Spaghetti & Meatball Cups

If you like this classic red sauce dish but don't want to make a mess, bake it into single-serving cups!

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Yields: 12 cups

Ingredients

• Pesto

• 3  cups basil leaves
• 2  tablespoons  toasted pine nuts
• 1  garlic clove, chopped
• 1⁄3 cup  finely grated parmesan cheese
• 1⁄2 cup olive oil
•  kosher salt

• Meatballs

• 1⁄2 cup  Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1⁄3 cup milk
• 3⁄4 lb ground beef
• 2  tablespoons  finely chopped parsley
• 1  teaspoon  italian seasoning
• 1⁄3 cup  finely grated parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
• 1  egg, lightly beaten
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
• 1⁄2 cup mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2- inch cubes
• 3 -4  tablespoons olive oil

• Spaghetti Cups

• 8  ounces spaghetti, cooked, drained and rinsed with cold water
• 1⁄2 cup pesto sauce, plus 1/4 cup for garnish
• 2  eggs, lightly beaten
• 1⁄4 cup  finely grated parmesan cheese
• 1  cup  grated mozzarella cheese, plus 1/4 cup for topping

Directions

1. To make the pesto:
2. Combine basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, olive oil and a pinch salt in a food processor. Puree until almost smooth.
3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
4. To make meatballs:
5. In a large bowl, mix to combine breadcrumbs and milk. Add the ground beef, parsley, Italian seasoning, grated parmesan cheese, egg, salt and pepper. Divide into 12 equal balls. Flatten into patties and place a mozzarella cube in the center, then close the meat around to make a ball.
6. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Working in batches if necessary, brown the meatballs, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from skillet and seat aside on a plate.
7. To make spaghetti cups, combine cooked spaghetti with 1/2 cup pesto, 2 beaten eggs, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese and 1 cup grated mozzarella. Divide spaghetti into prepared muffin tin and make a well in the center of each.
8. Place a meatball in the center of each spaghetti nest. Top with 2 teaspoons of grated mozzarella cheese. Bake for 15 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through.