Spaghetti Meatball Carbonara

Spaghetti Meatball Carbonara

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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4 to 5 servings

To make spaghetti carbonara, you cook spaghetti or linguine pasta to al dente. Meanwhile, you beat eggs with cream and Parmesan cheese and add some crisply cooked, crumbled bacon.

When the pasta is done, it is drained and immediately returned to the hot pot. The egg mixture is stirred vigorously into the hot pasta, which cooks the eggs and forms a creamy sauce. This classic dish is best eaten the second it is served, with a crisp green salad, some toasted garlic bread, and some white wine.

But we like to change things around. What about using meatballs instead of the bacon? We tried it and the recipe was a smashing success. The tender meatballs add heft and substance to this recipe without weighing it down. You could, of course, keep the bacon in this new recipe, for even more wonderful flavor.

Use frozen precooked meatballs, heated according to the package directions, for the easiest recipe (we love using meatballs made with wild rice for more flavor and texture). But, of course, you could make your own meatballs in this recipe. Either way, you will have a wonderful meal that will please most everyone ready in minutes.

Ingredients

  • 1 (16-ounce package) frozen meatballs, precooked, or Easy Meatballs, cooked

  • 4 large eggs

  • 1/3 cup heavy cream

  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1 (16-ounce) package spaghetti, or linguine pasta

Steps to Make It

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a vigorous boil over high heat.

  2. Heat the meatballs as directed on the package, or bake easy meatballs. For this recipe, we found that heating the meatballs in the microwave oven worked best. Cover the meatballs to keep them warm and set aside.

  3. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs until they are well blended. Add the cream, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, the Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Beat well again and set aside.

  4. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook, stirring frequently, until the pasta is just al dente. That means that pasta is tender, but still slightly firm to the bite in the center.

  5. Drain the pasta into a colander in the sink, then immediately return the pasta to the hot pot.

  6. Immediately add the egg mixture and toss with tongs until the pasta is coated.

  7. Add the meatballs and toss again.

  8. Sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese for serving and eat immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
549 Calories
33g Fat
37g Carbs
26g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 5
Amount per serving
Calories 549
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 33g 42%
Saturated Fat 13g 67%
Cholesterol 235mg 78%
Sodium 966mg 42%
Total Carbohydrate 37g 13%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 26g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 203mg 16%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 443mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)