Mozzarella-Stuffed Meatball Bake
with Cavatappi and a Crispy Panko Topping
Sure, you’ve heard of a cheese-stuffed burger, but a cheese-stuffed meatball?! Now that’s next-level culinary innovation. Tuscan-spiced ground beef is wrapped around pieces of fresh mozzarella and then baked. While they’re in the oven, you’ll be boiling cavatappi and whipping up a from-scratch tomato sauce. Everything is stirred together, then topped with buttery panko and more fresh mozzarella. A trip under the broiler transforms the topping into crunchy, melty perfection. Now that’s a cheesy meatball!
Produced in a facility that processes eggs, milk, fish, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.
Ingredients
1 unit
Yellow Onion
4 ounce
Fresh Mozzarella
(Contains Milk)
½ cup
Panko Breadcrumbs
(Contains Wheat)
10 ounce
Ground Beef
1 tablespoon
Tuscan Heat Spice
6 ounce
Cavatappi Pasta
(Contains Wheat)
13.76 ounce
Crushed Tomatoes
1.5 ounce
Tomato Paste
Not included in your delivery
4 teaspoon
Olive Oil
1 teaspoon
Sugar
2 tablespoon
Butter
(Contains Milk)
Salt
Pepper
1 teaspoon
Vegetable Oil
Nutrition Values
Utensils
Instructions
Adjust rack to middle and top positions and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry all produce. Halve, peel, and dice onion; mince a few pieces until you have 2 TBSP (3 TBSP for 4 servings). Halve mozzarella; dice one half into four equal-sized pieces (eight pieces for 4); tear remaining half into bite-size pieces.
In a large bowl, soak half the panko (you’ll use the rest later) with 2 TBSP water (3 TBSP for 4 servings). Let sit until absorbed, then add beef, minced onion, half the Tuscan Heat Spice (you’ll use the rest later), ¾ tsp salt (1½ tsp for 4), and pepper. Mix to combine.
Lightly oil a baking sheet. Form beef mixture into four 3-inch-wide rounds (eight rounds for 4); divide diced mozzarella between the centers of each. Gently fold meat around cheese, shaping and sealing to create cheese-stuffed meatballs. Place on prepared sheet. Bake on middle rack until cooked through, 20-22 minutes. Remove from oven; heat broiler to high or oven to 500 degrees.
Once water is boiling, add cavatappi to pot. Cook until al dente, 9-11 minutes. Drain and set aside. Reserve empty pot. Meanwhile, place 1 TBSP butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until melted, about 30 seconds. Stir in ¼ tsp Tuscan Heat Spice (½ tsp for 4 servings; you’ll use the rest later), remaining panko, a large drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Meanwhile, heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a large, preferably ovenproof, pan over medium-high heat. Add diced onion; cook, stirring, until softened, 4-6 minutes. Stir in remaining Tuscan Heat Spice, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, ½ cup water (¾ cup for 4 servings), 1 tsp sugar (2 tsp for 4), and salt until combined. Bring to a simmer; cook until slightly thickened, 3-4 minutes. Stir in 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4) until melted. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Carefully pour sauce into pot used for pasta; add cavatappi. If pasta seems dry, add a splash of water. Gently stir in meatballs to coat. Carefully transfer everything back into pan used for sauce. (TIP: If your pan isn’t ovenproof, transfer mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.) Top mixture with panko and torn mozzarella. Broil or bake on top rack until panko is golden brown and cheese is melted, 2-4 minutes. Let cool slightly, then serve.
