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Spaghetti and Meatballs
5 from 15 votes

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Spaghetti and Meatballs features homemade meatballs made from a mix of ground beef and pork, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, and Italian herbs baked until tender. The meatballs are simmered in a richly flavored marinara sauce that uses San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil. Served over cooked spaghetti, the dish offers a satisfying combination of hearty meat and tangy tomato sauce, enhanced by a garnish of Parmesan or fresh herbs.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 713 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Homemade Meatballs
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork sausage
  • ½ cup white onion diced small, or yellow onion
  • 3 to 4 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 egg lightly whisked, large
  • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese shredded
  • 1 teaspoon basil dried
  • 1 teaspoon oregano dried
  • 1 teaspoon parsley dried
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper or to taste, freshly ground
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
Marinara Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion diced small, small, white or yellow
  • 3 to 5 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 28 ounces whole peeled tomatoes San Marzano recommended, canned
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes San Marzano recommended, canned
  • 1 tablespoon basil fresh
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
  • ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
Spaghetti and Assembly
  • 1 ½ to 2 pounds spaghetti cooked according to package directions
  • basil finely minced; optional for garnishing, or parsley, fresh
  • Parmesan Cheese optional for garnishing, freshly grated

Instructions

Meatballs
    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 425F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
  2. To a large bowl, add all the ingredients, and using a wooden spoon or a gloved hand, mix together all ingredients. Don't overmix.
  3. Using a small 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, form the meatballs. If desired, add a bit of oil to your hands and then roll the meatballs into nice round balls, although straight off the cookie scoop is fine too.* (See Notes)
  4. As you form the meatballs place them on the prepared baking sheet.
  5. After you've formed all the meatballs, bake for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until done.
  6. Set cooked meatballs aside. Tip - While the meatballs are cooking, start on the marinara sauce.
Marinara Sauce
  1. To a large skillet or saucepan, add the oil, onion, garlic, and saute over medium heat for 3 minutes, stir nearly constantly.
  2. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Add all remaining ingredients** (See Notes) and simmer for about 20 minutes. Stir intermittently with a wooden spoon and break up the larger tomato chunks. Tip - While the sauce simmers, make sure to start boiling your spaghetti.
Spaghetti and Assembly
  1. While the sauce simmers, in a separate large pot, cook the spaghetti according to package directions; drain and set aside.
  2. Toss the cooked spaghetti with the marinara sauce, add the meatballs, and serve either family-style or plated.
  3. Optionally garnish with fresh basil or parsley, and optional freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
  4. Meatball recipe is exactly the same as these Cheesy Meatballs with Gnocci. The marinara sauce is very similar to the red sauce in my Cheesy Meatballs with Gnocci recipe and is adapted from it.

Notes

  • Rolling meatballs between palms before baking helps create rounds but is optional since sauce covers them.
  • Use Italian or San Marzano tomatoes for authentic flavor in the marinara sauce.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Calories 713kcal (36%) Carbohydrates 62g (21%) Protein 41g (82%) Fat 34g (52%) Saturated Fat 11g (55%) Polyunsaturated Fat 19g (112%) Trans Fat 1g (50%) Cholesterol 151mg (50%) Sodium 1143mg (48%) Fiber 6g (24%) Sugar 12g (24%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 713

% Daily Value*

Serving 1
Calories 713kcal 36%
Carbohydrates 62g 21%
Protein 41g 82%
Fat 34g 52%
Saturated Fat 11g 55%
Polyunsaturated Fat 19g 112%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 151mg 50%
Sodium 1143mg 48%
Fiber 6g 24%
Sugar 12g 24%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.