side salad to make it a meal.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best mozzarella and meatball biscuit bites.

Tip: For best flavor, use your own homemade meatballs. For sake of ease, you can also use your favorite pre-made meatballs as well.
Tip: Make sure the biscuits are closed up so they don’t open and leak cheese all over.
Tip: Baste with melted butter, garlic butter or olive oil so the tops don’t dry out.

What To Serve With Meatball Stuffed Biscuits

We love to eat cheesy meatball-stuffed biscuits all by themselves as a Super Bowl snack or appetizer. But sometimes you need to serve them as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Other Appetizers: Combine mouthwatering meatball sub bombs with other scrumptious starters such as our Spinach Artichoke Dip, Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells or Hot Pizza Dip for your game day or Super Bowl recipes.

Salad: Pair these yummy meatball and mozzarella biscuits with a fresh salad. A green salad like our amazing Italian Salad or Strawberry Avocado Salad. Or even a Caprese Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.

Sides: Traditionally, gooey mozzarella cheese and meatball biscuits are served with a dip. Our homemade marinara sauce is the perfect addition to this yummy dish.

More Biscuit Bites Recipes

We love making these flaky treats with a cheesy or meaty surprise because they are so versatile. You can serve them as an appetizer, game day treat, after school snack or fun main course. Here are our other favorite stuffed biscuit recipes:

STORAGE TIPS

Refrigerate: Keep meatball sub bites in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freeze: Once they have cooled completely, place the meatball stuffed biscuits in a freezer safe container or freezer bag and freeze for 2 months.

Defrosting: Allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature.

How To Reheat

To reheat, place them back in the oven, air fryer, or microwave and heat until they are warmed all of the way through.

Common Questions

Are meatball stuffed biscuits gluten free?

For these to be gluten free, you would want to be sure you use a gluten free dough. Also, if you are making your own meatballs and are using breadcrumbs, those need to be gluten free as well.

What goes good with meatball subs?

Meatball stuffed little biscuits are in fact one of those foods that you could eat with just about anything. From salads, chips, and fries, to a side of veggies the choices are endless.

What are the best meatballs to use?

We like using our homemade meatballs, but this is a personal preference based on taste and the amount of time you have. We’ve made them from ground beef, pork, and chicken; all which turned out delicious!

Meatball Stuffed Biscuits Recipe

Mozzarella meatball biscuit balls are the best appetizer for parties and game days. They are also simple to make, which makes them an easy weeknight dinner idea.

Course Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword biscuits stuffed with mozzarella and meatballs, meatball biscuits, meatball stuffed biscuits, mozzarella and meatball biscuit bites

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings biscuit bites

Calories 116kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

pie dish
knife and cutting board
pastry brush

Ingredients

1 can Grands Biscuit Dough
16 cooked meatballs
16 cubes of mozzarella
1 tablespoon olive oil
1-2 tablespoons grated parmesan
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
½ teaspoon garlic salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°.
Grease the bottom of a 9 inch pie dish.
Separate the biscuits. Cut in half. Roll each half into a ball then, using your hands, flatten them into rounds.
Place a piece of mozzarella and a meatball in the center of the round.
Use your hands to pull the biscuit dough up to cover entire meatball. Seal the seams and roll the ball in your hands to make it round.
Place in the pie dish.
Sprinkle each bomb with some grated parmesan, Italian seasoning and garlic salt.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until each bomb is golden brown.
Brush tops with olive oil. Serve with marinara sauce.

Notes

For the mozzarella, use fresh mozzarella, cut up mozzarella string cheese or shredded mozzarella.
Optional: brush tops of bombs with olive oil before sprinkling with seasoning before cooking.
Use any type of meatball you enjoy.

Nutrition

The post Meatball Stuffed Biscuits appeared first on Family Dinners.

Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

Andrea + Stef — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 01:58:00 +0000

Easy mozzarella cheese stuffed meatballs are cheesy, tender, and bursting with flavor. We love them as our main course, but you can also make them into sliders, subs, calzones and even serve them with spaghetti noodles and homemade tomato sauce!

These cheesy meatballs make the absolute best entree when you smother them in our homemade marinara sauce. They are oven baked to perfection, but the other reason we really love these is that they take only 35 minutes to make, so time is never an issue. These are one of the best Italian meatballs, and your whole family will love them. Moreover, this cheesy meatballs recipe is usually a game day fave, along with buffalo chicken meatballs.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: tender and juicy pork and beef meatballs filled with melty mozzarella pieces, undoubtedly one of our absolute favorite meatball recipes
Main Ingredients: ground beef, ground pork (or pork sausage), breadcrumbs, milk, egg, parsley, parmigiano reggiano cheese, garlic, mozzarella cubes and spices
Cooking Method: oven baked
Nutrients: low carb meatballs that are a good source of protein
Cooking Time: 20 minutes prep time, 15 minutes cook time
Pairs well with: pasta, crusty bread, sandwiches
Diets: keto friendly
Special Equipment Needed: sheet pan, mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons, knife and cutting board, cookie scoop, instant read thermometer

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this easy mozzarella cheese stuffed meatballs recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making these cheesy meatballs you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Meatball Ingredients

½ pound lean ground beef
½ pound ground pork (or pork sausage)
½ cup breadcrumbs
¼ cup milk
1 egg
2 tablespoon parsley (chopped)
¼ cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese (or parmesan cheese)
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
6 garlic cloves (minced)
24 mozzarella cubes (4 mozzarella string cheese sticks cut into 6 pieces each)

Variations and Substitutions

Ground Meat: We are using a 1 to 1 ratio of beef and pork. You can substitute pork sausage for the ground pork, or use only beef, if you prefer. You can also substitute ground chicken or ground turkey, in case that is your personal preference.

Breadcrumbs: Regular or panko breadcrumbs will work.

Milk: Any percentage of fat will do. However, if you are using a plant based milk, choose unsweetened.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this juicy meatball and fresh mozzarella recipe, try our Easy Dump and Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole. You’ll love it because all you have to do is mix the ingredients in a baking dish, cover and bake.

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Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a small commission of the sale.

Baking Sheet — We recommend lining the sheet pan with parchment paper, that way the meatballs do not stick to the pan and clean up is quick and easy. If you don’t have parchment paper, you can spray the baking sheet with cooking spray or line it with foil.

Cookie Scoop – Using a cookie scoop helps to ensure each meatball is the same size.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook mozzarella stuffed meatballs in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full recipe with step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below..

PREPARE: Firstly, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 400ºF.

