Mains
Penne with Meatballs in Garlic Tomato Sauce
Sometimes you just need a big bowl of comforting pasta. This easy penne combines browned meatballs with a creamy garlic tomato sauce, Parmesan and fresh basil. The pasta is added straight into the finished sauce so everything gets properly acquainted. 😂❤️
- Prep
- 10 mins
- Cook
- 25 mins
- Total
- 35 mins
- Difficulty
- Easy
5.0 from 1 rating
Ingredients
- Approximately 375 g penne pasta (about 3/4 of a 500 g pack)
- 300 g ready made meatballs
- 3/4 jar pasta sauce
- 250 ml cooking cream
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- Parmesan, to taste (some is mixed into the pasta and sauce, with additional Parmesan for serving)
- Olive oil, for browning the meatballs
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of black pepper
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish only
Method
- 01
Cook the penne: bring water to the boil and cook the penne for approximately 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- 02
Brown the meatballs: add some olive oil to a pan. Add the ready made meatballs and brown and cook them for approximately 10 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the pan and set aside.
- 03
Make the garlic tomato sauce: using the same pan, prepare the sauce using the pasta sauce, crushed garlic and cooking cream. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Cook gently over low heat for approximately 15 minutes.
- 04
Return the meatballs: return the browned meatballs to the finished sauce and mix through.
- 05
Add the penne: add the cooked penne to the meatballs and sauce. Mix everything thoroughly so the penne and meatballs are evenly coated in the creamy garlic tomato sauce.
- 06
Add Parmesan: mix Parmesan into the pasta to taste.
- 07
Serve: transfer to a serving bowl. Finish with additional Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
A little from me
Lackie's Notes
This was one of those easy comfort-food dinners that came together without making things complicated. I cooked the penne separately, made the creamy tomato sauce with the meatballs, then brought everybody together in the pan so they could get properly acquainted. 😂 Finish with Parmesan and fresh basil and you're done. I served mine with my Caprese Style Salad on the side. ❤️
