Mega Meatball with Pasta State(Minnesota) Child Nutrition Agency Developed Recipe for Schools

Age Group: Ages 6-18
Serving Size: 50-100
Large Italian meatball with marinara sauce, served over pasta.
NSLP/SBP CREDITING INFORMATION
1 meatball, ½ cup (4 fl oz spoodle) marinara, and ½ cup (No. 8 scoop or 4 fl oz spoodle) pasta provides 2 ¼ oz equivalent meat, 1 oz equivalent grains, ⅝ cup red/orange vegetable.
RECIPE PROJECT NAME
Fiscal Year 2021 Cohort A Team Nutrition Training Grant for School Meal Recipe Development Minnesota Department of Education
*This recipe was developed and standardized by a State Child Nutrition Agency. USDA has not tested this recipe.
2.80 from 5 votes

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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Instructions
 

  • Two days before meal service, move the frozen ground beef to the bottom shelf in the cooler to thaw.
  • Preheat oven to 400ºF for convection oven (425 ºF for standard conventional oven).
  • Line sheet pan with parchment paper and spray thoroughly with food release.
  • Combine all ingredients except the marinara, basil, oregano, and pasta. The meatball ingredients can be combined in a mixer.
  • Roll into 50 or 100 balls, making sure to pack the meat firmly. The green or #12 scoop works perfectly. Place the balls on the prepared sheet pan, being careful to line them up snugly and in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid. The meatballs should be touching each other.
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the center of the meat reaches 165ºF.
    Critical ControlPoint: Heat to 165 ºF or higher for 15 seconds.
  • Add marinara sauce to a pot and mix in the basil and oregano. Add the meatballs to the sauce. The remaining sauce will be served over the pasta and meatball during meal service.
    Critical Control Point: Heat to 165 ºF for at least 15 seconds. Hold for hot service at 135 ºF.
  • Heat water to a rolling boil. Slowly add rotini pasta. Stir constantly, until the water boils again. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender but firm; stir occasionally.
    If using Combi Oven, place pasta into a steam table pan. Cover and cook for 16 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain well. Rinse with water. Toss with a small amount of oil to keep from sticking together.
    Place cooked pasta in hot holding cabinet to retain temperature.
    Serve one meatball with ½ cup marinara sauce and ½ cup pasta.
    Critical Control Point: Serve at a minimum of 135 ºF. Reheat only once if temperature falls below 135 ºF.

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Nutrition INFORMATION

Mega Meatball with Pasta State(Minnesota) Child Nutrition Agency Developed Recipe for Schools
Amount Per Serving
 
1 meatball + ½ cup marinara sauce + ½ cup pasta
Calories
392
Total Fat
 
15.8
g
24
%
Saturated Fat
 
3.8
g
24
%
Cholesterol
 
78.8
mg
26
%
Sodium
 
165
mg
7
%
Total Carbohydrate
 
37.9
g
13
%
Dietary Fiber
 
5
g
21
%
Total Sugars
 
6.5
g
7
%
Protein
 
24
g
48
%
Calcium
 
65
mg
7
%
Iron
 
12.1
mg
67
%
N/A=data not available
*Marketing Guide

Notes

Another serving option is to make smaller meatballs and serve as an Italian Meatball Sub sandwich.
Cooking Process #2: Same Day Service.
Yield / Volume
50 Servings:
50 meatballs
1 gal 2 qt pasta
1 gal 2 qt 2 ½ cup marinara sauce
100 Servings:
100 meatballs
3 gal pasta
3 gal 1 qt 1 cup marinara sauce