SOFTEN BREADCRUMBS: Then, combine the milk and breadcrumbs in a large bowl and let it sit for 3-5 minutes.

MIX: Afterwards, add the remaining ingredients except for the mozzarella and mix together with your hands.

FORM MEATBALLS: Divide meat mixture into 24 meatballs that are about the same size. Form a flat disk in the palm of your hand with each portion of meatball mixture. Then place a piece of mozzarella cheese in the center of each ball. Fold the meat mixture over the mozzarella ball so that it’s in the middle and the meat is covering it altogether.

COOK: Afterward, sit the meatballs on the baking sheet leaving a couple of inches between each one. Then bake for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.

SERVE: Finally, remove from the oven and serve with pasta, marinara sauce, or your favorite side dish.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love meatball sandwiches then you’ll love our Meatball Stuffed Biscuits. They are the perfect appetizer for parties and game days. They are super easy to make, and therefore also an ideal weeknight dinner.

Andrea says….

You cannot beat mozzarella stuffed meatballs. These are good with anything you’d usually put a meatball on. We like to serve them with marinara sauce and this easy green greek salad recipe.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best mozzarella meatballs.

Tip: Do not overmix meatball ingredients, or otherwise your meatballs will be tough.
Tip: The meat mixture will be sticky. We therefore recommend wearing gloves or slightly oiling your hands.
Tip: Make sure your meatballs are all approximately the same size. That way they cook evenly. A cookie scoop helps keeping meatball sizes equal.

What To Serve With Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

We love to eat cheese-stuffed meatballs all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve them as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Bread: Serve this easy mozzarella meatball recipe with crusty bread or soft dinner rolls. Our Garlic Bread is made with fresh parmesan cheese and store-bought french bread. If you have extra time make Pizza Dough Garlic Knots.

Salad: Pair these yummy meatballs with a fresh salad. A green salad like our amazing Italian Salad or Strawberry Avocado Salad. Or even a Caprese Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.

Sides: Traditionally, gooey mozzarella cheese meatballs are served on a bed of pasta (or zucchini noodles) with pasta sauce. Our homemade marinara sauce is the perfect addition to these beef and pork meatballs.

More Meatball Recipes

If you love meatballs, then you have to try our other amazing homemade meatball recipes. No matter if you want to try chicken, turkey, Italian or air fryer meatballs, we have got you covered.

How To Use Meatballs

You can use these scrumptious cheesy meatball directly to make delicious Fettuccine Pesto, Meatball Sub Sandwiches, Meatball Calzones or Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders. However, these scrumptious recipes can also come in handy for using up leftovers:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Let your cheese stuffed meatballs cool completely. Afterwards, you can refrigerate them in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: If you plan to freeze the meatballs before eating, undercook them slightly. Then let them cool completely before you transfer them to a freezer safe sealed container or freezer bag. Freeze them for up to 3 months. After they’re defrosted, cook them thoroughly, testing the internal temperature to make sure they’re 165°F.

Defrosting: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

How To Reheat

You can warm fully cooked leftover mozzarella stuffed meatballs in the microwave or in the oven until heated through.

Common Questions

Is it better to bake meatballs or fry?

Baking meatballs doesn’t require oil or butter and you don’t have to constantly watch or stir them compared to frying. Frying can also lead to overcooked meatballs that may not be as tender, however, the cooking method is usually a personal preference.

What is the secret to tender meatballs?

To keep meatballs tender you want to be sure that you don’t overmix the meat mixture and you cook just until the internal temperature is 165 degrees.

Can you freeze mozzarella stuffed meatballs?

You can freeze the stuffed meatballs raw or after they have been cooked. However, if you are going to bake them and immediately freeze before eating, it’s best to undercook them slightly.

Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs Recipe

These cheese stuffed meatballs are oozing with flavor and mozzarella that goes great with spaghetti or a marinara dipping sauce.

Course Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword cheese stuffed meatballs, cheesy meatballs, easy mozzarella cheese stuffed meatballs, mozzarella stuffed meatballs

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Total Time 35

Servings meatballs

Calories 147kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

baking sheet and parchment paper
knife and cutting board
mixing bowl
cookie scoop

Ingredients

½ pound ground beef
½ pound ground pork or pork sausage
½ cup breadcrumbs
¼ cup milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons parsley chopped
¼ cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
6 cloves garlic minced
24 mozzarella cubes 4 mozzarella string cheese sticks cut into 6 pieces each

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place parchment paper on your baking sheet.
Combine breadcrumbs and milk in a bowl. Let sit for 3-5 minutes to soften breadcrumbs.
Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl, except mozzarella. Mix together with your hands.
Form 24 equal size meatballs.
Add a piece of cheese to each meatball. Using your hands, make sure meat is surrounding the cheese. Roll in your hands to make a round, uniform shape.
Place meatballs on your baking sheet.
Cook for 15-18 minutes. Meatballs will be done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Remove from the oven and enjoy.

Notes

It can be helpful to use gloves or oil your hands before forming meatballs to prevent them from sticking to your hands.
If you plan to freeze the meatballs before eating, undercook them. After they’re defrosted, cook them thoroughly, testing the internal temperature to make sure they’re 165°F.
You can refrigerate meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

More Recipes You’ll Love:

Easy Lasagna: Make quick lasagna with your favorite jar of marinara sauce.
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon: This easy side dish is a delicious way to eat your veggies.
Garlic French Bread: Buy a loaf of french bread and make it better with our cheesy garlic butter.
Homemade Red Wine Marinara Sauce: This easy marinara sauce is bursting with flavor and pairs perfectly with these meatballs.
Red Wine Sangria: Have a little sangria with your meal! Or try this delicious Fall Sangria recipe.
Easy Dump and Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole: Use your leftover meatballs in this delicious pasta meal.

Nutrition

The post Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs appeared first on Family Dinners.

Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders

Andrea + Stef — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:31:00 +0000

These Hawaiian roll meatball sliders taste just like the real thing, except no fork needed! Similar to a meatball sub, but less messy. Meatball and cheese sliders make the perfect game day snack, party snack or fun main course meal.

