Bowtie Pasta Cocktail Meatball Skewers (Printable version)
Playful appetizer skewers featuring al dente bowtie pasta, glazed meatballs, and vibrant vegetables for party platters.
# What you 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
# How to make it:
01 - Cook the bowtie pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking process. Set aside in a large bowl.
02 - If using frozen or precooked meatballs, warm them in the oven at 350°F for 10-12 minutes or microwave until heated through to an internal temperature of 165°F.
03 - Combine barbecue sauce or marinara with honey and Italian seasoning in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the heated meatballs and toss gently until evenly coated.
04 - Thread each skewer in the following order: 1 piece red bell pepper, 1 bowtie pasta, 1 glazed meatball, 1 grape tomato, 1 piece yellow bell pepper, and 1 bowtie pasta. Repeat pattern until all ingredients are used, resulting in 16 complete skewers.
05 - Arrange skewers on a large serving platter. Drizzle with any remaining glaze if desired. Sprinkle generously with chopped fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while warm or allow to cool to room temperature for party service.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- Everything tastes better on a skewer, and the pasta makes it feel like a complete meal in one bite
- The glaze keeps everything sticky and flavorful, so no dry meatballs here
- These are arguably the most fun party food you can serve without hiring a caterer
02 -
- Soak wooden skewers for 30 minutes before threading to prevent them from scorching, or just use metal ones and skip this step entirely
- The pasta needs to be completely cool before threading, otherwise it'll steam the other ingredients and make everything soggy
- These skewers are best served within 2 hours of assembly, as the pasta starts to absorb the glaze and loses its perfect texture after that
03 -
- Thread in the same direction on every skewer so they look uniform on the platter
- Double-skewer large batches by running two parallel sticks through each portion for stability and easier eating