Here’s a full guide to making classic Spaghetti and Meatballs—rich, comforting, and perfect for a hearty meal:
🍝 Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning or dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the sauce:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
- 1 tsp dried basil or Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the pasta:
- 12 oz (340 g) spaghetti
- Water and salt for boiling
Optional: fresh parsley and extra Parmesan for garnish.
🥄 Instructions
1️⃣ Make the meatballs
- In a large bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, milk, egg, garlic, seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Mix gently until just combined—don’t overwork.
- Form into 1–2 inch balls.
2️⃣ Brown the meatballs
- Heat 1–2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Brown meatballs on all sides (they don’t need to be fully cooked; they’ll finish in the sauce).
- Remove and set aside.
3️⃣ Make the sauce
- In the same skillet, sauté onions until soft.
- Add garlic, cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a simmer, then add the browned meatballs.
- Cover and simmer 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until meatballs are cooked through.
4️⃣ Cook spaghetti
- Boil pasta in salted water according to package directions. Drain.
5️⃣ Serve
- Place spaghetti on plates, top with meatballs and sauce.
- Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.
💡 Tips
- Juicy meatballs: Mix gently and don’t over-handle the meat.
- Extra flavor: Add 1–2 tsp Worcestershire sauce or chopped fresh herbs to meatballs.
- Make ahead: Meatballs can be cooked and frozen; just add to sauce when ready to serve.
- Cheesy twist: Stuff small cubes of mozzarella inside each meatball for a gooey surprise.
If you want, I can also give a one-pot spaghetti and meatballs recipe where the pasta cooks in the sauce with the meatballs—super fast and minimal cleanup.
Do you want me to do that?