If you have a soft spot for the classic chicken parmesan, these oven baked Hawaiian roll sliders are going to blow you away. Not only are they packed with flavor, but you will only need simple ingredients, which you probably already have at home.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: Sweet Hawaiian buns, melted cheese, savory meatballs and parmesan topping make the most amazing pull apart meatball sliders. These mini meatball subs are easy to make and can feed a crowd.
Main Ingredients: slider rolls, mozzarella cheese, chicken meatballs, parmesan cheese, butter, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder
Cooking Method: oven baked
Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time, 25 minutes cooking time
Pairs well with: fresh green salad, pasta salad, antipasto salad, wedges and fries
Special Equipment Needed: 9×13-inch baking dish, measuring spoons and cups, cutting board and knife

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this Hawaiian roll meatball sliders recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making these cheesy Italian meatball sliders you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Slider Sandwiches Ingredients

12 Hawaiian sweet rolls, dinner rolls or slider buns
12 slices of fresh mozzarella cheese
24 cooked meatballs (We made our own chicken meatballs but you can make your own or buy from the grocery store and cook them in the air fryer.)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup marinara sauce (plus more for dipping)
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese (plus 2 tablespoon for sprinkling on top)
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder

Variations and Substitutions

Cheese: You can substitute the fresh mozzarella slices for other types of cheese like provolone, pepper jack, Monterey jack or shredded mozzarella.

Marinara: Try the best homemade marinara sauce, it’s delicious! As a quick and easy option you can purchase a jar from the store, like Rao’s.

Chicken Meatballs: We love using our favorite chicken parmesan meatball recipe, however, you can grab some from the frozen section as well. You can also use cooked breaded chicken breast pieces in this recipe.

Instead of using chicken meatballs, make chicken breast in the Instant Pot and dice or shred it for the sliders.

Stuffed Meatball Sliders: Use our mozzarella stuffed meatballs to make these even cheesier.

Italian Meatball Sliders: For a traditional meatball sub feel, use Stef’s famous Italian meatballs.

Turkey Meatball Sliders: Stuffed with spinach and cheese, turkey meatballs can easily be turned into sliders.

Air Fryer meatball Sliders: An easier way than using the oven is making air fried meatballs.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you loved this easy meatball sliders recipe, try our amazing Meatball Calzones. You’ll love these because they are so easy to make, you can fill them with chicken parmesan meatballs and they taste even better than take-out.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a small commission for the sale.

Casserole Dish — We love using this glass baking dish as it cooks food evenly, you can easily see the food while it cooks and it also looks good as a serving dish.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook Hawaiian roll sliders in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

PREHEAT OVEN AND PREP DISH: Grease a 9×13 baking dish and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

SLICE SLIDER ROLLS: Cut the slider rolls and place the bottom halves in the baking dish.

BRUSH ON BUTTER: Melt a tablespoon of butter in a small bowl and brush it on the bottom half of the rolls.

ADD MARINARA: Spread the marinara sauce on top of the sliders. If you add extra sauce to your slider rolls before cooking they may become soggy. If you like more sauce, consider putting a layer of cheese on the bread then sauce.

PLACE THE MEATBALLS: Put two chicken meatballs on top of each roll.

ADD THE CHEESE: Top all the individual sandwiches with a slice of mozzarella, followed by the parmesan cheese.

ADD THE TOP BUNS: Place the top rolls on the cheese.

BASTE WITH BUTTER: Brush the sliders with melted butter. If you like your sliders extra buttery, add more melted butter before baking. Then baste the top layer of bread with delicious butter when you remove from the oven.

ADD SPICES: Sprinkle the tops of the rolls with black pepper and Italian seasoning.

COOKING TIME: Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.

UNCOVER: After 20 minutes, uncover the sliders and continue cooking for another 3 to 5 minutes. Garnish the top of the buns with fresh basil if you like, then serve and eat.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love meatball sandwiches then you’ll love our Meatball Sub Bombs. They are easy to make and the best appetizer for parties and game days. Served with a salad, they are also an easy weeknight dinner idea.

Andrea says….

This is a fun way to make meatball sandwiches. It’s great with any type of leftover meatballs or just cook up some frozen meatballs just for these.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best cheesy meatball sliders recipe.

Tip: Use sweet King’s Hawaiian rolls, as they have just the right flavor to complement the meatballs and marinara sauce.
Tip: For best results, use homemade marinara sauce. In case you are in a hurry, use your favorite sauce from the store.
Tip: Do not add too much sauce to the slider rolls, or they might get soggy. Rather serve some sauce on the side for dipping.
Tip: Don’t be shy with the butter, because it adds immense flavor to your sliders. Have you tried using garlic butter to add even more flavor?

What To Serve With Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders

We love to eat chicken parm sliders all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve them as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Sauce: Serve Hawaiian roll sliders with homemade pasta sauce, such as our best Marinara Sauce with Red Wine.

Salad: Pair these cheesy chicken meatball sliders with a fresh salad. A green salad like our amazing Italian Salad or Strawberry Avocado Salad. Or even a Caprese Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil or Antipasto Salad.

Sides: Traditionally, meatball sliders are served with Fries or Potato Wedges. It would also taste great with a fruit salad, like Stef’s Peach Burrata Salad.

Homemade Meatball Recipes

You can make all kinds of different flavored meatball sliders by using a different meatball recipe each time. We love using all of these juicy meatballs to make Hawaiian roll sliders:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Keep leftover sliders in the fridge in an air tight container or ziploc bag up to 3 days.

Freeze: We don’t recommend freezing chicken parm sliders because of the sauce. Once it’s thawed, the rolls may become soggy.

How To Reheat

Reheat Hawaiian roll meatball slider leftovers in the oven at 350ºF until heated through. We recommend keeping them covered with aluminum foil while reheating. In case it has to go quick, you can also reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds. However, be careful, because the rolls will get squishy when microwaved for too long. Additionally, you can reheat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees for a few minutes.

Common Questions

How long to bake meatball sliders?

Because our meatballs are already cooked, you only need about 25 minutes to bake, just so the cheese melts and the tops are toasted.

Is it better to use my own homemade meatballs or frozen meatballs for this recipe?

As a matter of fact you can use any kind of meatball you like. We love using one of our easy recipes for chicken, turkey or ground beef meatballs. The only thing you need to be careful about is using cooked meatballs.

When should I serve Hawaiian roll sliders?

Slider recipes are very versatile and can be served as a perfect party appetizer, delicious snack on super bowl Sunday as well as a fun main course with a crunchy salad and some potato wedges.

Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders

These chicken meatball sliders are great for game day appetizers or a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

Course Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword chicken meatball parm, chicken parm sliders, hawaiian roll meatball sliders, hawaiian roll sliders, meatball sliders

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Servings

Calories 226kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Ingredients

12 slider rolls
12 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
24 cooked chicken meatballs
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup marinara sauce plus more for dipping
⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese plus 2 tablespoons for sprinkling on top
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
Slice slider rolls in half. Put the bottom half in the baking dish.
Brush 1 tablespoon of melted butter on the rolls.
Spread ⅓ cup marinara sauce over bottom of rolls.
Place 2 meatballs on each roll.
Top each roll with a slice of mozzarella.
Sprinkle ⅓ cup parmesan cheese on top of mozzarella.
Place the slider roll tops on top of the cheese. Baste with 3 tablespoons of melted butter. Sprinkle top with Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
Bake covered for 20 minutes. Uncover and cook for 3-5 minutes.
Serve and eat.

Notes

If you like your sliders extra buttery, add more melted butter before baking. Then baste the tops with butter when you remove from the oven.
You can substitute the fresh mozzarella slices for other types of cheese like provolone or shredded mozzarella.
If you add extra sauce to your slider rolls before cooking they may become soggy. If you like more sauce, consider putting a layer of cheese on the bread then sauce.

Nutrition

The post Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders appeared first on Family Dinners.

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Andrea + Stef — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 23:15:00 +0000

This chicken parmesan meatballs recipe is great when you are looking for an easy dinner recipe, especially if you are short on time, because they are ready from start to finish in just 35 minutes. Use these tasty chicken parm meatballs in meatball sub sandwiches, casseroles, meatball pizza, spaghetti and more. Oven-baked meatballs also make a fantastic appetizer or game day snack.

You are going to love these healthy meatballs and all of the ways to serve them. Plus they go great with just about any side dish and make meal prepping really easy. One of our favorite variations is turning them into buffalo chicken meatballs.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: juicy meatballs with a ton of flavor, perfect for any meatball recipe
Main Ingredients: ground chicken, egg, bread crumbs, grated parmesan, oil, fresh garlic and spices
Cooking Method: oven baked
Nutrients: low calorie food, higher protein content with less fat compared to beef meatballs
Cooking Time: 20 minutes prep time, 15 minutes cooking time
Pairs Well With: homemade marinara, pasta, rice, Italian salad, garlic bread
Special Equipment Needed: large mixing bowl, sheet pan

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for these cheesy chicken meatballs in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! In case this is your first time making this baked chicken meatball recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Meatball Ingredients

1 pound ground chicken
1 large egg
½ cup bread crumbs
½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoon olive oil
5 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Variations and Substitutions

Italian Meatballs: These Italian meatballs are another good appetizer recipe and go great with spaghetti.

Air Fryer Meatballs: When you don’t feel like messing with the oven, make meatballs in the air fryer instead!

Turkey Meatballs: Swap the chicken out for ground turkey or make these delicious ground turkey and spinach meatballs.

Cheese Stuffed Meatballs: If you want something different or are a cheese lover go for these mozzarella stuffed meatballs.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you loved this baked chicken meatball recipe, try our amazing Meatball Calzones. You’ll love these because they are so easy to make, you can fill them with these chicken parmesan meatballs and they taste even better than take-out.

Recommended Tools

Baking Sheet — We recommend lining the baking sheet with parchment paper, that way the meatballs do not stick to the pan and clean up is quick and easy.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook chicken parmesan meatballs in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

PREHEAT OVEN AND PREP BAKING SHEET: Firstly, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

COMBINE INGREDIENTS: Then add all of the chicken meatballs ingredients to a large bowl and mix together by hand. The ground chicken mixture will be sticky. Wear gloves or slightly oil your hands to prevent the meat mixture from sticking to your hands while you roll your meatballs.

ROLL OUT MEATBALLS: Make 24 meatballs by rolling them between your hands so they are about the same size, and place them on the lined baking sheet in a single layer.

Tip: Use a cookie scoop to help form the meatballs so they are the same size.

COOKING TIME: Cook for 15 minutes, then turn the oven to broil until the meatballs are golden brown. If you make larger meatballs you will need to extend the cooking time.

SERVE: Once the meatballs have an internal temperature of 165 degrees they are safe to serve with your favorite side dishes!

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love easy comfort food for the whole family then you’ll love our Easy Dump and Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole. It is an easy to make one dish dinner that combines noodles, marinara, meatballs and mozzarella cheese.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best chicken parmesan meatballs.

Tip: Make sure your ground chicken is fully defrosted before mixing with the other ingredients. Do not overmix!
Tip: The ground chicken mixture will be sticky. Wear gloves or slightly oil your hands to prevent the meat mixture from sticking to your hands while you roll your meatballs.
Tip: Use freshly grated parmesan cheese, not pre-grated.
Tip: Make sure your meatballs are all approximately the same size. This ensures even cooking.

What To Serve With Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

We love to eat chicken parm meatballs all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Bread: Serve this delicious dinner with crusty bread or soft dinner rolls. Garlic French Bread is made with fresh parmesan cheese and store-bought french bread. If you have extra time make Pizza Dough Garlic Knots.

Salad: Pair these classic chicken parm meatballs with a fresh salad. A green salad like our amazing Italian Salad or Strawberry Avocado Salad. Or even a Caprese Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.

Sides: Traditionally, chicken meatballs are served on a bed of pasta (or zucchini noodles) with pasta sauce. It would taste great with homemade marinara.

How To Use Meatballs

Add some meatballs to our Easy Lasagna recipe, Dump and Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole, or this Creamy Meatball Fettuccine. Use these delicious meatballs in one of these yummy recipes.

How To Store

Refrigerate: You can keep leftover meatballs in an airtight container or plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Freeze: These easy meatballs can be frozen before or after they are cooked. Transfer to a freezer-safe container or freezer bags and freeze for up to 2 months.

Defrosting: Allow the meatballs to thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking or reheating.

How To Reheat

Reheat chicken parmesan meatball leftovers in the microwave, air fryer, oven or on the stovetop with sauce.

Common Questions

Why are my chicken meatballs tough?

Meatballs can be tough if the ingredients aren’t measured correctly, if they are overmixed before baking, or if they are not the same size. The smaller ones will be overcooked while the larger ones will need more time.

Are chicken meatballs healthy?

By using lean ground chicken, chicken meatballs have a higher protein content with less fat and calories when compared to beef meatballs.

Can you make chicken meatballs gluten free?

This meatball recipe is automatically gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free breadcrumbs.

How to freeze chicken parmesan meatballs?

To freeze raw chicken meatballs, after they have been rolled out place them on a baking sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes. Then transfer to a freezer bag and store for up to 2 months. To freeze cooked chicken meatballs, allow them to cool completely, then place them in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months and thaw overnight before serving.

Is it possible to cook these Italian classics on the stovetop?

