Spicy Meatball and Pepper Pasta Fiery Spicy Meatball and Roasted Pepper Pasta in Zesty Tomato Sauce Ingredients: 1 lb (450g) ground beef 1/4 cup breadcrumbs 1 egg 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (adjust to taste) 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning Salt and pepper to taste 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 red bell pepper, sliced 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced 1 small onion, sliced 2 cups tomato passata or crushed tomatoes 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 12 oz (340g) penne or rigatoni pasta Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish Grated Parmesan cheese, to serve Directions: In a bowl, mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, chili flakes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Form into small meatballs. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs and cook until browned on all sides (about 8–10 minutes). Remove and set aside. In the same skillet, sauté onion and bell peppers until softened, about 5–6 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, and passata. Simmer for 10 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Return meatballs to the pan and cook for another 5–7 minutes until fully cooked through. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and toss with the sauce. Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs and Parmesan. Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes Kcal: 560 kcal | Servings: 4 servings #meatballpasta #spicypasta #pepperpasta #heartymeals #weeknightdinners #pastaandmeatballs #easycomfortfood #homemadepasta #chilipasta #zestytomatosauce #dinnerrecipes #italiandinner #spicycomfortfood #pastanight #rusticrecipes #easyfamilydinner #savoryflavors #meatballmadness #pastalovers #onepanmeals Turn up the heat This Spicy Meatball and Pepper Pasta is a bold, satisfying dish with every bite delivering fire and flavor!

Roasted Tomato and Basil Pasta Slow-Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta with Garlic, Olive Oil & Fresh Basil Ingredients: 500g (1 lb) cherry or grape tomatoes 3 tablespoons olive oil 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed Salt and black pepper, to taste 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional) 300g (10 oz) spaghetti or linguine 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving) 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (plus whole leaves for garnish) Optional: balsamic glaze or lemon zest for finishing Directions: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and chili flakes on a baking tray. Roast for 25–30 minutes, or until tomatoes are blistered and lightly caramelized. Meanwhile, cook pasta in salted water according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain. Transfer roasted tomatoes and garlic (with their oil) to a large skillet. Mash gently with a spoon to create a chunky sauce. Add cooked pasta and toss gently, adding reserved pasta water a bit at a time until desired sauciness is reached. Stir in Parmesan and chopped basil. Adjust salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot, topped with more Parmesan, fresh basil, and an optional drizzle of balsamic glaze or lemon zest. Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 40 minutes Kcal: 420 kcal | Servings: 3–4 servings #roastedtomatopasta #basilpasta #cherrytomatopasta #vegetarianpasta #simpleitaliandinner #ovenroastedtomatoes #freshbasilflavor #garlictomatosauce #easyweeknightmeals #pastanight #meatlessmonday #comfortfooditalian #tomatobasilmagic #quickhomemadepasta #slowroastedveggies #pastaandparmesan #rusticpasta #seasonalitalian #mediterraneandinner #pastasimplicity This Roasted Tomato & Basil Pasta is what weeknight dreams are made of Rich, garlicky, and effortlessly elegant.

Beef and Cabbage Rolls Classic Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Savory Beef and Rice Ingredients: 1 large head of green cabbage 1 lb ground beef 1/2 cup uncooked white rice 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 egg, beaten 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 2 cups tomato sauce 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce Directions: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Core the cabbage and gently separate 12–14 whole leaves. Blanch leaves in boiling water for 2–3 minutes until pliable. Drain and cool. In a bowl, mix ground beef, uncooked rice, onion, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, and paprika. Lay out a cabbage leaf, place 2–3 tablespoons of beef mixture in the center, fold in sides, and roll up tightly. Repeat with remaining leaves. In a bowl, combine tomato sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce. Place a few leftover cabbage leaves at the bottom of a large baking dish. Arrange rolls seam-side down. Pour tomato sauce mixture over rolls. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 1 hour, or until cooked through and tender. Prep Time: 25 minutes | Cooking Time: 60 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes Kcal: 310 kcal per serving | Servings: 6 servings #stuffedcabbage #beefcabbagerolls #comfortfood #cabbagerecipes #homestylemeals #cabbagerolls #savorybeef #traditionalcooking #bakedbeefrolls #familydinners #rusticdishes #homemadecomfort #classicrecipes #heartycooking #groundbeefrecipes #cabbagelove #rolledcabbage #dinnerideas #mealprep #tomatosauce Classic comfort food done right! These Beef and Cabbage Rolls are stuffed with seasoned beef and rice, all smothered in a rich tomato sauce. So satisfying!

Baked Ziti with Mozzarella Cheesy Baked Ziti with Melted Mozzarella and Rich Tomato Sauce Ingredients: 1 lb (450g) ziti pasta 2 cups marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought) 1 lb (450g) ground beef or Italian sausage 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup ricotta cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme) Salt and pepper to taste Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional) Directions: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add ground beef or Italian sausage, season with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed. Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes to combine flavors. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, meat sauce, and ricotta cheese. Mix well. Transfer half of the pasta mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese and some Parmesan. Layer the remaining pasta mixture on top, then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly with golden spots. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve hot. Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 40 minutes | Total Time: 55 minutes Kcal: 650 kcal per serving | Servings: 6 servings #bakedziti #italiancomfortfood #cheesypasta #mozarellapasta #homemadeitalian #comfortfoodrecipes #pastaovenbake #heartymeals #familydinner #easydinnerrecipes #italianrecipes #pastaandcheese #weeknightdinner #ricottacheese #groundbeefrecipes #italiandish #tomatosauce #pastafood #cheeselover #homecooking Indulge in this classic Baked Ziti with Mozzarella—layers of cheesy goodness and rich meat sauce baked to bubbly perfection! Perfect for family dinners!

Chunky Marinara Sauce Rustic Italian-Style Chunky Tomato Marinara Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 cans (28 oz each) whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) 1 teaspoon sugar Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional, for deeper flavor) Directions: Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring frequently. Pour in the crushed tomatoes along with their juices. Stir in dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes (if using), sugar, and tomato paste. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and let it cook uncovered for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and chunky. Stir in fresh basil leaves just before serving for a bright, fresh flavor. Serve with pasta, meatballs, or as a dipping sauce for breadsticks. Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 40 minutes | Total Time: 50 minutes Kcal: 120 kcal per serving (1/2 cup) | Servings: 6 servings #chunkymarinara #homemadetomatosauce #italiansauce #pastasauce #comfortfood #easyitalianrecipes #tomatorecipes #italianflavors #rusticsauce #healthyitalian #vegetarianrecipes #italiancomfortfood #slowcooksauce #marinarasauce #italianhomemade #saucelovers #tomatolove #pastaenthusiast #classicitalian #italianfamilymeals Whip up this rustic Chunky Marinara Sauce that’s bursting with fresh herbs and tomato goodness. Perfect for your favorite pasta night!