It’s National Meatball Day!! To honor the humble meatball, I’ve used it as part of the Pasta of the Month! And you get…
Although associated with Italian cuisine, the true history of the meatball is unknown, but, kofta seems to be the earliest known meatball. Kofta originated with the ancient Persians. It is a dish of ground meats mixed with rice, bulgar or lentils. Those little chunks of meat found their way into Europe through trade routes from the middle Easter countries. Today they are shaped into gargantuan balls and served with a myriad of bases and sauces.
So Happy Meatball day!How to Do it:
Start with the meatballs. Mix all the ingredients (except the olive oil) until everything is well incorporated.
Form into 12 large balls. Heat the oil in a deep skillet and brown the meatballs on all sides.
Remove from the skillet to an oven proof pan and place in a preheated, 350 degree oven.
Next the mac and cheese. Create a roux by melting the butter and stirring in the flour. Cook until it is very lightly brown. Using a whisk, stir in the half and half, milk, salt and pepper. When mixture is slightly thickened, add the pasta and cheese. Mix well. Pour into a casserole dish
and bake for about 20 -25 minutes, or until browned on top. (Should have pasta and meatballs in the oven now….)
While the meatballs and pasta are baking, make the sauce. Drain the olive oil from the skillet, but try to keep all the little meatball bits. Melt the butter and loosen the browned bits from the pan. Again, create a roux with the butter and flour. Let it brown a little so it has a nutty taste. Using a whisk, stir in the half and half. When it starts to thicken just a little, stir in the cheese. Whisk until the cheese is melted and the sauce is thick.
To serve, place a cup full of pasta in a bowl. Top with three meatballs and some sauce. Pure deliciousness!
Serves 4

Although associated with Italian cuisine, the true history of the meatball is unknown, but, kofta seems to be the earliest known meatball. Kofta originated with the ancient Persians. It is a dish of ground meats mixed with rice, bulgar or lentils. Those little chunks of meat found their way into Europe through trade routes from the middle Easter countries. Today they are shaped into gargantuan balls and served with a myriad of bases and sauces.
So Happy Meatball day!
- 1/4 cup minced onion
- 1/4 cup minced celery
- 1-1/2 pounds ground pork
- 2 whole cloves garlic, crushed
- 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, (depending on how much you like heat)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cups cooked penne pasta
- 1 cup grated gruyere cheese
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 Tablespoon flour
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 Tablespoon flour
- 1 cup half and half
- 2/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
-
Start with the meatballs. Mix all the ingredients (except the olive oil) until everything is well incorporated.
-
Form into 12 large balls. Heat the oil in a deep skillet and brown the meatballs on all sides.
-
Remove from the skillet to an oven proof pan and place in a preheated, 350 degree oven.
-
Next the mac and cheese. Create a roux by melting the butter and stirring in the flour.
-
Cook until it is very lightly brown. Using a whisk, stir in the half and half, milk, salt and pepper. When mixture is slightly thickened.
-
Add the pasta and cheese. Mix well.
-
Pour into a casserole dish and bake for about 20 -25 minutes, or until browned on top. (Should have pasta and meatballs in the oven now….)
-
While the meatballs and pasta are baking, make the sauce. Drain the olive oil from the skillet, but try to keep all the little meatball bits.
-
Melt the butter and loosen the browned bits from the pan. Again, create a roux with the butter and flour. Let it brown a little so it has a nutty taste.
-
Using a whisk, stir in the half and half. When it starts to thicken just a little, stir in the cheese. Whisk until the cheese is melted and the sauce is thick.
-
Place a cup full of pasta in a bowl. Top with three meatballs and some sauce. Pure deliciousness!
Here are some things that are perfect to use for this recipe!
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© Copyright 2017 The Lazy Gastronome
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I can’t believe it but for dinner last night I had some meatballs (that I made in prep for national meatball day) onto of mac and cheese! It wasn’t as fancy as this, however, with that amazing looking blue cheese sauce! This looks amazing!
Thanks Patrick – great minds do think alike!! :)
What a creative idea to add meatballs to Mac and cheese. Meatballs are a staple at my house. I might have to try this soon! Thanks for linking up to #fridayfrivolity. Xx
It was so good!! Thanks for stopping by!
Looks delish! Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday :)
Thanks Debra – we ate it up pretty fast!! Thanks for stopping by –
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Oh, wow! This looks and sounds so good! Thanks for sharing. You are one of the feature at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Here is the link to this week’s bash! http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2017/03/make-pretty-monday-week-210.html Hope you have a happy week. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
Wow Thanks!! I’ll be there!