Yes! You can heat a large skillet or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Then, add 1 tablespoon of oil before adding the meatballs. Afterwards reduce to medium heat and keep turning the meatballs until they are browned on all sides and cooked trough. Finally, using a meat thermometer, make sure the internal temperature has reached 165ºF.

More Meatball Recipes

Try one of our other meatball recipes!

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs Recipe

These easy, healthy chicken meatballs make for a quick dinner idea or party appetizer. Use the yummy chicken parmesan meatballs with spaghetti and marinara or in any recipe that requires meatballs.

Course Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Servings

Calories 59kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Ingredients

1 pound ground chicken
1 egg
½ cup bread crumbs
½ cup grated parmesan
2 tablespoons oil
5 garlic cloves minced
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place parchment paper on your baking sheet.
Add all the ingredients to a medium sized bowl.
Mix ingredients together with your hands.
Grease your hands. Form 24 equal size meatballs, rolling them so they are round. Place on your baking sheet.
Cook for 15 minutes. Turn oven to broil and cook on the top rack until meatballs are golden brown. Check to make sure they have an internal temperature of 165°F.
Remove from the oven and enjoy.

Notes

The chicken mixture will be sticky. Wear gloves or slightly oil your hands to prevent the meat from sticking to your hands while you roll your meatballs.
You can refrigerate meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
If you make larger meatballs you will need to extend the cooking time.

Nutrition

The post Chicken Parmesan Meatballs appeared first on Family Dinners.

Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta (Viral TikTok Recipe)

Andrea + Stef — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 20:11:34 +0000

If you are a fan of chicken Alfredo or creamy pasta, then you’ll love this super delicious crockpot Olive Garden chicken pasta. This easy slow cooker recipe only needs 5 minutes of hands on prepping and then cooks to tender perfection all by itself. It is a great set-it-and-forget-it meal! Using only simple ingredients, Italian chicken and pasta is creamy, comforting and bursting with flavor. So if you are looking for a new easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will enjoy, then this is the recipe for you. It is the best copycat Olive Garden pasta ever! It even went viral on social media!

What is Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta?

This viral TikTok chicken pasta dish is a combination of fork tender and juicy chicken with a creamy white sauce made from Italian dressing, chicken broth, parmesan and cream cheese. It is cooked to perfection in the slow cooker and then mixed with al dente pasta.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: perfectly cooked pasta with creamy, cheesy white sauce and tender chicken
Main Ingredients: Olive Garden Italian dressing, chicken broth, parmesan cheese, black pepper, cream cheese, chicken breast, pasta
Cooking Method: Crockpot
Nutrients: great source of protein with 39g per serving
Cooking Time: prep time 5 minutes, cooking time 3-8 hours
Pairs well with: Italian Salad, Caprese Salad, crispy Garlic Bread
Special Equipment Needed: slow cooker, instant read thermometer

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this chicken and cream cheese crockpot recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this TikTok recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Ingredients

1 cup Olive Garden Italian dressing
1 cup chicken broth
¼ cup of parmesan cheese, freshly grated
¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
8 oz. block of cream cheese
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, thawed (3-4 skinless chicken breasts)
8 oz cooked penne pasta

Optional Garnish

Fresh parsley
Parmesan cheese, grated

Variations and Substitutions

Italian Dressing: Substitute creamy Olive Garden dressing for any creamy Italian salad dressing.

Chicken: Substitute boneless skinless chicken breasts for boneless skinless chicken thighs.

Noodles: Use any type of pasta you prefer. Cook separately before adding to the chicken and sauce.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you loved this Italian dressing chicken pasta recipe, try our Easy Dump and Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole. You’ll love it because it is a quick and delicious one dish meal that the whole family will enjoy.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Crockpot — This recipe requires a slow cooker. We use a 6 qt. basic Crockpot brand slow cooker. It works wonderfully. If you’re planning to take your Crockpot to potlucks you’ll want to check out this one that has a locking lid. A slow cooker has an inner pot called the crock. Neither the crock nor the lid are oven safe on most machines. Do not put them in the oven.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook Olive Garden chicken pasta in the slow cooker, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

COOK THE CHICKEN: Firstly, spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Trim the excess fat off the chicken breasts and place them at the bottom of the slow cooker. Next, pour 1 cup of Olive Garden salad dressing and 1 cup chicken broth over the top of the chicken. Then, sprinkle ¼ cup parmesan cheese and black pepper over the chicken and dressing mixture. Afterwards, cut cream cheese into cubes and add to crockpot. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

Andrea says….

This viral TikTok recipe is usually made with 2 cups of salad dressing and no chicken broth. We found that created a final pasta dish that tasted like it was smothered in salad dressing.

FINISH THE SAUCE: The chicken is done when an instant-read meat thermometer inserted at the thickest part reads an internal temperature of 165°F. Afterwards shred chicken with two forks or a meat shredder. Combine chicken, dressing, and cream cheese well. Let the chicken sit in the sauce for 10 minutes to absorb the flavor.

TOSS WITH PASTA AND SERVE: Finally, add the cooked pasta to the slow cooker. Toss to combine. Sprinkle with parsley and parmesan cheese before serving.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love easy and healthy pasta dishes then you’ll love our Fettuccine Pesto. Fettuccine pesto pasta is a crowd pleasing meal with homemade pesto. Make it and toss with your favorite noodles and meat.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best crockpot Olive Garden chicken pasta.

Tip: Trim the fat or any grisly parts off the chicken before cooking.
Tip: Let shredded chicken sit in the sauce in the warm slow cooker for 10 minutes to soak up more of the sauce into the parts of the chicken that had not previously touched the sauce. This will make the chicken juicier.
Tip: Cook the pasta al dente. Then gently stir cooked pasta into the chicken and cream cheese sauce.
Tip: Before serving, sprinkle the top of the finished creamy chicken pasta with chopped fresh parsley and more freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

What To Serve With Crockpot Chicken Pasta

We love to eat crockpot chicken pasta all by itself. But sometimes you need to serve it as a complete meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Bread: Serve creamy chicken pasta with crusty bread or soft dinner rolls. Garlic French Bread is made with fresh parmesan cheese and store-bought french bread. If you have extra time make Pizza Dough Garlic Knots. These delicious garlic knots are brushed with butter, seasoning and parmesan.

Salad: Pair this Olive Garden crock pot chicken with a fresh salad. A green salad like our fabulous Italian Salad or Antipasto Tortellini Salad. Or even a Caprese Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. If you are serving this yummy pasta dish during summer, serve it with Stef’s incredible Peach Burrata Salad.

