Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsNOLO's Kitchen & BarRigatoni & Meatballs Recipe

Rigatoni & Meatballs Recipe

Time45m
Serves4

Braised turkey meatballs, breadcrumbs, garlic, spinach, almonds, lemon cream sauce.

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Meatballs

Lemon Cream Sauce

Rigatoni

Method

Meatballs Preparation

  1. 1

    Mix Ingredients

    In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, minced garlic, chopped spinach, finely chopped almonds, egg, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.

  2. 2

    Form Meatballs

    Using your hands, form the mixture into small meatballs, about 2 inches in diameter. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

  3. 3

    Cook Meatballs

    In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the meatballs to the skillet and cook for about 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Lemon Cream Sauce Preparation

  1. 4

    Heat Cream

    In the same skillet used for the meatballs, add heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

  2. 5

    Add Flavorings

    Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. Continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.

Rigatoni Cooking

  1. 6

    Boil Water

    In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil.

  2. 7

    Cook Pasta

    Add rigatoni pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 10-12 minutes.

  3. 8

    Combine Pasta and Sauce

    Drain the pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the lemon cream sauce. Toss to combine well.

Assembly

  1. 9

    Serve

    Plate the rigatoni and sauce, then top with the cooked meatballs. Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and chopped almonds if desired.

More from NOLO's Kitchen & Bar