Baked Meatballs with Butternut Squash in Tomato Sauce

Name: Baked Meatballs with Butternut Squash in Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 500g ground beef; ½ cup cooked diced butternut squash; 1 finely diced onion; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 slice of soaked bread; 1 egg; Breadcrumbs (as needed); 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp soy sauce; ½ tsp ground cumin; Salt and pepper; For the sauce:; 1 onion, diced; 1 potato, diced; 1 ½ cups diced butternut squash; 3 ripe tomatoes; 2 garlic cloves; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 small can of tomato paste; 1-1.5 cups boiling water; Salt, pepper, oregano or thyme

AI Kitchen

Oct 8, 2024

Looking for a comforting, kid-friendly dinner that packs in flavor and veggies? These baked meatballs with butternut squash in tomato sauce are a hit! Juicy, tender meatballs nestled in a rich, tomato-based sauce, served with rice, will have everyone asking for seconds.

Jump to recipe

This time, I will be showing how I took a recipe which I found online, and adapted it using ChatGPT. I have linked to the original recipe in the text.

I bought butternut squash at Costco and wanted to use it in a way that my picky eaters would approve. I asked Grok first but I didn't like the ideas at all so I went to ChatGPT:

Butternut squash recipe ideas. Hit me with 15 of them. For each tell me the name of the recipe, ingredients and total time to make. My audience consists of picky eaters so that has to be taken into consideration. I have 1.2 lbs. Of ground beef I'd like to use too. Warm and hearty ideas please. Consider Mediterranean and African inspirations.

It responded:

Here are 15 warm and hearty butternut squash recipe ideas, keeping picky eaters in mind and incorporating ground beef, Mediterranean, and African inspirations:

1. Butternut Squash Beef Tagine

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash, 1 onion, garlic, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp paprika, 1 cup diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup raisins, 1 tbsp honey, olive oil, salt, pepper.
Total Time: 45 minutes.

2. Mediterranean Beef-Stuffed Butternut Squash

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash, feta cheese, 1/2 cup quinoa, 1 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper.
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

3. Butternut Squash and Ground Beef Moussaka

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash, 1 onion, garlic, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, 1 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, olive oil, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup béchamel sauce.
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes.

4. Butternut Squash Beef Pilaf

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash, 1 cup rice, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp coriander, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1 onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper.
Total Time: 40 minutes.

5. Beef and Butternut Squash Stew

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash, 2 carrots, 2 potatoes, 1 onion, garlic, 4 cups beef broth, 1 tsp thyme, 1 tsp paprika, salt, pepper.
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

6. Butternut Squash Beef Skillet

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash, 1 bell pepper, 1 onion, garlic, 1 tsp paprika, olive oil, salt, pepper.
Total Time: 35 minutes.

7. Ground Beef and Squash Casserole

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash, 1 onion, garlic, 1 cup rice, 1 tsp thyme, 1 cup shredded cheese (optional), salt, pepper.
Total Time: 1 hour.

8. Beef and Butternut Squash Bolognese

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash, 1 onion, garlic, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 tsp basil, 1/2 tsp oregano, olive oil, salt, pepper.
Total Time: 45 minutes.

9. Moroccan Beef and Butternut Squash Couscous

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash, 1 cup couscous, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper.
Total Time: 40 minutes.

10. Butternut Squash and Ground Beef Chili

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash, 1 can kidney beans, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 onion, garlic, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp cumin, salt, pepper.
Total Time: 50 minutes.

11. Butternut Squash Beef Meatballs with Herbed Couscous

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash (pureed), 1 egg, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, garlic, 1 tsp cumin, 1 cup couscous, parsley, olive oil, salt, pepper.
Total Time: 1 hour.

12. North African Beef and Butternut Squash Kebabs

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp coriander, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, wooden skewers.
Total Time: 40 minutes.

13. Butternut Squash and Ground Beef Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash (mashed), 1 onion, garlic, 1/2 cup peas, 1/2 tsp thyme, 1/2 tsp rosemary, olive oil, salt, pepper.
Total Time: 1 hour.

14. Butternut Squash Beef Hash

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash, 1 bell pepper, 1 onion, garlic, 1 tsp smoked paprika, olive oil, salt, pepper.
Total Time: 30 minutes.

15. Butternut Squash Beef Curry

Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground beef, 1 butternut squash, 1 onion, garlic, 1 tsp curry powder, 1 can coconut milk, 1 tsp turmeric, 1/2 tsp cumin, olive oil, salt, pepper.
Total Time: 40 minutes.

These recipes balance hearty flavors with mild spices to appeal to picky eaters, while drawing from Mediterranean and African cuisines for variety.

I wasn't actually sure I liked any of these, so I went to a website I often visit to get ideas and found meatballs which seemed delicious. I asked ChatGPT:

can you create an English recipe for this? https://lizapanelim.com/%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%A3-%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%9F-%D7%90%D7%94%D7%95%D7%91%D7%99/#google_vignette

I don't think it understood me:

Searched 1 site

To make butternut squash palatable for picky eaters while using your 1.2 lbs of ground beef, you could create a Mediterranean-inspired stuffed squash dish. Roasting the butternut squash halves until tender and then filling them with seasoned ground beef mixed with herbs like oregano, cumin, and parsley, along with a touch of tomato paste, will give it warmth and richness. You can top it with a yogurt-based sauce or sprinkle some feta cheese for a nice finish.

Alternatively, you could make a hearty beef and squash tagine with warm spices like cinnamon, turmeric, and a bit of sweetened dried fruit like apricots or raisins. Would you prefer one of these ideas or another variation?

Not what I meant so I decided to "spell it out":

here's the recipe in Hebrew. I want an English version of it please: קציצות אפויות ברוטב עם דלעת תקשיבו טוב טוב, זה מתכון מנצח! אחד הטעימים, הבריאים והקלים להכנה – סיר יפיפה של קציצות עם דלעת. ילדים מתים עליהם מבוגרים רוצים עוד עוד ועוד…. רק שימו לב לשלבים! לרוטב: 1. בצל קצוץ קוביות 1. תפוח אדמה קוביות 1. חתיכת דלעת קצוצה קוביות (גודל כף יד החתיכה) 3 עגבניות בשלות + 2 שיני שום + כף סוכר חום + 2 כפות שמן זית + רסק עגבניות קטן 1. כוס עד כוס וחצי מים רותחים 1. מטגנים את הבצל עם קוביות תפוחי אדמה וקוביות הדלעת ברבע כוס שמן זית בסיר נמוך . 2. את העגבניות הבשלות, הרסק,הסוכר החום, מלח פלפל ושום מרסקים הכל בבלנדר ומוסיפים לסיר עם הבצל וקוביות הדלעת מוסיפים כוס וחצי מים ומתקנים תיבול (מלח פלפל אפשר להוסיף מי שאוהב כמה עלי בזיל, מי שרוצה חריף מוסיף פלפל שאטה חמוד). על אש קטנה בסיר מכוסה נותנים לו להיות לקציצות: חצי קילו בשר בקר או עוף טחון חתיכת דלעת בגודל כף יד מבושלת ורכה 1 בצל קצוץ דק דק שן שום צרור נדיב של פטרוזיליה או כוסברה פרוסת לחם רטוב מאתמול 1 ביצה פירורי לחם 2 כפות שמן זית כף רוטב סויה חצי כפית שטוחה של כמון מלח פלפל מחממים תנור לחום גבוה (200 מעלות) על תבנית עם נייר אפייה יוצרים כדורים יפים של קציצות ומצפים בפירורי לחם – מסדרים את הקציצות על מגש אחרי כ-20 דק’ כשהן משחימות בעדינות מעבירים את הקציצות לסיר הרוטב . מנערים את הסיר הסגור כך שכל הקציצות יכוסו ברוטב. על אש קטנה עוד 30 דקות. עם אורז פרסי או בסמטי לבן ליד. חראם כמה שזה טעים!

