Pasta with Gourmet Meatballs and Vegetables in Sauce 🍝✨
When you want something hearty, soul-warming, and bursting with flavor, this Pasta with Gourmet Meatballs and Vegetables in Sauce brings it all together. With tender, spiced meatballs, vibrant sautéed vegetables, and a slow-simmered tomato sauce—all tossed with perfectly cooked fusilli—this dish is your new go-to for comfort food done right.
Why I Love This Recipe
This is one of those meals that makes your kitchen smell like a Sunday gathering. It’s got rich depth from browned meatballs, a garden-fresh pop from colorful vegetables, and a thick tomato sauce that clings to every curve of the pasta. It’s cozy, filling, and loaded with nutrients thanks to the veggie medley. Bonus: it reheats like a dream.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 400g ground beef or beef-veal mix
- 1 egg
- 40g breadcrumbs
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp herbes de Provence
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for cooking)
For the Pasta & Vegetables:
- 300g fusilli pasta
- 1 zucchini, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 100g button mushrooms, sliced
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Sauce:
- 400g tomato purée
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
How to Make It
1️⃣ Make the Meatballs
Mix ground meat, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic, paprika, herbes de Provence, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Form into 3 cm balls with wet hands.
Heat olive oil in a skillet and brown the meatballs for 5 minutes, rotating to get golden color on all sides. Set aside.
2️⃣ Sauté the Vegetables
In the same pan, heat 2 tbsp olive oil. Sauté the onion for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, bell pepper, and zucchini, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3️⃣ Simmer the Sauce
Add tomato purée, tomato paste, sugar, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir well and let simmer for 10 minutes. Return the meatballs to the pan and cook for another 5 minutes to blend flavors.
4️⃣ Cook the Pasta & Combine
Meanwhile, cook fusilli pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain, then stir into the sauce and vegetables. Toss gently to coat everything in the rich, velvety sauce. Heat for 2 more minutes, then serve hot.
Tips for Perfect Success
✔️ Tender meatballs: Don’t overwork the meat mixture—mix just until combined, and form loosely for softer texture.
✔️ Deep flavor: Let the sauce simmer a little longer if time allows. The flavor just gets better.
✔️ Veggie variations: Swap zucchini for eggplant, add chopped spinach, or throw in carrots for a sweet pop.
What to Serve With It
Pair your meatball pasta with a fresh green salad or a slice of crusty garlic bread. Want a beverage to round it out?
- A glass of Chianti or Merlot pairs beautifully.
- For a non-alcoholic option, try this blueberry lemonade for a tangy refresh.
Storage & Leftovers
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Freezer: Freeze in portions for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Gently reheat in a pan with a splash of water, or microwave in 60-second bursts, stirring in between.
More Recipes You’ll Love
For more family-style comfort meals, try these:
- These Chicken Enchiladas Are My Go-To for Cozy, Crowd-Pleasing Dinners
- This Instant Pot Lasagna Is My Favorite Way to Make Comfort Food Fast
- These Sheet Pan Quesadillas Are My Favorite Way to Feed a Crowd Fast
- This Dorito Casserole Is My Favorite Weeknight Dinner Shortcut
- This Mexican Chicken and Rice Casserole Is My Favorite One-Pan Dinner That’s Always a Hit
Final Thoughts
This Pasta with Gourmet Meatballs and Vegetables in Sauce delivers the warmth of a Sunday dinner with the ease of a weeknight meal. It’s colorful, full of bold flavors, and just the kind of dish that gets requested on repeat.
Tried it? Leave a comment, share a photo, and follow along for more easy gourmet meals. Buon appetito! 🍝✨
