Description
A classic and comforting Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe featuring tender meatballs simmered in a rich, herb-infused tomato sauce paired perfectly with al dente spaghetti. This easy-to-make dish balances homestyle tradition and quick preparation, making it ideal for a satisfying weeknight dinner loved by all ages.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (or gluten-free breadcrumbs)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup onion, finely diced
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Tomato Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup onion, finely diced
- 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti pasta (or zucchini noodles for low-carb/gluten-free)
- Salt, for pasta water
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, chopped parsley, minced garlic, diced onion, egg, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Gently mix by hand until just combined; avoid overmixing to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form and Cook the Meatballs: Shape the mixture into evenly sized meatballs about 1.5 inches in diameter. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides but not fully cooked through, approximately 5 minutes.
- Prepare the Tomato Sauce: In a separate pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté additional minced garlic and diced onions until translucent. Add canned crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently for 15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to thicken.
- Simmer Meatballs in Sauce: Transfer the browned meatballs into the sauce pot. Cover and simmer for another 20 minutes, fully cooking the meatballs and infusing flavors.
- Cook the Spaghetti: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well, reserving a bit of pasta water.
- Combine and Serve: Toss the cooked spaghetti with a ladle of tomato sauce to coat the noodles. Serve topped with the meatballs, garnished with fresh basil leaves and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Mix meatball ingredients gently to keep them soft and tender.
- Make meatballs uniform in size for even cooking.
- Brown meatballs first to lock in juices and add flavor.
- Use fresh parsley and basil for best herb flavor.
- Reserve pasta water to help sauce cling to noodles.
- Simmer sauce and meatballs on low heat for richer flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg