Weight Watchers Spaghetti with Chicken Meatballs
This lighter WeightWatchers Spaghetti and Chicken Meatballs recipe combines tender ground chicken meatballs, whole wheat spaghetti and a simple homemade tomato sauce. An easy, satisfying family dinner with all the comfort of traditional spaghetti and meatballs.
Servings: 6
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken breast
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup Italian-seasoned dried bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 can (28-ounces) diced tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 6 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
Instructions
- To make the meatballs, in a large bowl gently mix together the chicken, eggs, bread crumbs, Parmesan and salt until well blended. With lightly moistened hands, form the mixture into 18 meatballs (about 1-1/2 inch in diameter).
- Heat 2 teaspoons of the oil in a large nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned, 6-8 minutes. Transfer the meatballs to a plate.
- Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil to the skillet. Add the onion, garlic, and basil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, 2-3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and tomato paste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 10 minutes.
- Add the meatballs, cover and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through, 8-10 minutes longer.
- Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to the package directions.
- Divide the spaghetti among 6 bowls; top evenly with the meatballs and sauce.
Notes
Serving size: 1/2 cup pasta + 1/2 cup sauce + 3 meatballs
WW Points: 5
Check the WW Points for this recipe and track it in the WW app.
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 9 PointsPlus (Old plan)
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 9 PointsPlus (Old plan)
Easy Recipe Variations
This is a flexible recipe with plenty of room for small changes.- Use ground turkey. Extra-lean ground turkey breast works well in place of ground chicken.
- Try regular spaghetti. Whole wheat pasta adds fiber, but regular spaghetti works just as well.
- Add vegetables to the sauce. Mushrooms, grated carrots, zucchini or chopped spinach are all good options.
- Make the sauce smoother. Use crushed tomatoes instead of diced tomatoes if you prefer a less chunky sauce.
- Add a little heat. A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes gives the sauce a spicy kick.
Nutrition
Serving: 1/2 cup pasta + 1/2 cup sauce + 3 meatballs | Calories: 351kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 134mg | Sodium: 701mg | Potassium: 882mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 460IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 4mg