Pasta Cupcakes Are a Thing & Giada De Laurentiis Proves That They Actually May Be the Best Way To Eat Pasta

Pasta just got the dessert treatment. Giada De Laurentiis and her daughter Jade hopped onto Instagram recently to share how they make their “pasta cupcakes.” These little savory morsels come together in a pinch and are as fun to eat as they are to make.

“I created this recipe when Jade was little to get her excited about cooking,” De Laurentiis wrote in a recent Instagram caption. “It’s good to know she still loves it after all these years.”

This recipe is so simple that it’s a must-make for parents with kids. You first start by drizzling a bit of oil and sprinkling some breadcrumbs at the bottom of a cupcake pan. “This makes it easier to pull them out,” De Laurentiis explained in her Instagram video.

Then, you add your “cupcake batter,” which in De Laurentiis’ case, was pre-cooked pasta, ground turkey, and broccoli, which were already mixed together in a bowl. “A lot of times I used to add asparagus and tomatoes,” De Laurentiis said, adding, “Basically, you can put whatever you want.”

Put a little of each ingredient into the cupcake tins and then top each “cupcake” with shredded cheddar and parmesan cheese. “The cheese is what’s going to hold it together,” De Laurentiis said. She likes to top them with a few more breadcrumbs and olive oil before tossing the cupcake pan into the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Then, after allowing them to cool for a bit, you’re ready to eat. “I feel like I’m five years old again,” De Laurentiis’ daughter Jade said in the video.

And just like traditional cupcake recipes, you can tweak this one to your liking. Add pesto, marinara, or alfredo sauce to moisten up the pasta, or swap out the ground turkey for sausage or mushroom. You can also change out the cheeses and veggies to your liking, too, just make sure everything is cooked ahead of time so you get consistent results.

Grab the full recipe over on Giadzy to make these cupcakes for your kiddos or as appetizers for an upcoming dinner party. Everyone will love them, no matter their age!

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