Servings: 6

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb Rigatoni, Ziti, or other medium pasta shape, uncooked

MEATBALLS:

• 8 oz lean ground beef
• 8 oz turkey sausage, casings removed
• 1/2 cup minced onion (1 small)
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper (1/2 medium)
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs (about 3 slices)
• 2 Tbs minced fresh parsley
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

SAUCE:

• 1 tsp vegetable oil, divided

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a medium bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients. Knead the mixture with your hands until it becomes smooth. To prevent sticking, dip your hands into cool water before forming each meatball. Form the mixture into 30 meatballs, each about 1 1/2 inches in size.
2. Pour the tomato sauce into a large, heavy-bottom saucepan and bring it to a simmer over low heat.
3. Warm 1/2 teaspoon of vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet. Add half of the meatballs to the skillet and brown them on all sides. Once browned, spoon the meatballs into the tomato sauce. Repeat with the remaining half of the meatballs, browning them in the skillet before adding them to the sauce.
4. Simmer the sauce with the meatballs, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
5. While the sauce is simmering, prepare the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the cooked pasta and transfer it to a large serving bowl.
6. Remove the bay leaves from the sauce and pour the sauce with meatballs over the cooked pasta.
7. Serve the delicious meatball and pasta dish immediately and enjoy!

Here are some variations you can try for this meatball and pasta recipe:

1. Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs: Add a cube of mozzarella or cheddar cheese in the center of each meatball before shaping them. When cooked, the cheese will melt and create gooey, cheesy meatballs.
2. Italian Herb Meatballs: Enhance the flavor by adding Italian herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme to the meatball mixture. It will give the meatballs a delicious Mediterranean twist.
3. Spicy Meatballs: For those who enjoy some heat, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the meatball mixture to give it a spicy kick.
4. Vegetarian Meatballs: Replace the ground beef and turkey sausage with cooked and finely chopped vegetables, such as mushrooms, zucchini, and carrots, for a tasty vegetarian version.
5. Herbed Tomato Sauce: Enhance the tomato sauce by adding more herbs like basil, oregano, and rosemary for a robust and aromatic flavor.
6. Creamy Tomato Sauce: Mix in a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half into the tomato sauce to create a creamy and rich texture.
7. Different Pasta Shapes: Experiment with different pasta shapes like penne, farfalle (bow-tie), or fusilli to change the appearance and texture of the dish.
8. Meatball Subs: Instead of serving the meatballs with pasta, place them in a sub roll with some marinara sauce and melted cheese for delicious meatball subs.
9. Meatball Sliders: Create mini meatball sliders using slider buns, lettuce, tomato slices, and your favorite condiments.
10. Asian-Inspired Meatballs: Add soy sauce, ginger, and garlic to the meatball mixture to give it an Asian flavor profile. Serve over noodles or rice with a soy-based sauce.
11. Meatball Skewers: Shape the meat mixture into small meatballs and thread them onto skewers. Grill or bake for a fun and easy appetizer or party snack.