Meatballs with Vegetable Noodles and Fresh Tomato Sauce #ChooseDreams #SundaySupper

Lighten up spaghetti and meatballs for summer with this fresh take of Meatballs with Vegetable Noodles and Fresh Tomato Sauce. This recipe makes great use of your garden fresh vegetables! 
 
Meatballs with Vegetables Noodles and Fresh Tomato Sauce #ChooseDreams #SundaySupper from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
This post is sponsored by American Family Insurance. All opinions are my own.

I could smell the sauce bubbling away on the stove as soon as I walked in the door. Whenever I came home from school and the smell hit me, I knew it was going to be a good dinner night.  Next to your Italian grandma, my mom makes the best spaghetti and meatballs.   The smell would resonate in the house from meatballs frying and a giant pot of red sauce would be bubbling away on the stove for hours at a time.  I could never resist the smell and the giant wooden spoon resting by the sink would always pull me near so that I could have just a taste.

This meal doesn’t just resonate with me as being one of my mom’s best but also because I fondly remember it as the of the first recipes I really took the time to learn with my mom.  To this day, when I’m craving comfort food it’s her recipe I turn to.

Meatballs with Vegetables Noodles and Fresh Tomato Sauce #ChooseDreams #SundaySupper from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen

However in the summer time I’m not really looking to sit down to a heavy meal of spaghetti, meatballs, sausage, and slow cooked sauce.  I’m looking to lighten things and I’m also looking for a meal that will come together quickly with minimal cooking time at the stove.

#SundaySupper and American Family Insurance  are together again this month with AmFam’s Choose Dreams initiative. Last month we were getting our garden’s ready and this month is the perfect time to harvest those vegetables and use them to lightened up my favorite meal.  That spaghetti has been replaced with vegetable noodles and instead of using canned tomatoes, make a quick fresh sauce.

The best thing about this dish is it’s versatility. Use what you have on hand – the noodles can be made from zucchini, yellow squash or carrots.  As for the tomato sauce if you are only growing cherry tomatoes, chop them up and toss them in, it just means your dinner will get on the table faster than cooking down larger tomatoes.

AmFam #ChooseDreams

Meatballs with Vegetable Noodles and Fresh Tomato Sauce
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Ingredients

    For the meatballs:
  • 1/2lb ground beef
  • 1/2lb ground veal
  • 1/2lb ground pork
  • 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon whole milk
  • 1 garlic clove finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • olive oil
  • For the fresh tomato sauce:
  • 5 roma tomatoes, cored and cut into 1/4 inch dice
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • kosher salt
  • For the noodles
  • 2 medium zucchini or summer squash
  • Fresh basil and parmigiana cheese to top

Instructions

  1. Heat your oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together the ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, milk garlic, salt, oregano and pepper.
  3. Form into balls slightly large than a golf ball. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through and the meatballs start to brown.
  4. In a medium saute pan over medium heat, drizzle the olive oil and add the chopped tomatoes, season lightly with salt. Saute for 6-8 minutes or until the juices are released and the tomatoes start to break down.
  5. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute, then add the white wine. Bring the sauce to a boil and reduce to a simmer to cook for another 5-6 minutes or until the tomatoes are sauce and the liquid is slightly thickened. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
  6. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Using a spiral vegetable peeler, peel the zucchini and blanch in the boiling water for 30 seconds.
  7. Drain immediately and run cold water over the noodles to stop the cooking process.
  8. To plate: Divide the noodles between two plates and top with 2-3 meatballs and fresh tomato sauce. Top with chopped basil and parmigiana cheese.
  9. Save any extra meatballs for leftovers or lunch the next day.
Recipe Type: Main
https://girlinthelittleredkitchen.com/2014/06/meatballs-vegetable-noodles-fresh-tomato-sauce/

Meatballs with Vegetables Noodles and Fresh Tomato Sauce from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen

If you are looking for more great ideas to lighten up your family favorites then check out American Family Insurance’s Family Favorites Turned Healthy #ChooseDreams Pinterest Board plus recipes below from #SundaySupper contributors.

You can also connect with American Family Insurance on their Facebook page, twitter, pinterest, Google + , Youtube and LinkedIn.

 

Savory

Angel Hair & Zucchini Noodles with Fresh Tomato Sauce by Ruffles & Truffles

Baked Vegetable Egg Rolls by Curious Cuisiniere

Beef Stroganoff by Country Girl in the Village

Buffalo Cauli-Tots by Cupcakes & Kale Chips

Corn and Crab Chowder by The Dinner-Mom

Crab Cake Salad by Family Foodie

Grilled Portabella Mushrooms On Red Pepper Slaw with Cucumber Dressing by Seduction In The Kitchen

Healthy Chicken Salad by Run DMT

Lighter Beef Tacos by Alida’s Kitchen

Meatballs with Vegetable Noodles and Fresh Tomato Sauce by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen

Roasted Cauliflower Mac & Cheese by The Messy Baker

Spaghetti Squash with Mushrooms and Spinach by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

Superfood Pancakes by girlichef

Tex Mex Enchilada Skillet Lasagna by Neighborfood

Zucchini Meat Lasagna by Peanut Butter and Peppers

Sweet

Chewy Coconut Granola Bars by Savvy Eats

Enlightened Southern Banana Puddings by The Weekend Gourmet

Mom’s Fruit Salad by Magnolia Days

Strawberry Vanilla Canapés by The Not So Cheesy Kitchen

Zucchini Carrot Snack Cake by The Foodie Army Wife

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31 thoughts on “Meatballs with Vegetable Noodles and Fresh Tomato Sauce #ChooseDreams #SundaySupper

  1. Renee

    I see summer on a plate. Wow! What a way to incorporate fresh vegetables and also make a hearty meal that is healthy too. Love it!

    Reply
  2. Pingback: Ruffles & Truffles

  3. Pingback: Spaghetti Squash, Mushrooms and Spinach #SundaySupper #ChooseDreamsCindy's Recipes and Writings

  4. Pingback: Crab Cake Salad #SundaySupper #ChooseDreams - Family Foodie — Family Foodie

  5. Pingback: Buffalo Cauli-Tots - Cupcakes & Kale Chips

  6. Katie

    I am seriously obsessed with my spiralizer right now. Zucchini noodles (and other veggie noodles) are so darn yummy! Your dish looks absolutely delectable…

    Reply
  7. Pingback: Family Favorites Turned Healthy #SundaySupper #ChooseDreams

  8. Courtney @ Neighborfood

    You have done an amazing thing Susan! You actually made me want to eat spaghetti and meatballs when it’s 90 degrees outside. That’s quite a feat. I definitely want to try that fresh tomato sauce recipe. It sounds so simple and tasty too.

    Reply
  9. Pingback: Lighter Chipotle Beef Tacos #SundaySupper #ChooseDreams - Alida's Kitchen

  10. Heather // girlichef

    Oh man, I think I am equally in love with pasta noodles and veggie noodles – this looks amazing. I really love the color that using veggie noodles adds to the dish. This sounds like healthy comfort food to me. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Pingback: Chewy Coconut Granola Bars - Savvy Eats

  12. Alida

    Veggie noodles are such a perfect swap to make a dish healthier. Combine them with your tasty meatballs and sauce, and this is perfection on a plate!

    Reply
  13. Pingback: Corn and Crab Chowder #SundaySupper #ChooseDreams - The Dinner-Mom

  14. Pingback: #SundaySupper Grilled Portobello Mushrooms On Red Pepper Slaw and Cucumber Dressing #ChooseDreams | Seduction in the Kitchen

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