I am re-posting this recipe in honor of Emily’s (bff) birthday and because I wanted to update the images. Her birthday is this weekend so she got to choose what I made for dinner and this was her choice… The meatballs are stuffed with mozzarella cheese and the sauce is delicious. It is the perfect meal for a birthday celebration!

The recipe was inspired from Giada and I changed a few things to make it my own

Bucatini All’Amatriciana with Spicy Mozzarella Meatballs

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Ingredients

Sauce:

2 tbsp olive oil
6 oz pancetta - diced
1 onion - diced
4 garlic cloves - minced
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 Romano cheese

Instructions

For the sauce in a large skillet add the olive oil and heat over medium high. Add the pancetta and cook for 6 minutes. Remove the pancetta from the oil and let sit while you continue cooking. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes and then add the garlic, tomatoes, salt, pepper and the cooked pancetta. Simmer, uncovered, over low heat until the sauce thickens, which should take about 15-20 minutes. Stir in the cheese at the end.

Bucatini All’Amatriciana with Spicy Mozzarella Meatballs

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Ingredients

Meatballs:

1 onion - grated
1/2 cup chopped parsley
2/3 cups parmesan
1/3 cup bread crumbs
1 large egg
2 tbsp ketchup
3 cloves of garlic - minced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 pound ground turkey
2 oz fresh mozzarella
1 pound of Bucatini

Instructions

Now to start making the meatballs: In a large bowl combine the onion, parsley, parmesan, bread crumbs, egg, ketchup, garlic, salt and pepper. Mix those ingredients together with a large spoon and then add the meat and continue to blend the ingredients. With your hand form meatballs that are approx the size of a golf ball. Once you have made all the meatballs place them on a baking sheet that you have lined with parchment paper. Then with your thumb, make a small indentation into each meatball and put a cube of the mozzarella cheese. Then continue to cover the mozzarella with the meatball and roll until round. These will cook in the over for 15 minutes on 400 degrees.
While the meatballs are cooking, bring a large pot of water to boil and cook your pasta. Once the meatballs are done baking in the oven, remove them and add them to the drained pasta and add the sauce on top. Garnish with extra chopped parsley and parmesan cheese.

Look at the cheese just oozing out of the meatballs… so yummy!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY EM!!!! xxoo