Baked Spaghetti and Meatball Cups

Baked spaghetti and meatball cups are fun, handheld, portable recipe with leftover spaghetti and meatballs!! A great leftover pasta recipe.

I’m all about fun lunch boxes!! Well, I try:)

Don’t these baked spaghetti and meatball cups look fun and EASY to eat at school rather than trying to twirl the leftover spaghetti?

These have been a favorite around here for a long time. I’m not sure about your home, but we always end up with leftover pasta after dinner and instead of reheating it the next day and eating as is, my kids love fun creations. It is almost like brand new dish, like Leftover Pasta Pizza or Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad.

Not a brand-new-break-the-internet idea. Just a family favorite – Spaghetti Muffin

Why are these baked spaghetti nests gonna be your family’s favorite too?

• Portable
• Hand held
• Carbs, protein, veggies (yes, those chicken meatballs have cauliflower and carrots in them) and cheese <— all in one
• Great for meal prep
• School lunch box winner

My children love interesting lunches for school. Who doesn’t, right? Nobody wants to eat pb&j everyday. Few fun lunch ideas:

DIY Healthy Snack Box

Caprese with Garlic Toast Lunch Box

Turkey, Apple and Cheddar pinwheels

Breakfast Croissant Sandwiches

Turkey Sandwich on a stick

Grilled Cheese Sandwich On A Stick

Or more lunch box ideas

Ingredients needed for this leftover spaghetti recipe:

1. Cooked spaghetti
2. Jarred marinara sauce
3. Cooked and cooled meatballs (smaller meatballs work better). I used these Healthyish Baked Chicken meatballs
4. Cheese – mozzarella and parmesan

How to make these baked spaghetti and meatball cups?

Step-1: Use cooked and cooled spaghetti – Cook spaghetti in salted, boiling water until al dente. Drain and immediately rinse with cold water (this will prevent it from sticking to each other). Let cool to room temperature or can be stored in the refrigerator.

Step-2: Toss spaghetti with egg, marinara sauce and cheese.

Step-3: Snuggle them into muffin cups with indentation in the middle for a meatball.

Step-4: Place a meatball in the middle

Step-5: Spoon some sauce over it

Step-6: Sprinkle some (actually a LOT) of cheese on top.

Step-7: Bake and enjoy.

You might also love this baked bbq chicken meatballs with avocado

How to eat these spaghetti cups?

Eat them hot/warm with a side of cheesy broccoli and garlic bread for dinner

Meal prep for the week – Make a batch over the weekend and store in the refrigerator <– pack into lunch boxes or at-home-lunch or snack for the kids. Warm in the microwave just before eating.

Can I make baked spaghetti nests without meatballs?

Of course! Pack the prepared spaghetti into the muffin pan (do not leave any indentation for the meatballs), top with marinara sauce, cheese and bake <—- A great leftover spaghetti recipe.

Can I make these with spaghetti with meat sauce or just marinara sauce already mixed in?

Again YES. Proceed as with making without meatballs and skip the sauce on top. Add cheese and proceed.

Can I make these with leftover spaghetti and meatballs? 

Seperate spaghetti and meatballs separately. Proceed with the recipe but skip the sauce topping. 

Keeping track of all the pasta recipes around here?

Instant Pot Pasta with Chicken Meat Sauce

Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

Instant Pot Pasta with Pesto Cream Sauce 

Creamy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Meatless Baked Ziti

Shrimp Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce

Healthy Instant Pot Pasta with Tomato Cream sauce

Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta

or more pasta recipes

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