Meatballs on Top of Cavatappi

Meatballs on Top of Cavatappi

🥘 Ingredients

  • Parmesan cheese
    ½ cup
  • broccoli florets
    8 oz
  • cavatappi pasta
    12 oz
  • ground turkey
    1 lb
  • lemon
    1
  • olive oil
    1 tsp
  • panko breadcrumbs
    ½ cup
  • pepper
  • pesto
    6 oz
  • salt
  • sour cream
    1/2 c

🍳 Cookware

  • large pot
  • large bowl
  • baking sheet
  1. 1
    Wash and dry all produce. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Zest lemon until you have 1 tsp zest, then cut lemon into wedges.
    lemon: 1
  2. 2
    In a large bowl , mix together ground turkey , pesto (2 tbsp), panko breadcrumbs , and a pinch of salt and pepper until just combined. Gently shape mixture into golf-ball-sized meatballs with hands— you should have about 12. TIP: Splash a little water on your hands to keep meat from sticking.
    ground turkey: 1 lb, pesto: 6 oz, panko breadcrumbs: ½ cup, salt, pepper
  3. 3
    Place meatballs on a lightly oiled baking sheet with olive oil . Bake in oven until fully cooked through and no longer pink in center, ⏱️ 15 minutes , flipping halfway through.
    olive oil: 1 tsp
  4. 4
    Meanwhile, add cavatappi pasta to pot of boiling water. Cook ⏱️ 6 minutes , stirring occasionally, then add broccoli florets to pot. Continue cooking until cavatappi is al dente and broccoli is tender, about ⏱️ 3 minutes more. Carefully ladle out and reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain. Return cavatappi and broccoli to pot.
    cavatappi pasta: 12 oz, broccoli florets: 8 oz
  5. 5
    Add sour cream , remaining pesto, and meatballs to pot. Stir to combine, adding enough pasta cooking water to create a thick sauce that coats everything.
    sour cream: 1/2 c
  6. 6
    Divide pasta mixture between plates. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and lemon zest (to taste). Serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over.
    Parmesan cheese: ½ cup