Spicy Garlic Pork & Beef Meatball Pasta

Spicy Garlic Pork & Beef Meatball Pasta

(Serves 4-6)

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

• ½ lb spicy garlic pork sausage (casing removed)
• ½ lb ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (for frying)

For the Sauce:

• 2 tbsp butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt & black pepper, to taste

For the Pasta:

• 12 oz pasta (spaghetti, rigatoni, or fettuccine)
• 2 tbsp pasta water (reserved from boiling pasta)

Garnish:

• Extra grated Parmesan
• Fresh basil or parsley

Instructions

1. Make the Meatballs:

• In a bowl, mix spicy garlic pork sausage, ground beef, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, black pepper, and red pepper flakes until just combined.
• Roll into small meatballs (about 1-inch in diameter).

2. Cook the Meatballs:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Sear the meatballs on all sides until browned (about 5-6 minutes). Remove from the skillet (they don’t need to be fully cooked yet).

3. Make the Sauce:

• In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté the garlic until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
• Add crushed tomatoes and red pepper flakes, stirring well.
• Reduce heat and stir in heavy cream. Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Stir in Parmesan cheese and season with salt & black pepper to taste.

4. Finish the Meatballs:

• Return the meatballs to the sauce and let them simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until fully cooked through.

5. Cook the Pasta:

• Boil pasta in salted water according to package instructions.
• Reserve 2 tbsp pasta water before draining.
• Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce, adding the reserved water if needed to loosen it up.

6. Serve:

• Plate the pasta with meatballs, garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh basil or parsley.