Every Helping
Sign in

Lunch recipe · from the recipe book

Pork Herb Meatballs with Garlic-Lemon Pasta

Juicy oven-baked pork meatballs packed with parsley, basil and fennel-like oregano warmth, tossed with spaghetti, garlicky olive oil, lemon, spinach and Parmesan.

Pork Herb Meatballs with Garlic-Lemon Pasta

Ingredients

  • 1 lb500 gGround pork, 84% lean
  • 1 large50 gEggsbeaten
  • ⅓ cup40 gPlain dry breadcrumbs
  • 3 tbsp (45 ml)45 gMilk, 2%
  • ½ cup chopped30 gFresh parsleyfinely chopped, divided
  • ⅔ cup leaves15 gFresh basilfinely chopped
  • 6 cloves18 gGarlicminced, divided
  • 2 tsp2 gDried oregano
  • ½ tsp1 gCrushed red pepper
  • ¾ tsp5 gSaltdivided
  • ¾ tsp2 gBlack pepper
  • 10½ oz300 gPasta, dry
  • 2 tbsp25 gOlive oil
  • 5 cups loosely packed150 gBaby spinach
  • 2 tbsp30 gLemon juice
  • 2 tsp4 gLemon zest
  • ⅓ cup grated30 gGrated Parmesan
  • 12⅔ cups3,000 gWater

Steps

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a sheet pan with parchment.
  2. In a large bowl, stir the breadcrumbs into the milk and let soak 5 minutes.
  3. Add the egg, two-thirds of the parsley, the basil, half of the garlic, the oregano, the red pepper flakes, 3 g of the salt and the black pepper to the soaked crumbs, then add the pork and mix gently with your hands until just combined.
  4. Roll into about 20 balls and set them on the sheet pan.
  5. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, until browned and the center reaches 160°F (71°C).
  6. While the meatballs bake, bring the water to a boil in a large pot with the remaining 2 g of salt, add the pasta and cook until al dente; reserve a splash of the cooking water, then drain.
  7. Warm the olive oil in the empty pot over medium-low heat, add the remaining half of the garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  8. Add the spinach and stir until wilted, then add the drained pasta, the lemon juice, the lemon zest and a splash of the reserved pasta water, tossing to coat.
  9. Toss in the meatballs, sprinkle with the Parmesan and the remaining one-third of the parsley, and serve.

Contains: Milk, Egg, Gluten. Some brands contain soy.

Cook mode Log it in Today

Made it

Made it? Share how yours turned out.

Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

Want one that fits your numbers?

Pick the meal, the pan and your targets, and the Every Helping recipe generator writes a recipe with every number worked out. Free on the web.

Make a recipeMore from the recipe book