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Mini Spaghetti Nests and Italian Meatballs Appetizer

Name: Mini Spaghetti Nests and Italian Meatballs Appetizer
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 pound angel hair pasta or thin spaghetti; 1 jar your favorite Alfredo sauce ((15 oz.)); 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese (divided); 1 jar Marinara sauce (we like Rao's) ((about 24 oz.)); 1 bag small bag fully cooked frozen mini Italian-style meatballs (1/2 oz. per each meatball); Optional: shredded Parmesan and fresh basil to garnish

By Jas on Aug 3, 2016 · Modified: Jun 24, 2020 · This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission · This blog generates income via ads · Please read our disclosure.

Cook Time 15 minutes

Are you looking for clean eating spaghetti and meatballs recipe? Then this Mini Spaghetti Nests and Italian Meatballs Appetizer recipe is for you!

We are talking clean eating as in no messy slurping of the spaghetti while the sauce is slapping your face clean eating, and not the other, healthy version. 😜

Meatball and spaghetti appetizer nests lined on a wooden board.

These mini spaghetti nests with Italian meatballs are mess-free bites perfect for special gatherings, be it birthdays, potlucks, football parties, and just because.

A classic dish turned into finger food - can I get a Heck Yeah? 🙌

These entirely satisfying little bites made with creamy Alfredo pasta and Italian-style meatballs in marinara sauce are easy to make and a huge crowd-pleaser!

*DON'T MISS: See how to dress up these spaghetti nests for Halloween at the bottom of the post.

📋Why This Recipe Works

These are easy to make.
They feed a crowd.
No need to make the meatballs (unless you want to). Use the frozen ones!
They can be made ahead.
They're delicious! I mean, who doesn't like pasta and meatballs, amirite?
It’s so fun to pop these little amazeballs in your mouth. Oops, I heard it too. 😳
They are great warm or at room temperature.

Seriously, this is a super easy and simple recipe that yields delicious (and addictive) little bites.

If you have the time and desire to make your own meatballs and marinara or spaghetti sauce, go right ahead.

Don't get me wrong, I love cooking from scratch for my family, but when planning a party, there's usually no time for that. So, here's the shortcut:

🛒Ingredients and Notes

Ingredients for spaghetti and meatball appetizer.

Angel hair pasta or thin spaghetti
Alfredo sauce
Mozzarella cheese
Italian-style frozen meatballs
Marinara sauce - If you're not making your own and don't already have a favorite, I highly suggest Rao's Marinara sauce (not an affiliate). It's super flavorful with all fresh and natural ingredients!
Parmesan and fresh basil to garnish (optional)

🔪Step by Step Instructions

* The full and printable recipe is available in the recipe box at the bottom of this post. Also, check out the below tips for the best results.

6 easy steps to making meatballs and spaghetti nests.

Cook thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta until al dente.
Meanwhile, heat the marinara sauce and meatballs.
Drain the pasta and mix with Alfredo sauce and Mozzarella cheese.
Fill each of the 24 holes of a mini muffin tin with pasta mix.
Sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese. Bake.
Assemble meatballs on top of the nests, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh basil if desired.

💡Recipe Tips

Thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta for the nests, as I used here, is better than regular spaghetti, which is too bulky for the mini muffin/cupcake tin.
To make the nests, swirl spaghetti with a fork and release it into the muffin hole; press down on the top to make an indent.
Let the nests cool for at least 20 minutes before removing them from the muffin tin; otherwise, they might fall apart.
You can use half the recipe to make 24 nests. This works best for smaller gatherings and when you have heaps of other food. Just know that they are super addictive and go first and fast. 😋
Make nests ahead of time and assemble with meatballs before serving. They are good at room temperature, too, so you can assemble a few hours before your guests arrive.

❓FAQs

Can I freeze spaghetti?

If you cook pasta al dente, you can successfully freeze it. I wouldn't recommend freezing it for this recipe, because:
A. Cooking spaghetti takes as long as it takes to reheat them, and
B. Spaghetti is better pliable when freshly cooked (unless you're looking into freezing the nests - I suppose you could do that if you must).

How to prevent spaghetti from sticking together when cooking?

· Wait for the water to reach a rapid boil before adding pasta to it.
· Add a tablespoon of oil into the water.
· Drain the pasta, rinse and drain again. Serve or mix with a sauce immediately.

How to reheat spaghetti nests with meatballs?

Place spaghetti and meatballs on a microwave-safe dish and heat on high for 90 seconds, in 30-second increments.

Make them for Halloween:

Use black food coloring to turn this spaghetti and meatballs appetizer into ghoulish bites for your Halloween party, or buy black spaghetti.

How do you color noodles? Easy:

Mix two tablespoon water with 10 drops of water-based food coloring (liquid gel dye) and place it in a large Ziploc bag.
Add cooked spaghetti to the bag, seal, and work the pasta into the coloring with your hands.
Alternatively, you can place it in a bowl and using kitchen tongs, mix the pasta well into the coloring.
Add halved pearl onions to meatballs to create eyeballs and pour extra marinara sauce on top. Enjoy!

Note: wear disposable gloves and protect your working surface when using food coloring.

black spaghetti nests with eyeball meatballs for Halloween

Try these meatball recipes too:

A trio of Mini Spaghetti Nests and Italian Meatballs Appetizer

Liked this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section. Your feedback is always appreciated! Stay in touch through Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for my email list below too!