Italian Inspired Dessert: Serve a slice of Limoncello Loaf Cake for dessert. This sweet lemon quick bread is moist and fluffy and topped with a boozy limoncello glaze. It tastes even better topped with a scoop of Andrea’s Strawberry Sorbet.

Stef says….

I love this super yummy pasta dish, because it is very easy to fix and forget! You can cook for just 3 hours of on low for 8 hours while you work.

How To Store

Refrigerate: Let the creamy chicken pasta cool completely before transfering into an airtight container or ziploc bag. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freeze: Crockpot Olive Garden chicken pasta leftovers can be frozen in a freezer safe container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Divide the pasta leftovers into individual servings before freezing, for easy portion control when defrosting.

Defrosting: Thaw in the fridge overnight.

More Pasta Recipes

Italian pasta dishes are always huge crowd pleasers in our family and they never get boring. Not only can you vary the pasta shape, but you can get super creative with sauces and what kind of meat or seafood you want to add. Some of our absolute favorites are Shrimp Fettuccine, Baked Ravioli and of course Lasagna.

How To Reheat

Reheat slow cooker chicken pasta leftovers in the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop.

Common Questions

Is there a low carb version of this dish?

In fact, you can easily turn this scrumptious dish into a low carb meal by serving it over spaghetti squash or zoodles (zucchini noodles) instead of regular pasta. Moreover, you can serve creamy Olive Garden chicken over steamed or stir fried vegetables.

What kind of pasta works best for this slow cooker Olive Garden chicken pasta recipe?

As a matter of fact you can use pretty much any pasta shape you prefer. This amazing sauce works well with penne, bow-tie or ziti pasta, for example. However, you can use long pasta, such as spaghetti, fettuccine or linguine as well.

Are there any tasty add ins for this creamy slow cooker dinner?

In case you want to add some extra flavor to you creamy pasta dish, we recommend adding some Italian seasoning, chopped garlic or chili flakes, for example. Moreover, you can boost the flavor of your sauce with chopped sun dried tomatoes, sliced black olives or sliced and sautéed mushrooms.

Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta (Viral TikTok Recipe)

This creamy chicken pasta recipe is a mouthwatering combination of Italian flavors, cream cheese, chicken and pasta. It is prepped in only 5 minutes and cooks hands off in the crockpot.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword creamy chicken pasta, crockpot chicken alfredo, Olive Garden crockpot chicken pasta, slow cooker creamy chicken pasta, viral tiktok pasta chips

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 3

Total Time 3 5

Servings servings

Calories 596kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

slow cooker
forks
cooking spoon or spatula

Ingredients

1 cup Olive Garden Italian dressing or any creamy Italian dressing
1 cup chicken broth
¼ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
¼ teaspoon black pepper freshly cracked
8 oz cream cheese
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast thawed, 3-4 breasts
8 oz cooked pasta

Instructions

Spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.
Trim the fat off the chicken breasts and place chicken into the crockpot.
Pour 1 cup of Olive Garden Italian dressing and 1 cup chicken broth over the top of the chicken.
Sprinkle ¼ cup parmesan cheese over the top. Then top evenly with black pepper.
Cut cream cheese into cubes. Add to crockpot.
Place lid on slow cooker and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
Chicken is done when an instant-read meat thermometer reads 165°F.
Shred chicken with two forks or a meat shredder.
Mix together shredded chicken, dressing, and cream cheese well. Let chicken sit in the sauce for 10 minutes to absorb the sauce.
Add cooked pasta to the slow cooker. Toss to combine.
Serve.

Notes

Substitute Olive Garden dressing for any creamy Italian salad dressing.
Substitute boneless skinless chicken breasts for boneless skinless chicken thighs.
Use any type of pasta you prefer. Cook separately before adding to the chicken and sauce.
Keep the lid on and turn to the warm setting if you aren’t ready to serve yet.
Serve the chicken pasta in the crockpot or transfer to a serving bowl.

Nutrition

The post Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta (Viral TikTok Recipe) appeared first on Family Dinners.

Air Fryer Pasta Chips (Viral Tiktok Pasta Chips)

Andrea + Stef — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 00:11:34 +0000

You have probably already heard about air fryer pasta chips since they have become a viral tiktok sensation. But did you know how quick and easy they are to make? It takes less than 10 minutes to turn leftover pasta into a crispy, crunchy and perfectly seasoned appetizer or fun snack. You can easily vary flavor by coating the pasta in different seasoning blends and serving them with a variety of dipping sauces. This is the best air fryer pasta chips recipe and it will surely be a huge hit with your family as well.

What are Air Fryer Pasta Chips?

Pasta chips are made from cooked pasta that is coated in olive oil and spices and then cooked to crispy perfection in the air fryer. Their texture resembles the crispy bits at the edges of the top of a lasagna. They can be seasoned with whatever spices you prefer and taste amazing with lots of different dips. They are a lot healthier than traditional deep fried chips and can also be made gluten free or vegan depending on the type of pasta you use. Pasta chips, air fryer style, are the perfect snack!

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: Delicious, crispy and crunchy air fried pasta with a slight chew in the middle. This easy recipe makes a great snack. These are a healthier snack option than regular potato chips.
Main Ingredients: ziti pasta, olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper
Cooking Method: air fryer
Nutrients: pasta chips have about 60% less fat than regular chips
Cook Time: 1 minute prep time, 8 minutes cooking time
Pairs well with: marinara sauce, garlic sauce, pesto, whipped feta
Diets: vegetarian
Special Equipment Needed: air fryer

Ingredients

You may have all of these air fryer pasta chips ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts and print the recipe.

Pantry Ingredients: ziti pasta, olive oil
Refrigerated/Frozen Ingredients: parmesan cheese
Produce Ingredients: garlic
Spices: Italian seasoning, salt, pepper

Variations

Pasta: Use your favorite types of pasta noodles with different pasta shapes like bowtie pasta, penne pasta, gluten-free pasta, rigatoni pasta, farfalle pasta, or broken lasagna noodles.

Spices: Add a little red pepper flakes for a bit of spice or try a different type of seasoning mix.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love crispy air fryer pasta then you’ll love our Air Fryer Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells. Carnitas and cheese stuffed into tender pasta shells, then air fried to crispy, flavor-bursting perfection.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook pasta chips in the air fryer, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below. You can print the recipe with or without photos.

PREPARE: Cook pasta according to package directions on the box of pasta for al dente pasta. In a large mixing bowl, toss al dente cooked pasta with 1 tablespoon of olive oil until well coated.

