Caprese Shells with Mini Meatballs.
Something just occurred to me as I stared at these pictures.
You didn’t have to make the meatballs. Why not just, like, brown the meat with the same seasonings and flavors?
Uh huh. Maybe. Why didn’t I do that? That would have been so much easier.
I think it’s because I’m in love with mini things. Mini things are cuter. Mini things are more fun. (note: my brain said funner.) Mini things are easier to eat and mini things fit in adorable little jars and sweet little bowls with flowers on them that I break immediately after I shell out an arm and a leg for one.
I’m also all about eating things that are all the same size in one big bowl, which is probably the only reason that I ever choke down a chopped salad. Little shells, little tomatoes, little meatballs and even little balls of cheese!
If you know me – real or invisibly – you’ve probably already figured out that I designed this entire meal around those dumb little balls of mozzarella. I LOVE THOSE THINGS. The fact that they come in a few different sizes and go perfectly with cherry tomatoes and a lot of salt and pepper might be one of the few reasons I began eating the occasional vegetable voluntarily.
And no, please don’t break out the-tomato-is-really-a-fruit argument yet. You can wait a few more months into summer when I’m really all over them and boasting about my very grand (and non-green) veg consumption.
Yeah.
This was also a great way to bridge the gap in our house between a pasta lover and a tomato sauce hater. It had enough tomato-y stuff to make him happy, and little enough in order for me to love it and… pick around some of it. I mean, when it comes to a dish like this, it allows you the freedom to pick out all of the little cheese balls.
Don’t know anything about that though.
Caprese Shells with Mini Meatballs
Ingredients
meatballs
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 large egg, slightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/3 cup freshly grated romano cheese
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
pasta
- 1 1/2 pounds whole wheat pasta shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 pint grape tomatos, halved or quartered
- 10 fresh basil leaves, chopped + more for topping
- 1 cup ciliegine, mini fresh mozzarella balls
- freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare water for pasta and bring to a boil. Spray a large baking dish with nonstick spray.
- In a large bowl, add ground beef, egg, oil, cheese, breadcrumbs, garlic, salt, pepper, basil and parsley. Mix to combine, gently tossing a few times with your hands. Don’t overmix – it will result in tough meatballs! Using a teaspoon measuring spoon, roll mixture into small meatballs, about the diameter of a nickel or so. Place in the baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.
- While meatballs are baking, begin to boil pasta. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil and garlic, then stir in diced tomatoes, chopped basil and fresh grape tomatoes. Before draining pasta, reserve 1/3 cup of the water and pour into the skillet. Add the pasta into the skillet, then add the meatballs once finished. Turn off the heat and add the mozzarella. Top with some freshly grated cheese and more basil.
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to follow @howsweeteats on instagram and tag #howsweeteats. You can also post a photo of your recipe to our facebook page.
I appreciate you so much!
Cutest little spoonful!
73 Comments on “Caprese Shells with Mini Meatballs.”
Looks delish! I love all of the colors. I might have to make this tonight!
Ah this looks so perfect and spring-y! I know you’re all about the mozzarella, but for me, the highlight of caprese anything is the basil – the more the better!
Work schmurk… I need to run home and get my mini meatball on!
This looks…AWESOME!!! I can not wait to try it, its literally taking everything in me right now to not go out to the store and buy all the ingredients. But it will be happening soon.
The mini fresh mozzarella balls are so cute! I need to find them!! This is one of my all time favorite combinations! Yum!!! Oh and the mini meatballs, so adorable!
I am so with on the mini things! Oh gosh and if I could find those mini mozzarella balls I would be ALL OVER the to! Plus, the mini meatballs look so much neater than a sloppy meat sauce!
Love the mini mozz balls with the shells! This looks delicious!
Mercy!!! I’m loving those cute little morsels of cheese!!! I can’t wait to try this!!! xoxo
my belly just growled.
So glad I found your blog — these recipes are delish!
I love caprese salads. Great idea to put those adorable little balls of mozzarella over shells!
So cute I’m dying.
Those mini mozzarella balls are my addiction! They are so good! I love stuffing other mini things with them so you get a taste of meatball or whatever and then a ton of cheese.
Deliciously darling! Every bite is adorable.
