Mini Spaghetti and Meatball Appetizer

Looking for a fancy and easy party appetizer? Well, look no further – behold the Mini Spaghetti and Meatball Appetizer. Ready in just a few minutes!

I am so excited about these mini spaghetti and meatball appetizers. They look like an appetizer you would get at a fancy schmancy party made by a high-end caterer. But the truth is they are made with pasta, frozen cooked mini-meatballs and jarred sauce. So the only real cooking you are doing is boiling the pasta, putting it into a mini-cupcake tin and baking it. The rest is heat and serve. I meant, SERIOUSLY – what can be easier?

When the pasta nests come out of the oven, simply remove them from the pan, top them with a meatball, and skewer them with a cute little pick and garnish with basil leaves. I promise you will be a BIG hit at your next get-together! No time like the present to start your party planning.

Looking for a cocktail to serve with these my Mini Spaghetti and Meatball Appetizer? Why not try:

Sparkling Apricot Margarita                            Spicy Salty Dog                                  Raspberry Lime Mojito

Mini Spaghetti and Meatball Appetizer

Looking for a fancy and easy party appetizer? Well, look no further – behold the Mini Spaghetti and Meatball Appetizer. Ready in just a few minutes!

• Author: krazykitchenmom
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 36 individual servings
• Category: appetizers
• Method: easy
• Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

• 1 box of angel hair pasta – broken in half and cooked to al dente
• 1 small jar of prepared pasta sauce
• 1 bag of frozen mini Italian meatballs – thawed
• 2 eggs – beaten
• 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 TBS dried Italian seasoning (optional)
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• Basil leaves for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Spray a mini cupcake pan with non-stick spray.
3. Place cooked pasta in a medium-sized bowl to cool.
4. Add egg, cheeses, and seasonings to the pasta and stir until completely incorporated.
5. Using your fingers, press about 2-3 tablespoons of the pasta, egg and cheese mixture into each of the cupcake holes.
6. Using a shot glass, press the pasta down so there is an indent for the meatball.
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes until they are firm and just starting to brown on the bottom.
8. While the pasta nests are baking, add the pasta sauce and meatballs to a stove-top pan and simmer until fully warmed.
9. Remove the pasta nests from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes.
10. Remove the nests and top each one with an individual meatball and a fancy toothpick.
11. Drizzle each meatball with a little more pasta sauce.
12. Serve warm or room temperature.