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.
