Baked Italian Meatball Medley with Lemon Herb Cream Sauce

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon mixed herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)
- Salt and pepper to taste

For the Lemon Herb Cream Sauce:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon mixed herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)
- Salt and pepper to taste

For the Casserole:
- 1/4 pound chorizo, sliced
- 1/2 pound turkey sausage, crumbled
- 1 cup tiny pasta (such as pastina)
- 2 cups spinach, chopped
- 2 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup sliced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chicken broth

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Prepare the Meatballs:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground pork, ground beef, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, mustard, mixed herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until ingredients are well integrated. Form the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs and place them in a greased baking dish.

3. Bake the Meatballs:
Bake the meatballs for 20 minutes or until they begin to brown slightly.

4. Cook the Chorizo and Sausage:
In a skillet over medium heat, cook the sliced chorizo and crumbled turkey sausage until they are browned and cooked through. Remove from heat.

5. Prepare the Pasta:
Cook the tiny pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

6. Make the Cream Sauce:
In a saucepan, combine the heavy cream, lemon juice, mustard, herbs, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring regularly until the sauce thickens slightly.

7. Assemble the Casserole:
Layer the cooked pasta at the base of a large baking dish. Add the chopped spinach, mixed greens, sliced tomatoes, chorizo, and sausage over the pasta. Arrange the baked meatballs over the mixture. Pour the lemon herb cream sauce evenly over the top. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.

8. Bake the Casserole:
Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

9. Serve:
Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving to allow everything to set. Serve warm.

Preparation & Cooking Times

- Preparation Time: PT30M
30 minutes

- Cooking Time: PT55M
55 minutes

Total Time

- PT1H25M
1 hour 25 minutes

Type of Dish

- Dinner

Keywords

1. Baked Meatball Casserole
2. Lemon Herb Sauce
3. Italian Dinner
4. Oven-Baked Recipe
5. Easy Dinner
6. Comfort Food
7. Spinach Casserole
8. Pasta Bake
9. Chorizo Dish
10. Gourmet Cooking

Recipe Yield

- Feeds 4 adults

Calories

- Total Calories: 2,200

#ItalianDinner #ComfortFood #GourmetCooking #PastaBake #OvenBaked