I bought mini spiral pasta for a dish last week and agree it was much more fun! :)
I want to dive head first into a bowl of this!!
Great flavors and I love the meatballs!
I’ve never wanted meatballs so badly before 8:30am. Amazing dish!
This looks great! And love the mini meatballs…so cute. Reminds me of the flavors in the 30-Min Lasagna Skillet, which was awesome :)
Adorable! I love those little mini mozzarella balls. Totally worthy of designing a meal around!
This sounds delicious. I want a mini meatball like asap.
So happy to see you do another pasta dish!
Since you’re not a tomato sauce fan, as an Italian gal I honestly think this would be amazing with just an EVOO + Garlic + White Wine sauce in place of the diced tomatoes – really light & delish! But keep the cherry tomatoes, since they’re all cute :)
I love mini meatballs, making this tonight
Hi Jessica!
Love your blog :)
Where is that big, white bowl from? It’s so pretty, I love it.
xoxo
thank you! i got it for my wedding but it is part of the lenox butler’s pantry collection – pretty sure it’s still available. it’s huge!
THANK YOU!!
I also registered for Lenox for my wedding but not that piece. yay leftover gift certificates :) xo
Those little fresh mozz balls make my heart sing.
Who would love this!! Delicious!
Ah! So cute! I never would think to make mini meatballs, but they are perfect for a pasta! A meatball in every bite :)
me loves me some mini balls
If you love mini food you have to look at this post. Seriously.
http://iloveswmag.com/2011/11/30/emily-plans-a-wedding-the-food/
So cute! I’m glad you didn’t realize you could make this without the meatballs before… because I am loving them! And with those little mozz balls – perfection!
This looks fantasitc! Mini Meatballs? Why did i not think of this??!! I can’t wait to try this recipe out. YUMM!
Yummy! A very Italian recipe, indeed! Plus, I LOVE mini things so much, they’re definitely cute and those mozzarella little balls are perfect for a pasta or rice salad!
xo, Elisa
I’m on a Caprese kick right now, so this looks really good! I just had Caprese grilled cheese yesterday, and I’d love to have this pasta tonight. I love your little meat balls, too!
Where does one find these little cheese nuggets?? I need this in my life!
I need to know ,
do you eat all of the scrumptious dishes , because I don’t want to feel that I’m eating these and enjoying such goodness!!!!! ( I do feed my family these yummy dishes too)
adorable! i’m so with you, assortments of mini things of the same size get me EVERY TIME. not even just food….makeup, nail polishes, accessories, lotions..it’s a problem.
I’m drooling. Also, tiny things are the greatest.
This is making me want meatballs in a bad way!! Love the little mozz balls
I like the idea of mini meat balls
This sounds really good. Quick question, did you drain the canned tomatoes or use the juice too? Thanks!
Who isn’t in love with tiny mozzarella bocconcini? I certainly am. (Isn’t it the best thing ever when you happen to find them at a salad bar? Mozzarella and greens and grape tomatoes for lunch!) This pasta looks perfect–so fun and delicious! I bet kids would be all over this one. :)
Ahhhh! I want to some to your house for lunch!
Some Snapshots Blog
Jess
Where do you get the mini mozzarella balls!? I must know! Also, has anyone ever told you that your pictures get more fabulous by each post!
This is a great way to transition from winter to summer cooking! Love seeing the freshness of this dish! Also a big fan of anything mozzarella.
FashionEdible Blog
I am having sinful thoughts about hot gooey mozzarella now!
love it! making it this weekend
This is the perfect meal for date night on Friday!! Thanks for sharing the recipe, Jessica! You rock!!
You just make me VERY hungry! I love this pasta and am going to be making this soon!
Yumm,,.
Also, don’t let anyone tell you a tomato is not a veggie. Would you call a pepper a fruit just because it has seeds? Or a pumpkin? What I learned in nutrition class (uggg) is that a fruit has a certain number of carbs per serving (15g, I think) while a veggie has less (5g or less, maybe). So, by that, I do believe a tomato remains a veggie. (Also a certain qualifier is the type of vitamins and minerals, but let’s be honest, how many of us actually look that up on fresh produce?)
Sounds perfect to me…mini meatballs… mini balls-o-cheese! I’m totally diggin’ this!