Ingredients
- Salt
- 1 pound cavatappi corkscrew shaped hallow pasta
- 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken
- Black pepper
- 2 to 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves stripped and finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
- 3 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 1/2 cups grated Parmigiano Reggiano, divided
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup bread crumbs, plus more, if needed*
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 boxes, 10 ounces, chopped frozen spinach
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg, eyeball it
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Place a large pot of water on to boil for pasta. When it comes to a boil, salt it and add the pasta to cook to al dente. Strain pasta reserving 1 cup cooking liquid.
While the water is coming to a boil, in a large mixing bowl combine the chicken, salt and pepper, rosemary, fennel seeds, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano - a rounded handful, egg and bread crumbs. *If the mixture seems too wet, add a handful of bread crumbs and mix together.
Form 8 large round balls, about 3 to 4-inches. Coat balls in a couple of tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil and lightly grease a baking sheet with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil. Arrange balls on the baking sheet and roast 17 to 18 minutes until juices run clear.
Defrost spinach in microwave 8 to 10 minutes on "defrost" setting depending on the microwave. Place the boxes in a shallow dish to catch any run off.
While the meatballs roast, in a medium sauce pot over medium heat, melt butter, whisk in flour, cook 1 minute then whisk in stock and milk, season with salt, pepper and nutmeg and thicken 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 cup grated Parmigiano and reduce heat on lowest setting.
Wring spinach completely dry in clean kitchen towel then separate as you add it to the sauce. Also add the reserved 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.
Toss pasta with the spinach-white sauce and adjust seasonings.
Serve Florentine Mac-n-Cheese with 2 meatballs per person along side.
Photo: Florentine Mac and Cheese and Roast Chicken Sausage Meatballs Recipe
















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By romerodejesus
Brooklyn, NY
on January 13, 2013
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We just loved this dish very much, will definitely make again. My family absolutely wanted seconds.
By kslighthouse_11...
Wichita, KS
on January 12, 2013
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I made half the recipe, but the entire sauce. If you make this and you are going to use 16 ounces of pasta double the sauce. The next time I make this I am going to maybe use Italian sausage or pork sausage in place of the chicken and omit the herbs. We enjoyed this.
By walijula_9935538
Hot Springs, AR
on January 08, 2013
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Love it! My kids beg me to make this!
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