It still didn't quite get it:

Here’s a high-level translation of the recipe for baked meatballs with pumpkin in sauce:

For the Sauce: Sauté diced onions, potato, and pumpkin in olive oil. Blend tomatoes, garlic, tomato paste, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and water. Add to the pan and simmer.
For the Meatballs: Combine ground beef, cooked pumpkin, onion, garlic, parsley/coriander, bread, egg, breadcrumbs, soy sauce, cumin, salt, and pepper. Shape into balls, bake, and transfer to the sauce to cook further.

Serve with Persian or basmati rice.

For more details, visit the original page here.

Again, not what I meant, so I had to try again in a different variation:

create a standard recipe out of the one I provided in Hebrew

This time it understood me:

Here’s a standard version of the recipe you provided:

Baked Meatballs with Butternut Squash in Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

For the sauce:
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 potato, diced
- 1 piece of butternut squash (palm-sized), diced
- 3 ripe tomatoes
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small can of tomato paste
- 1-1.5 cups boiling water
- Salt, pepper, and optional basil or chili flakes for spice
For the meatballs:
- 500g (1.1 lbs) ground beef or chicken
- 1 cooked butternut squash piece (palm-sized)
- 1 finely diced onion
- 1 garlic clove
- A generous bunch of parsley or coriander
- 1 slice of soaked bread
- 1 egg
- Breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- Salt and pepper

Instructions:

Make the Sauce: In a shallow pot, heat 2 tbsp olive oil. Sauté the diced onion, potato, and butternut squash until slightly tender. In a blender, puree tomatoes, garlic, brown sugar, tomato paste, salt, and pepper. Add the tomato mixture and boiling water to the pot. Simmer on low heat, adjusting seasoning with more salt, pepper, basil, or chili flakes to taste. Cover and let cook gently.
Make the Meatballs: Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).In a bowl, mix the ground meat, cooked butternut squash, diced onion, garlic, herbs, soaked bread, egg, cumin, soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Shape into meatballs and roll in breadcrumbs. Place the meatballs on a lined baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes, until browned.
Combine: Gently transfer the baked meatballs into the sauce. Cover the pot and shake lightly to coat the meatballs with sauce. Let them simmer on low heat for an additional 30 minutes.
Serve: Serve the meatballs and sauce with Persian or basmati rice on the side.

Enjoy!

It actually translated כוסברה to coriander, and in this recipe the intent is cilantro. In Hebrew both coriander and cilantro are called כוסברה:

I don't have parsley or cilantro or coriander

So it said:

No worries! You can omit the parsley or cilantro in the recipe. Instead, you could add other herbs or greens that you may have, like dried oregano, thyme, or even spinach for a slightly different flavor. You could also just skip the herbs entirely, as the meatballs will still taste great with the cumin, garlic, and soy sauce seasoning.

Would you like help adjusting the recipe further based on other ingredients you have?

And I responded:

yes. Also I am using diced butternut squash so if you could adjust the portions to cup measurements

and here's the final outcome:

Servings: 4

Calories per Serving: ~350

Total Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Baked Meatballs with Butternut Squash in Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

For the sauce:
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 potato, diced (1 cup)
- 1 ½ cups diced butternut squash
- 3 ripe tomatoes
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small can of tomato paste
- 1-1.5 cups boiling water
- Salt, pepper, dried oregano or thyme (to taste)
For the meatballs:
- 500g (1.1 lbs) ground beef
- ½ cup cooked diced butternut squash
- 1 finely diced onion
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 slice of soaked bread
- 1 egg
- Breadcrumbs (as needed)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- Salt and pepper

Instructions:

Prepare the sauce: Heat olive oil in a pot. Sauté onion, potato, and butternut squash until they begin to soften. Blend tomatoes, garlic, brown sugar, and tomato paste. Add the tomato mixture and boiling water to the pot. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs. Simmer on low heat, covered.
Prepare the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). In a bowl, combine ground beef, cooked diced butternut squash, onion, garlic, soaked bread, egg, cumin, soy sauce, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Form into balls, coat with breadcrumbs, and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes until browned.
Simmer the meatballs: Gently transfer the baked meatballs into the sauce, cover the pot, and simmer for an additional 30 minutes on low heat.
Serve: Serve the meatballs with Persian or basmati rice for a complete, comforting meal.