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The Best Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe Ever

Made with both ground beef and ground pork, with Italian herbs, Parmesan cheese, and a flavorful, easy, homemade spaghetti sauce, this is the best spaghetti and meatballs recipe ever and it is classic Italian-American comfort food at it's best.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 865 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Meatballs
  • 4 slices stale Italian bread, soaked in water, then squeezed out and torn
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 pound ground pork
  • 3 large eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup parmesan or romano cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • oil, for browning or frying
Sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 cup grated onion
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pasta
  • 1 pound spaghetti, cooked according to package directions until al dente

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Soak bread in water then squeeze out as much liquid as possible and tear bread apart.  Add bread to a large bowl with the ground beef, ground pork, eggs, bread crumbs, Parmesan, parsley, salt, basil, garlic, basil, fennel, oregano, and pepper.  Gently mix to combine using your hands. 
  2. Cook meatballs using one of the following methods:  
  3. Oven-Baked Meatballs: Place a wire cooling rack on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray. Arrange meatballs on top and bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes. 
  4. Pan-Seared Meatballs: Heat about 1/4-inch of oil (I use half olive oil, half vegetable oil) in a large cast iron skillet. Brown meatballs in batches, cooking 2-3 minutes per side and turning with a spatula to create a nice crust around outside of each meatball.  Transfer the partly cooked meatballs to a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes until done OR set aside to add to the spaghetti sauce and simmer for 15-20 minutes in the sauce until meatballs are cooked through.
  5. Pan-Fried Meatballs: Heat an inch of oil over medium-high heat in a large cast iron skillet until it shimmers, then cook meatballs in batches for 3 minutes on one side, then carefully flip and cook another 2-3 minutes on the second side. Remove meatballs to a paper-towel lined plate and cook remaining meatballs. 
  6. Pour off any oil left in the pan from searing or cooking the meatballs but don’t wipe out the fond (those browned bits on the bottom of the pan). Make the spaghetti sauce by sauteing onions in 1 tablespoon olive oil for a 3-4 minutes, then add garlic and cook 1 minute more.  Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, basil, oregano, parsley, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and black pepper and stir to combine.  Add the partly cooked meatballs if using the second, pan-searing method mentioned above.  Simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly.
  7. While sauce simmers, cook the spaghetti according to package directions until just al dente.  Drain well then toss with the meatballs and spaghetti sauce, or serve separately.  Serve with freshly chopped parsley and Parmesan cheese for sprinkling on top.

Notes

  • Recipe makes 12 large meatballs, 24 medium meatballs and 50 small meatballs.  Cooking times will need to be adjusted if making smaller meatballs.

Nutrition Information

Calories 865kcal (43%) Carbohydrates 93g (31%) Protein 42g (84%) Fat 37g (57%) Saturated Fat 14g (70%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Monounsaturated Fat 15g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 171mg (57%) Sodium 1421mg (59%) Potassium 1387mg (40%) Fiber 9g (36%) Sugar 20g (40%) Vitamin A 876IU (18%) Vitamin C 28mg (31%) Calcium 262mg (26%) Iron 8mg (44%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 865

% Daily Value*

Calories 865kcal 43%
Carbohydrates 93g 31%
Protein 42g 84%
Fat 37g 57%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 15g 75%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 171mg 57%
Sodium 1421mg 59%
Potassium 1387mg 30%
Fiber 9g 36%
Sugar 20g 40%
Vitamin A 876IU 18%
Vitamin C 28mg 31%
Calcium 262mg 26%
Iron 8mg 44%

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