Meatballs in Spaghetti Squash Nests

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Put a fun twist on pasta night with these mini spaghetti squash nests filled with meatballs!

If you’re craving spaghetti and meatballs, these portion-sized nests made in a muffin tin are your guilt-free answer. Drizzled with low-sugar Paleo marinara sauce and garnished with fresh basil, these baked spaghetti squash nests are perfect for meal prep or entertaining.

Spaghetti squash is nature’s angel hair pasta. Its delicate strands and lightly sweet taste complements savory recipes well. Plus, unlike regular pasta, spaghetti squash is rich in vitamins C, A, potassium and calcium.

To prep the nests, add an egg white to the cooled squash and stir to coat. The egg white acts as a glue to help hold the squash together when it’s baked, so do not skip this step! Next, scoop the squash into muffin tins and use your fingertips to form the nests, making sure to leave a space to add a meatball later. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until lightly browned around the edges. Gently remove the squash nests from the muffin tins and fill each one with a meatball. Top with Paleo marinara and fresh basil, and serve!

Meatballs in Spaghetti Squash Nests

Total Time: 1 Hour, 40 Minutes
Cook Time:1 hour 25 minutes
Preparation Time:15 mins
Serves:12
Recipe by: Jennafer Ashley

Put a fun twist on pasta night with these mini spaghetti squash nests filled with meatballs!

Tools

•  Baking sheet
•  Parchment paper
•  Mixing bowl
•  Muffin tin

Ingredients:

For the Spaghetti Squash Nests:

•  1 medium spaghetti squash
•  1 large egg white
•  1 teaspoon olive oil for greasing
•  1 cup Paleo Marinara
•  Fresh chopped basil for garnish

For the Meatballs:

•  1 lb 80% lean grass-fed beef
•  1/3 cup almond meal
•  1 pasture-raised egg
•  1/4 cup curly parsley, finely chopped
•  1 teaspoon dried basil
•  1 teaspoon dried oregano
•  1 teaspoon garlic minced
•  1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions:

1.  Preheat the oven to 350°F. Slice the spaghetti squash lengthwise in half and scoop out the seeds.
2.  Place the halves cut side down on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
3. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and use a fork to remove the strands of squash. Set aside to cool completely.
4.  Combine all the meatball ingredients together and form into medium-sized balls.
5. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet 1 inch apart. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
6.  While the meatballs bake, grease 12 muffin tins with olive oil.
7. Stir the egg white in a mixing bowl with the squash.
8. Scoop the squash into the muffin tins and use your fingertips to form the squash to the sides, creating a small nest in the center.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
10.  Remove the squash nests from the tins using a butter knife.
11. Fill the center of each with a meatball.
12. Spoon the marinara over the top and garnish with fresh basil.

Shared with permission from our friends at PaleoHacks.

The post Meatballs in Spaghetti Squash Nests appeared first on The Hearty Soul.

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