AIR FRY: Working in batches, spread a single layer of pasta in the basket of your air fryer. Be sure there is space between each noodle and avoid overcrowding. Then cook at 400° for about 8 minutes until noodles are beginning to blister and are just lightly golden brown.

ADD SPICES: While the pasta is cooking, mix together the remaining olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, and pepper. Afterwards, drizzle the olive oil mixture over the blistered pasta and toss (in the air fryer basket). Cook for 2-3 minutes longer until the pasta is golden brown.

FINISH AND SERVE: Toss cooked pasta chips with the parmesan cheese and serve immediately. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you want to turn leftover pasta shells into a crunchy, spicy and cheesy snack that’s sure to please a crowd, then Chipotle Chicken Stuffed Pasta is the perfect recipe for you. These shells are air fried until they’re crispy on the outside and gooey in the middle.

Stef says….

Did you know that you can also deep fry pasta? I cannot get enough of these crispy Fried Raviolis. They are breaded in a seasoned panko or breadcrumb coating and then deep fried into a perfect bite-sized snack. Yum!

Make Pasta Chips in the Oven

In case you don’t have an air fryer you can also make pasta chips in the oven or convection oven. Preheat the oven to 400ºF, then bake for 20-25 minutes. Oven-baked pasta chips wont be as crispy as air fried ones, but they are still absolutely delicious.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best tiktok pasta chips.

Tip: Use long, tube shaped pasta. These are easy to grab and great for dipping, as they hold some dip in the opening. We like ziti, penne, or rigatoni.
Tip: Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Only cook single layers of pasta at once. Otherwise your chips wont crisp up properly.
Tip: Don’t skip the parmesan cheese. The cheese adds immense flavor.
Tip: Serve with a dip. These pasta chips are perfect for dipping into I Mediterranean dips.

More Snack Recipes

We love serving these crispy pasta chips with dips such as Marinara Sauce, Garlic White Sauce or Pesto.

Andrea says….

Making air fryer pasta chips is a great way to turn leftover pasta into a mouthwatering appetizer. They are also a great after school snack and my kids can’t get enough of them. Bow tie pasta chips are a favorite. If you have leftover pasta you can make easy air fryer pasta chips in just 8-10 minutes. Add some parmesan to make parmesan pasta chips.

How To Store

Room Temperature: While air fryer pasta chips taste best fresh, they keep really well too. Store leftover chips in an airtight container on the counter for up to 4 days.

Freeze: We do not recommend freezing pasta chips leftovers.

Common Questions

How soft should I cook the pasta?

We recommend cooking the pasta no more than al dente, as it will continue cooking in the air fryer.

Are pasta chips hard like uncooked pasta?

No, they do not taste like raw pasta. Pasta chips are crispy, crunchy with a little bit of a chew in the middle. Their taste and texture is comparable to the crispy edge on top of a lasagna.

What dips can I serve with air fried pasta?

We love serving these delicious chips with marinara, garlic sauce, Alfredo sauce, pesto, bolognese, or whipped feta. However, they will taste amazing with most dips.

What pasta shapes work best for air fryer pasta chips?

Use pasta that is easy to grab and that holds some dip, such as penne, ziti or rigatoni for example.

Air Fryer Pasta Chips Recipe

These viral tiktok pasta chips are made in the air fryer and come out crunchy and super yummy. These cheesy, crunchy pasta chips make the perfect snack!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Italian, vegetarian

Diet Vegetarian

Keyword air fried pasta, pasta chips in air fryer, pasta chips made in the air fryer, tiktok pasta chips, viral tiktok pasta chips

Prep Time 1

Cook Time 8

Total Time 9

Servings servings

Calories 330kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

Air Fryer
small mixing bowl
spoon

Ingredients

8 oz ziti pasta cooked
3 tablespoon olive oil divided
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
1-2 cloves of garlic minced
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
¼ cup parmesan cheese grated

Instructions

Toss pasta with 1 tablespoon of olive oil until well coated.
Working in batches, spread a single layer of pasta in the basket of your air fryer. Be sure there is space between each noodle and avoid overcrowding.
Cook at 400° for about 8 minutes until noodles are beginning to blister and just lightly golden brown.
While the pasta is cooking, mix together the remaining olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, and pepper.
Drizzle the olive oil mixture over the blistered pasta and toss (in the air fryer basket). Cook for 2-3 minutes longer until the pasta is golden brown.
Toss cooked pasta chips with the parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Notes

The pasta takes much longer to cook and does not cook up into crispy pieces if you overcrowd the air fryer basket. If you cook it in batches, be sure to divide the olive oil/garlic/seasoning mixture also so that you have enough to toss with each batch as you are cooking.

Nutrition

The post Air Fryer Pasta Chips (Viral Tiktok Pasta Chips) appeared first on Family Dinners.

Easy Dump And Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole

Andrea + Stef — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 16:20:36 +0000

Nothing says comfort family dinner like casseroles. This delicious and saucy meatball pasta casserole comes together in only 10 minutes and bakes to al dente perfection in the oven. It is an easy to make one dish dinner that combines noodles, marinara, meatballs and mozzarella cheese. For speed and convenience we use frozen cooked meatballs and our favorite store bought tomato sauce. This meatball pasta bake recipe does not require any special equipment and is therefore also great for young cooks or to make during your next self-catered vacation. Just dump and bake this meatball casserole.

What Is A Meatball Pasta Bake?

A meatball pasta bake is an easy casserole dish that requires no hands on cooking time. This is the perfect meal for busy weeknights when you don’t have much time to prep dinner. It results in delicious pasta and juicy meatballs covered in cheese. The simple recipe is a good choice for a fussy eater. With simple ingredients and easy prep this recipe is a big hit for a family dinner.

Another name for a meatball pasta bake that we’ve seen around the internet is “dump and bake meatball casserole”. That describes the dish exactly!

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: One pan meal the whole family will love. No need to pre-boil the pasta noodles or heat up the meatballs. It’s a good idea for a busy night.

Main Ingredients: frozen cooked meatballs, penne pasta, marinara sauce, water, mozzarella cheese

Cooking Method: oven baked

Nutrients: good source of protein, 39g per serving

Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time, 50 minutes hands off baking time

Pairs well with: garlic French bread, crunchy saladSpecial Equipment Needed: 9×13-inch baking dish, aluminum foil

Ingredients

You may have all of these meatball casserole ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts and print the recipe.

