Meatball Pasta Bake

This is a fusion dish blending Swedish meatballs and Italian pasta into a comforting baked casserole.

This modern twist combines Nordic flavors with Italian style. A comforting fusion of tender meatballs, creamy sauce, and pasta, topped with melted Gruyere.

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

1 large egg
¼ cup fine dry breadcrumbs
¼ cup chopped yellow onion
2 tbsp whole milk
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
¼ tsp ground allspice
⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
1 lb 85% lean ground beef

For Others:

1 tbsp olive oil (or neutral oil like avocado)
8 oz dried farfalle
2½ cups low-sodium beef broth
1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
Lemon wedges

Instructions

Step 1. Prep & Meatball Mixture

Prep Work: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 7x11-inch baking dish.
Bind the Meatballs: In a bowl, whisk the egg until smooth. Stir in breadcrumbs, onion, milk, salt, nutmeg, allspice, and cayenne. Let sit 2 minutes to soften crumbs. Add ground beef and gently mix with hands or a fork until just combine.
Shape: Roll 1½-tbsp portions into balls (≈24 meatballs).

Tip: Moisten hands with water to prevent sticking.

Step 2. Sear the Meatballs

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear meatballs in batches, turning occasionally, until golden on all sides (≈8 minutes total).

They’ll finish cooking in the oven. So you don’t need to be hurry.

Then transfer to a plate.

Step 3. Cook Pasta & Layer

Boil pasta in salted water until al dent. Drain, then spread evenly in the baking dish. Arrange seared meatballs over the pasta.

Step 4. Create the Cream Sauce

Deglaze: Pour beef broth into the same skillet.
Reduce & Enrich: Stir in cream and Worcestershire. Simmer 6–8 minutes, stirring often, until slightly thickened.

Step 5. Assemble & Bake

Sauce It Up: Pour sauce over meatballs and pasta. Cover tightly with foil.
First Bake: Bake 20 minutes until bubbly.
Cheese Topping: Uncover, sprinkle Gruyere evenly, and bake 3–5 minutes more until melted and golden.

Step 6. Serve