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Perfect Spaghetti and Meatball Cupcakes

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A fun and playful twist on classic spaghetti and meatballs, baked in muffin tins for a handheld, impressive dish that’s easy to make and perfect for entertaining.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces dried spaghetti, broken into shorter pieces
  • 12 small meatballs (about 1 inch diameter), homemade or store-bought
  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin with olive oil.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add broken spaghetti and cook until just al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain and toss with olive oil to prevent sticking.
  3. In a large bowl, combine cooked spaghetti, beaten egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  4. Place a spoonful of marinara sauce at the bottom of each muffin cup.
  5. Layer a handful of the pasta mixture over the sauce, pressing lightly.
  6. Nestle one meatball on top of the pasta, then cover with more pasta to encase the meatball.
  7. Top each cupcake with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
  8. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese bubbles and turns golden brown and pasta edges crisp slightly. Tent with foil if cheese browns too quickly.
  9. Let cupcakes cool in the tin for 5 minutes before removing.
  10. Sprinkle chopped fresh basil or parsley on top before serving.

Notes

Cook pasta just until al dente to avoid mushy cupcakes. Toss pasta with olive oil after draining to prevent sticking. Use beaten egg as a binder to hold cupcakes together. Do not overfill muffin cups to allow cheese to brown nicely. Let cupcakes cool slightly before removing from tin to prevent breaking. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and meatballs. For dairy-free, use vegan cheese substitutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: spaghetti, meatballs, cupcakes, baked pasta, party food, easy recipe, comfort food, handheld, potluck, kid-friendly

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