Pantry Ingredients: penne pasta, marinara sauce
Refrigerated/Frozen Ingredients: mozzarella cheese (low moisture not fresh mozzarella)
Produce Ingredients: fresh parsley (optional)
Meat Ingredients: (frozen or heated) cooked meatballs – Use ground beef meatballs, Italian sausage meatballs, pork meatballs, chicken meatballs or turkey meatballs.

Variations For Easy Pasta Bakes:

More easy meatball pasta bake recipe variations you might enjoy.

Frozen Turkey Meatball Pasta Bake: Use frozen turkey meatballs.
Mozzarella Chicken Meatball Pasta Bake: Use frozen chicken meatballs for a comforting chicken pasta bake.
Chicken Parmesan Meatball Pasta Bake: Add grated parmesan cheese on top of the mozzarella cheese.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you enjoy turning frozen meatballs into delicious family dinners, the you’ll love our amazing Swedish Meatballs. They are smothered in a rich and creamy sauce. This mouthwatering comfort food is done in only 30 minutes.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook meatball pasta casserole in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below. You can print the recipe with or without photos.

EASY PREP: Firstly, preheat the oven to 425°F. Then add pasta to the bottom of the pan, marinara and 3 cups water to a 9×13-inch casserole dish and stir to combine. Add meatballs on top of pasta. There is no need to brown meatballs or heat the meatballs if they’re pre-cooked. Do not stir anymore.

Optional: sprinkle ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder and ¼ teaspoon of onion powder over the sauce if your pasta sauce is bland and needs a little bit of extra flavor.

BAKE: Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Then place on the middle rack of the oven and bake meatball casserole for 40 minutes or until the pasta is cooked and sauce has thickened. Afterwards remove from the oven and uncover.

NOTE: Do not use cooked pasta with this recipe.

ADD CHEESE AND FINISH: Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top of the meatballs. (Feel free to add in some parmesan cheese here as well.) Return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes to melt the cheese. Cover if you do not want the cheese to brown. Do not cover if you want a golden brown cheesy top. Finally, let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving the comforting meatball pasta bake.

What To Serve With Dump And Bake Meatball Casserole

An easy casserole deserves an easy side dish. These low effort sides taste delicious with this pasta and red sauce.

Salad: This easy comfort food pairs well with a healthy side salad. If you’re low on time, grab a bagged salad at the grocery store. If you have a little more time, make an easy Italian Salad or a Chopped Asparagus Salad.

Vegetable Sides: Use the Instant Pot or air fryer to make some easy vegetable side dishes. Try Instant Pot Broccoli or Air Fryer Broccoli. Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus is one of our favorite recipes. And don’t discount Cauliflower or Brussels Sprouts.

Crusty Bread: A dump and bake meatball casserole pairs perfectly with any kind of crusty bread. Buy a loaf of french bread and turn it into this delicious Garlic French Bread.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT TIME: If you love making your own meatballs then you’ll love our Air Fryer Meatballs recipe. These are the best homemade meatballs, they are easy to make and cook to juicy, tender perfection in the air fryer. Or try our oven baked Italian Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs or Turkey Meatballs.

Make Ahead

Due to the nature of this dish, it isn’t advised to assemble and save in the refrigerator before cooking. If you want to make this pasta bake ahead of time, cook it completely in a microwave safe dish then store in the fridge and reheat in the microwave when needed.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best pasta casserole with frozen meatballs.

Top Tip: Do not add too much water. Try pushing the pasta down with a spoon to cover with sauce before baking. Adding too much liquid causes overcooked and mushy pasta and excess liquid when the dish is done baking.
Tip: Use high quality meatballs. Use your favorite frozen meatballs or make your own.
Tip: Shred your own cheese. For best results, shred your own mozzarella cheese. Pre-shredded cheese contains preservatives and doesn’t melt as well or taste as good.

More Italian Recipes

We love serving this wonderful meatball pasta bake with Garlic French Bread and a nutritious Easy Italian Salad Try one of these easy dinner recipes:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Let the casserole leftovers cool completely and then transfer to an airtight container or ziploc bag. Alternatively you can simply cover the baking dish with cling wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: You can freeze leftover pasta casserole with frozen meatballs in a freezer safe container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Label your leftovers with the date!

Defrosting: Thaw pasta leftovers overnight in the refrigerator for a day or reheat from frozen.

How To Reheat

Reheat leftovers in the microwave using a microwave safe dish. Cover to prevent splatter all over the microwave. Cook time depends on how much you are making and the power of your microwave.

Common Questions

How do you know when meatballs are fully cooked?

Meatballs are fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Insert a meat thermometer into one or more of the meatballs after cooking to read the temperature.

Is it possible to use homemade meatballs for this recipe?

Of course! After preparing and frying your favorite homemade meatballs, keep them warm on a foil covered plate. Then add the meatballs right before adding the mozzarella cheese and follow the additional steps of our recipe. Have you tried our amazing Air Fryer Meatballs? You can even make your own marinara sauce as well. We love our Marinara Sauce with Red Wine.

Can I make this pasta casserole without meatballs?

Yes, you can. Just leave out the meatballs and prepare the recipe as described.

Dump And Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole Recipe

Easy dump and bake meatball casserole recipe made with frozen meatballs. Mix the ingredients in the baking dish, cover and bake.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword frozen meatballs recipe, meatball casserole, meatball pasta bake, pasta casserole with frozen meatballs

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 50

Resting Time 10

Total Time 1 10

Servings servings

Calories 718kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

9×13-in baking dish
spoon

Ingredients

1.5-2 lbs frozen cooked meatballs about 24-30 meatballs
16 oz penne pasta
1 jar marinara sauce (44-48 ounces)
3 cups water
2 cups grated low-moisture mozzarella cheese

Optional Garnish:

fresh parsley

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425°F.
Add pasta, marinara and water to a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Stir to combine.
Add meatballs on top of pasta. Do NOT stir.
Cover with aluminum foil.
Place on the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 40 minutes or until the noodles are cooked and the sauce is thickened. Remove from the oven and uncover.
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top of the meatballs.
Return to the oven for 10-15 minutes to melt the cheese. Cover if you do not want the cheese to brown. Do not cover if you want a golden brown cheesy top.
Let rest for 5-10 minutes then serve.

Notes

If your pasta is sticking up above the sauce level it isn’t going to cook. Get all the pasta down under the liquid.
Do not stir the meatballs and pasta together before cooking. You want the pasta to be below the meatballs, fully submerged in the cooking liquid. The finished dish also looks better with meatballs on top.
Serve with garlic french bread and an Italian salad

Nutrition

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