Italian cuisine offers a variety of delicious dishes that can be made using ground beef or meatballs. Here are some classic Italian dishes that incorporate these ingredients:
Spaghetti and Meatballs: This is a quintessential Italian-American dish. Meatballs made with ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, herbs, and eggs are simmered in a rich tomato sauce and served over spaghetti.
Lasagna: Layers of pasta sheets, ricotta cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, and a savory tomato-meat sauce made with ground beef are baked to perfection to create this hearty Italian casserole.
Stuffed Peppers: Italian-style stuffed peppers are filled with a mixture of ground beef, cooked rice, onions, garlic, herbs, and tomatoes. The peppers are then baked until tender and the flavors meld together.
Meatball Subs: Italian meatballs are served in a crusty Italian roll with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese, creating a satisfying and flavorful sandwich.
Pasta al Forno: This is an oven-baked pasta dish that typically includes ziti or penne pasta mixed with meatballs, tomato sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.
Ragu alla Bolognese: A classic meat sauce originating from Bologna, Italy. Ground beef is cooked with onions, carrots, celery, tomatoes, milk, and wine to create a rich and flavorful sauce served with pasta.
Italian Wedding Soup: A comforting soup made with meatballs (miniature in this case), chicken broth, vegetables like spinach and carrots, and often includes small pasta like orzo.
Polpette di Carne: Italian meatballs that can be served as appetizers or a main course. They are typically made with ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, herbs, and grated Parmesan, and can be cooked in a tomato sauce or baked in the oven.
Baked Ziti: A casserole dish made with ziti pasta, tomato sauce, ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and ground beef, then baked until bubbly and golden.
Meatball Pizza: An Italian-American twist on pizza, featuring meatballs as a topping along with cheese and sauce.
Remember that Italian cuisine is incredibly diverse, and regional variations may exist for some of these dishes. Also, feel free to get creative and adjust the ingredients to suit your preferences and dietary needs. Buon appetito!