Bowtie Pasta Meatball Skewers (Printable)
Hearty appetizer skewers combining pasta, meatballs, and fresh vegetables for effortless entertaining.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meatballs
01 - 16 cocktail-sized beef or turkey meatballs, cooked
→ Pasta
02 - 1 cup dry bowtie (farfalle) pasta
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
04 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
05 - 16 grape tomatoes
→ Glaze
06 - 1/4 cup barbecue sauce or marinara sauce
07 - 1 tablespoon honey
08 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
→ Garnish
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
10 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
# Steps:
01 - Cook bowtie pasta in salted boiling water until al dente according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.
02 - Warm cocktail meatballs in oven or microwave until heated through if using frozen or precooked.
03 - Combine barbecue sauce or marinara with honey and Italian seasoning in small saucepan. Warm over low heat, add meatballs and toss gently to coat evenly.
04 - Thread each skewer in order: red bell pepper piece, bowtie pasta, glazed meatball, grape tomato, yellow bell pepper piece, and second bowtie pasta. Repeat until all ingredients are used.
05 - Arrange completed skewers on serving platter. Drizzle with additional sauce if desired. Garnish generously with chopped fresh basil and grated Parmesan. Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- They are grabable finger food that works for mingling and conversation
- The pasta and protein combo keeps guests satisfied longer than typical appetizers
02 -
- Soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes or they will char and splinter during assembly
- Let everything cool slightly before threading or you will burn your fingers guaranteed
03 -
- Thread everything in the same direction so each skewer looks uniform
- Leave a tiny bit of space between ingredients so the glaze can seep through