Cheese Stuffed Meatballs and Spaghetti
- 35 Minutes Prep2 Hours 5 Minutes Total
- 6 Servings
- 330 Calories per Serving
A new twist on an old favorite! Mozzarella tucked inside each meatball creates a forkful of flavor. Kids of all ages will dig in!
Ingredient List
- 4 sticks (1 oz each) string cheese, cut into 18 (3/4-inch) cubes
- 1/2 cup Progresso™ Italian style bread crumbs
- 1 jar (48 oz) tomato pasta sauce (any variety)
- 1 1/2 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- 1 egg
- 12 oz uncooked spaghetti
- 2/3 cup shredded fresh Parmesan cheese
Preparation
- Place cheese cubes in resealable freezer plastic bag; seal bag and freeze at least 1 hour.
- Heat oven to 375°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray. In bowl, mix bread crumbs and 3 tablespoons pasta sauce. Stir in beef, onion, salt, oregano and egg. Shape mixture into 18 (2-inch) balls. Press 1 cheese cube into center of each ball, sealing it inside. Place in pan. Bake 10 minutes.
- Pour remaining pasta sauce into 5-quart Dutch oven. Cover; heat to simmering over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Gently stir in meatballs; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until meatballs are thoroughly cooked and no longer pink in center. Cook and drain spaghetti as directed on package. Serve meatballs and sauce over spaghetti. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Tips
- Next time, try making these meatballs smaller and serve them as appetizers; use the sauce for dipping.
- For food safety, ground beef needs to reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
Nutrition Information
Servings: 6
Serving size: 1 Serving
Amount per serving (Calories ): 330
| Food component / Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 22g | 33% |
| Saturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Trans Fat | ½g | % Value not available |
| Cholesterol | 65mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 900mg | 38% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 21g | 7% |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g | 5% |
| Soluble Fiber | 0g | % Value not available |
| Sugars | 5g | % Value not available |
| Protein | 13g | % Value not available |
| Vitamin D | Value not available | 10% |
| Vitamin E | Value not available | 2% |
| Calcium | Value not available | 25% |
| Iron | Value not available | 4% |
| Potassium | 410mg | 12% |
| Thiamin | Value not available | 15% |
| Riboflavin | Value not available | 20% |
| Niacin | Value not available | 10% |
| Vitamin B6 | Value not available | 15% |
| Vitamin B12 | Value not available | 10% |
| Pantothenic Acid | Value not available | 8% |
| Phosphorus | Value not available | 25% |
| Magnesium | Value not available | 8% |
| Zinc | Value not available | 10% |
| Manganese | Value not available | 8% |
| Selenium | Value not available | 20% |
| Copper | Value not available | 8% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
Exchanges
- Starch 1,
- Fruit 0,
- Other Carbohydrate ½,
- Skim Milk 0,
- Low-Fat Milk 0,
- Milk 0,
- Vegetable 0,
- Very Lean Meat 0,
- Lean Meat 0,
- Medium-Fat Meat 1,
- High-Fat Meat ½,
- Fat 2&½,
- Fruits 0c,
- Vegetables ¼c,
- Grains 0oz-eq,
- Meat & Beans 1oz-eq,
- Dairy 1c,
- Fats & Oils 2tsp
Carbohydrate Choice
- Choices per serving1&½
