Spaghetti and Meatballs

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Prep

20 min

Soak

5 min

Cook

35 min

Total

1 hr

Servings

6

Difficulty

Easy

Ingredients

• For the meatballs
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 lb ground pork or Italian sausage
• 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
• 2 cloves garlic, grated
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• For the sauce and pasta
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 (28-oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (15-oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1 lb spaghetti

Instructions

1. Stir the breadcrumbs and milk together in a large bowl and let sit 5 minutes. Add the remaining meatball ingredients and mix gently with your hands.
2. Roll into 1 1/2-inch balls (about 20).
3. Heat the oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high. Brown the meatballs on all sides, about 6 minutes. They don't need to be cooked through.
4. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil and sugar. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook 20 minutes, until the meatballs reach 160°F.
5. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in well-salted boiling water until al dente. Drain.
6. Serve the meatballs and sauce over the spaghetti with extra Parmesan.

Why this recipe works

Breadcrumbs soaked in milk keep the meatballs soft, and mixing the meat gently stops them turning dense. Finishing the meatballs in the sauce flavors both and keeps the meat juicy.

Tips, substitutions & storage

• Swap: Use all ground beef, or ground turkey, instead of the beef and pork mix.
• Swap: Panko or crushed crackers can replace plain breadcrumbs.
• Soaking breadcrumbs in milk keeps the meatballs soft and juicy.
• Mix the meat gently — overworking makes meatballs dense.
• Freeze cooked meatballs in sauce for up to 3 months.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

Calories

690

Protein

36g

Carbs

72g

Fat

27g

Fiber

5g

Sugar

10g

Sodium

1180mg

Nutrition information is an automatic estimate based on typical ingredients and will vary with the brands and amounts you use. It is not medical or dietary advice.