Meatball Stuffed Baked Potato

Some people dream about flying.  Others dream about work.  I dream about food.  Literally!  

This morning, I had a dream about a baked potato, mixed with ricotta, topped with meatballs, marinara and mozzarella cheese. I had the most vivid picture of it in my head when I woke up, I could almost smell and taste it. 

Best. Dream. Ever. 

Meatball Stuffed Baked Potato

When I woke up, I was hungry!!  I decided I was going to make my dreams a reality, and bring that idea to life! 

I started with a baking potato, put it in the oven for an hour @ 350, until it was nice and soft.

While I was waiting for the potato to bake, I made meatballs!  I took two pounds of ground beef, added breadcrumbs, an egg, grated asiago cheese, and spices.   Those went into the oven for about 20 minutes, along with the potato, and made my home smell all sorts of amazing.  My picky eating 5-year-old walked into the kitchen, on 3 different occasions, and told me how great it smelled!  

Once the meatballs were done, I sauteed fresh onions and garlic, then poured in a can of crushed tomatoes, a couple tablespoons of tomato paste, a little olive oil, and spices.  I let that simmer 20 minutes, before adding in the meatballs, and letting it simmer.  

When the potato was done, I split it down the middle, scooped out all of the potato, then mixed it with ricotta cheese, salt, pepper and oregano.  I then spooned all of the ricotta potato mixture back into the potato skin.  I spooned meatballs and marinara sauce on top of the potato, then sprinkled on freshly shredded mozzarella cheese.  I popped it back in the oven a couple minutes to melt, and the rest is history! 

This meatball stuffed baked potato is seriously dreamy.  The ricotta cheese makes the potato creamy and rich.  The marinara sauce and meatball pairs wonderfully with the rich baked potato. And the mozzarella cheese… well, everything is better with melted mozzarella.  

You could streamline this dish by using pre-made sauce, or frozen meatballs, if you’re short on time. 

I hope you try this meatball stuffed baked potato.  I hope it fills your home with a warm and delicious scent.  I hope it fills your belly with happiness.  

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Meatball Stuffed Baked Potato

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings 1 potato

Author Andrea Vaughan

Ingredients

Baked Potato

• 4 Baking Potatoes
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 2 tsp oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

Meatballs

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 onion minced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 cup shredded Asiago cheese or Parmesan
• salt and pepper

Marinara Sauce

• 4 tbsp olive oil divided
• 1/2 onion minced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 28 oz crushed tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp organic sugar cane or sugar
• 1 tsp oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

Other Ingredients

• Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions

Baked Potato with Ricotta

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash your baking potatoes well, then place on a piece of aluminum foil. Pierce a few times with a fork or knife. Rub a little olive oil on the outside of the skin, and sprinkle on a little salt and pepper. Wrap up in foil, and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until soft. Remove from oven, slice down the middle, and scoop out the inside of the potatoes to a bowl. Mix in ricotta cheese, oregano and salt and pepper to taste. Stir well, then transfer back to potato skins.

Meatballs

1. To a large bowl, add ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, onion, garlic, asiago (or parmesan) cheese, salt and pepper. Mix well. Form into balls about the size of a golfball. Place onto a baking sheet, and bake in 350 degree oven, preheated oven, for 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through.

Marinara Sauce

1. Warm 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large pan. Add in onions and garlic, and saute until fragrant, 5-8 minutes. Add in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, remaining 2 tbsp of olive oil, sugar cane, oregano, salt and pepper. Simmer, stirring frequently, for 20 minutes.
2. Once meatballs are cooked, transfer into the tomato sauce, stir, and reduce heat to simmer.

To assemble

1. Spoon 3 - 4 meatballs, and desired amount of sauce onto the baked potato. Sprinkle on shredded mozzarella cheese. Return to 350 degree oven for a minute, to allow cheese to melt.

Nutrition Facts

Meatball Stuffed Baked Potato

Amount Per Serving (4 g)

Calories 0

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Hungry for more?  Try my amazing recipe for white pizza with spinach and bacon!