Florentine Mac and Cheese and Roast Chicken Sausage Meatballs

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Picture of Florentine Mac and Cheese and Roast Chicken Sausage Meatballs Recipe Photo: Florentine Mac and Cheese and Roast Chicken Sausage Meatballs Recipe
Rated 4 stars out of 5
  • Rate This Recipe
  • Read 124 Reviews
Total Time:
40 min
Prep
20 min
Cook
20 min
Yield:
4 servings
Level:
Easy
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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.

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 124 reviews

  • on January 13, 2013

    Flag

    We just loved this dish very much, will definitely make again. My family absolutely wanted seconds.

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • 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.

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on January 08, 2013

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    Love it! My kids beg me to make this!

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

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