*This is post is sponsored by Barilla (at Walmart). Though I have received compensation, all opinion is my own.
I do not know of a mom (or dad!) who would turn their back on a delicious, family-friendly dinner plan.
Dinner happens every day, and let’s face it – and as much as we know the kids expect to eat dinner every night… it sure can be tough to make it happen.
We’re busy.
Or tired.
And usually both.
Pasta dishes are a great option… whether in a rush or not.
In my family, we prefer to have a little meat with most meals, and since pasta is a no-fail go-to… here’s a dish that hits the spot for all of us… Italian Chicken Meatballs with Rotini in Veggie-Loaded Tomato & Basil Sauce!
Check out the video below for all the nity-gritty details and secrets to how I make this dish for MY family!
When serving pasta, I like to sneak in some veggies. I like to include lean protein too. It makes for a hearty, and satisfying meal. Bonus points if we all get to sit down and enjoy it together!
This Italian Chicken Meatballs using Barilla Blue Box rotini and Barilla Tomato & Basic sauce is a great, filling meal that’s pretty easy… and loved by everyone in the family.
You can see in the video I like to add a few diced mushrooms, some zucchini (about half a large one, or a whole small one). You can saute the veggies before adding them to the sauce, but I don’t. If you add them to heated sauce, just cook for a good 5 minutes and it softens them up nicely.
While all that goodness is dancing together in the sauce pan, I cook the Barilla Blue Box rotini. I like rotini pasta because love the way the sauce weaves its way into the spirals. And worth noting… Barilla Blue Box pastas are made with non-GMO ingredients, and the Hero Sauce (the one I use in the recipe I am sharing in this post) is also made with non-GMO ingredients, is Kosher, and without preservatives.
More good for our families.
For added protein, I love to add chicken. You can add it grilled, or make some meatballs like I did!
PRO TIP! Double or even TRIPLE this meatball recipe! Extras freeze well, and then the next time this meals is THAT much easier and quicker to prepare! It’s a GREAT one for a busy school sports night!
Speaking of GREAT, here’s something great… From August 10, 2017 to October 31, 2017, for every box of Barilla Blue Box pasta purchased at Walmart, Barilla will donate $1 to No Kid Hungry, up to $50,000. That’s enough to provide 500,000 meals to children in need! For more information on No Kid Hungry, visit this link.
In short, when you purchase a Barilla Blue Box pasta, not only are you feeding your kids, you are helping make a difference. Food insecurity—the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food— exists in 17.2 million households in America, 3.9 million of them with children (for more facts about food insecurity, visit here).
What are simple pasta dishes that you love to feed your family? DO you have any great dinner-prep tips for busy families? Don’t forget to head to Walmart for your Barilla Blue Box pasta and be part of helping the effort to end child hunger.
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 3 tsp minced onion (or 1/2 diced onion)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 1 cup panko
- 2 cloved mince garlic
- 1 egg
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Add all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly. Form one inch (ish) balls and set aside.
- Heat a cast iron pan to hot and add meatballs to brown the sides. Once brown, add meatballs to baking dish and bake 10 minutes.
- Serve with your favorite pasta and sauce... or on a sandwich roll!
