Cheesy Mini Meatball Pasta Cups

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Bite-sized pasta cups loaded with savory mini meatballs and melted cheese, perfect for little hands and picky eaters who love cheese. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs ground beef, penne pasta, mozzarella cheese for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 25 min Serves 6 Italian cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. In a bowl, combine 1/2 lb ground beef, 1 large egg, 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper; mix gently until combined, then form into 24 small meatballs (about 1 inch each).
  2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat; brown meatballs for 3-4 minutes until golden, then transfer to a plate.
  3. Step 3: Cook 8 oz penne pasta in salted boiling water until al dente; drain, return to pot, and stir in 1/2 cup tomato sauce and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan until coated.
  4. Step 4: Arrange meatballs in a greased 12-cup muffin tin, spoon pasta mixture over each until 3/4 full, top with 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella per cup.
  5. Step 5: Bake at 375°F for 18-20 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are golden brown.

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