Description
This Garlic Butter Meatballs Linguine is a creamy, cozy pasta dish loaded with juicy meatballs, tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce and topped with parmesan. It is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef or chicken
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional)
- For the Garlic Butter Sauce:
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (or more as needed)
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For the Pasta:
- 8 oz linguine
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix ground meat, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic, parmesan, salt, pepper, and parsley. Roll into 1.5-inch balls.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add a splash of oil and sear meatballs until browned and cooked through (about 8–10 minutes total). Remove from skillet and set aside.
- While the meatballs cook, boil the linguine in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add cooked meatballs back into the skillet with the garlic butter. Toss to coat. Add pasta, parmesan, and reserved pasta water. Stir until sauce is glossy and coats everything.
- Serve warm, topped with fresh parsley and more parmesan.
Notes
- For a creamier sauce, add a splash of heavy cream or cream cheese at the end.
- Use store-bought meatballs for a quicker preparation.
- This dish is great for meal prep as it reheats beautifully.
- For best flavor, use freshly grated parmesan.
- Don’t overcrowd the skillet when searing meatballs; cook in batches if necessary.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan-seared meatballs, stovetop sauce
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 2g
- Fat: 28g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g