Air Fried Meatballs and Orechiette with Marinara Sauce
If I had you at the title of this blog post, Air-Fried Meatballs and Orechiette with Marinara Sauce, then prepare to fall further in love with the recipe and then it’s end result on a plate. That is if it even makes it to the plate. The inspiration from this recipe came from my sons’ cookbook Junior Chef Cookbook from Williams-Sonoma. My boys attend cooking classes at Williams-Sonoma, which I cannot recommend highly enough if you have children. The classes are very hands-on, fun, and the kids appreciate what they are eating as they’ve taken the time and pride to prepare the dish. This is one such dish my boys have helped me prepare and absolute LOVE to eat. We made a slight change to the meatball recipe by air-frying them as opposed to just baking them. This leaves the outside of meatballs with a crispy and crunchy texture and the inside moist and soft to the bite.
Williams-Sonoma: Shut-Up and Take My Money
Williams-Sonoma will always and forever be one of my top resources for recipes and products. They can just shut up and take my money. HAHA! Some people try to convince me to find products and etc elsewhere. The truth is…sometimes I do get a second opinion and their pricing elsewhere if it is a more expensive luxury item. There are just some items I CANNOT pass up. Such item is their Bona Fortuna Marinara Sauce that I used for this recipe. I will not buy a bottle of Preggo ever again after trying their line of pasta sauces. Snotty much? When I love something, especially food, I want to make sure that I am eating the best flavors and quality in my food like that of any five star restaurant. People choose to spend their money on all sorts of things such as cars, shoes, clothes, salon care, and you know what? That’s fine with me. It’s called freedom to choose. I’d much rather choose to spend my money on making good and nourishing food for my family than spend it on myself or other things that I or my family do not need in excess. Each to his own. Live in peace. Do you people, and if it fancies you make this meal ASAP.
Air Fried Meatballs and Orechiette with Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
1.5 cups fresh bread crumbs
1/2 cup whole milk
2 lbs ground beef
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tbsp finely chopped basil
2 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 tsp finely chopped oregano
5 cloves garlic
kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
2 tbsp olive oil
1 bottle Bona Fortuna Marinara Sauce
1 bag organic orechiette pasta
Prepare
1. To make the meatballs, in a small bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs and the milk. Let stand for 10 minutes. Boil a pot of water for the pasta.
2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, eggs, cheese, basil, parsley, oregano, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper. Add the bread crumb mixture, and using clean hands, mix the ingredients gently but thoroughly. Scoop out 1 tablespoon portions of the meat mixture and roll into balls. Place on the air frying basket of you air fryer.
3. Cook the pasta for 13 minutes, or until al dente.
4. Warm up the marinara sauce in a small sauce pot and add additional freshly chopped basil. Stir occasionally for 10 minutes.
5. Air fry the meatballs for 15 minutes on 450 degrees Fahrenheit, until the meatballs are browned on the outside.
6. Pour the marinara sauce over the orecchiette pasta and add meatballs to serve.
7. Devour responsibly.
- 1.5 cups fresh bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 tbsp finely chopped basil
- 2 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 2 tsp finely chopped oregano
- 5 cloves garlic
- kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 bottle Bona Fortuna Marinara Sauce
- 1 bag organic orechiette pasta
- To make the meatballs, in a small bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs and the milk. Let stand for 10 minutes. Boil a pot of water for the pasta.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, eggs, cheese, basil, parsley, oregano, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper. Add the bread crumb mixture, and using clean hands, mix the ingredients gently but thoroughly. Scoop out 1 tablespoon portions of the meat mixture and roll into balls. Place on the air frying basket of you air fryer.
- Cook the pasta for 13 minutes, or until al dente.
- Warm up the marinara sauce in a small sauce pot and add additional freshly chopped basil. Stir occasionally for 10 minutes.
- Air fry the meatballs for 15 minutes on 450 degrees Fahrenheit, until the meatballs are browned on the outside.
- Pour the marinara sauce over the orecchiette pasta and add meatballs to serve.
- Devour responsibly.
