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There is so much to love about this easy one pot pasta with Mediterranean meatballs. It’s easy to throw together. It only uses one pot, to make clean up a breeze. Oh, and did I mention it tastes pretty good too? This Mediterranean spaghetti and meatballs is a quick dinner that is always well-loved by all. You will also enjoy this one pot Mediterranean pasta as leftovers the next day. Well, if there’s any left!
Nothing could be easier than this pasta with Mediterranean meatballs recipe. You make the whole thing in one pot and it’s delicious too!
Also try chicken parm meatballs, Instant Pot mac and cheese, 20-minute chicken flatbread, beef taquitos or beef and potato bake?
An Easy One Pot Pasta Recipe….YES!
Easy one pot pasta recipes are a godsend for those evenings when you get home later than usual. You know, when you aren’t really in the mood for cooking various things in various pots and pans. And that’s before having to deal with the washing up!
Instead, this one pot Mediterranean pasta makes life easier. Everything cooks in just the one large pan, and that includes the spaghetti!
Tips for Making the Meatballs
Meatballs can be made from beef, pork, chicken, or even vegetarian ingredients. Here we are using beef to make them, along with onion and garlic for flavour, and egg to help bind them.
You can vary the ingredients in the meatballs, adding a pinch of dried mixed herbs if you like. Red chilli flakes are also good if you’re a spice lover. The star of this Mediterranean spaghetti and meatballs recipe is the meat balls after all. You can make the meatballs small or medium, as you prefer. The only difference really is the cooking time will be a little longer for bigger ones.
More Tips for Making this Easy One Pot Pasta Recipe
If you’re buying ground meat from the grocery store, choose the meat which looks most pink or red. Also, I would recommend 75/25 beef, which is 75% lean and 25% fat. You could use 80/20 or even 90/10 but the less fat percentage you have, the drier your meat balls will be. A little fat can be a good thing!
There is never any need to over-mix meatballs, and a little texture in there is fine. Handling them too much can cause the heat from your hands to melt the fat in the meat. This makes them sticky and more prone to falling apart, which you don’t want!
Skip the food processor, and use your hands instead. This is the best way to combine meatball ingredients for your Mediterranean spaghetti and meatballs. You will be able to see when the ingredients are combined, and not risk over-mixing.
The egg helps the meatballs stick together. Some recipes will call for ingredients like breadcrumbs or cracker crumbs for binding, but one egg per pound of meat is a good rule of thumb. Any more egg in the ratio and the meatballs will be spongy, which you don’t want.
If you have time, you might want to refrigerate the meatballs for 30 minutes after rolling them into balls. Especially if you have gone with larger ones. This makes them less likely to fall apart in the pan. Mine didn’t fall apart though in my easy one pot pasta though, so this is optional.
One Pot Mediterranean Pasta Sauce
Make sure you are using a large pot for this recipe, since it’s the only one you will use! When the meatballs are cooked, you can throw in some more onion and garlic. Don’t skimp on these – add more if you want! Onions and garlic are always great in Italian recipes. This pasta with Mediterranean meatballs is certainly no exception!
Next, several other Mediterranean flavours go into the pot. We have tomato purée, oregano, tomatoes, and a pinch of sugar. You can omit the sugar if you don’t want to use it. Cherry tomatoes are nice here because their small size makes them look good in the finished easy one pot pasta recipe. Also, they are sweet. You will love this pasta with Mediterranean meatballs!
Perfect Pasta
As for the pasta, that goes in near the end, once the meatballs are done and the sauce is coming together. Do you prefer pasta shapes to spaghetti? That is a switch you might like to make, when cooking pasta with Mediterranean meatballs.
As long as the pasta is covered with liquid, it doesn’t matter what kind of pasta you use here. Simply pick your favourite one for this pasta with Mediterranean meatballs recipe, and it will be great.
Olives, parsley and parmesan cheese finish off this Mediterranean spaghetti and meatballs beautifully. This is a pretty looking dish which is really easy to make. Oh – and did I mention the lack of washing up afterwards? I think I might have!
If you like this easy one pot pasta and meatballs recipe, you might also like Chicken Pot Pie Soup, Gluten Free Meatballs & Polenta or Gluten Free Copycat Ikea Swedish Meatballs Recipe.
One Pot Pasta with Mediterranean Meatballs Recipe
One Pot Pasta with Mediterranean Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cup ground beef
- 1 onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 egg
- 1 Cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 Tbsp. tomato puree
- 1/2 Cup olives, Castelvetrano
- 1/2 Cup parsley, fresh and chopped
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 3 Tbsp. Parmesan
- 200 g spaghetti
- 3 1/2 Cup water
- 1 Tsp. granulated sugar
- 2 Tsp. oregano, dried
Instructions
- Place the beef, one half of a chopped onion, 2 crushed garlic cloves, an egg, and a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper into a large bowl. Mix everything together. Then, form the mixture into meatballs.
- Pour 3 tablespoons of olive oil onto a skillet and heat it. Then, place the meatballs in one layer and cook one side for 3 minutes. Flip them and cook for 3 more minutes.
- Add the second half of the chopped onion and a crushed garlic clove. Cook for about 2-4 minutes. Then, add tomato puree,oregano, sugar, cherry tomatoes, and ½ cup of water. Stir it all well and bring it to the boil. Cook for about 3 minutes.
- Add the rest of the water, bring it to the boil and add spaghetti. Add salt to taste.
- Cook spaghetti under the lid for about 10 to 14 minutes (see the instructions on the package).
- When spaghetti is ready, add the olives,chopped parsley and parmesan. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Pasta with Mediterranean meatballs is true comfort food at its finest. And the fact it’s easy to make and only uses one pan is a bonus! So the next time you’re wondering what to make for dinner, consider this one pot Mediterranean pasta.
Let me know if you try out this easy one pot pasta with Mediterranean meatballs. This Mediterranean spaghetti and meatballs is a quick dinner that is always well-loved by all. You will also enjoy this one pot Mediterranean pasta as leftovers the next day….if by chance there is any left! If you are a fan of one pot meals, you should also try out this One Pot Spinach and Red Bean Shakshuka. Lemon Herb Chicken Patties are amazing also!
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I am all about the easy, one-pot meals. This did not disappoint!
Such an easy and tasty recipe! There wasn’t a single leftover.
This is one of my go-to pasta recipes of yours. Thank you!!
This is a delicious Mediterranean upgrade to spaghetti & meatballs. I love that you can cook the pasta right in the sauce too.
Yum this sounds delicious I make a homemade Gyro which this reminds me of a bit, so I can not wait to try it.
This looks perfect for summer, I love olives so this is right up my alley
This looks so easy to make. I need to try it!