One-Pan Spicy Meatball BAKE
- 20m Prep Time
- 55m Cook Time
- 1h 25mReady In
A one-pan twist on spaghetti and meatballs, featuring dry-aged beef, pasta, and a spicy kick. Everything cooks together in a cast-iron skillet for a family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
- 73.9 ml extra-virgin olive oil divided
- 1 medium yellow onion halved and thinly sliced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 454 g ground beef, lamb, or pork
- 118 ml quick-cooking oats
- 118 ml ground Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 3 clove garlic minced
- 4.93 ml dried oregano
- red pepper flakes
- 454 g rigatoni, fusilli, or other short dried pasta
- 1 your favorite tomato-based pasta sauce
- 2 roma or beefsteak tomatoes chopped
- 946 ml boiling water
- fresh basil torn leaves
Nutrition (per serving, estimated)
Estimated based off 11 of 15 identified ingredients (per 100 g food data, scaled by amount).
Vitamins & minerals
- Calcium: 280 mg
- Iron: 3.98 mg
- Magnesium: 73.8 mg
- Phosphorus: 384 mg
- Potassium: 608 mg
- Zinc: 3.86 mg
Let's Prepare
Collect
Gather these ingredients — no prep needed yet.
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 454 g ground beef, lamb, or pork
- 118 ml quick-cooking oats
- 118 ml ground Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 4.93 ml dried oregano
- red pepper flakes
- 454 g rigatoni, fusilli, or other short dried pasta
- 1 your favorite tomato-based pasta sauce
- 946 ml boiling water
Prepare
- 73.9 ml extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 medium yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
- Mince 3 clove garlic
- Chop 2 roma or beefsteak tomatoes
- fresh basil, torn leaves
Let's Cook
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Step 1.
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a large, deep ovenproof skillet (such as a 12-inch cast-iron skillet) or Dutch oven, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, until soft, browned, and beginning to stick to the pan. Season with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
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Step 2.
While the onion cooks, in a medium bowl, mash together the ground meat, oats, Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper until well blended. Use your hands for best results.
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Step 3.
When the onions are ready, transfer them to a bowl and set aside. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pan, then add the meat mixture by small handfuls (or shape into meatballs if desired). Cook the meat for 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally once it releases easily from the pan, until browned all over.
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Step 4.
Scatter the cooked onions over the meat in the pan. Add the pasta, pasta sauce, chopped tomatoes, and 4 cups boiling water. Stir gently to release the meat from the pan, breaking it up slightly and incorporating the water into the mixture. Press down any pasta that hasn't gotten wet.
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Step 5.
Carefully cover and seal the pan with aluminum foil or a lid. Bake on the middle rack for 20 minutes. Uncover, give everything a good stir, then bake for another 15 to 20 minutes uncovered, until the pasta is cooked through and beginning to crisp on top and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
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Step 6.
Let the pan sit for 10 minutes. Shower with extra Parmesan cheese and torn fresh basil leaves, then serve piping hot.