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**Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs 🍝
Hearty • Comforting • Authentic**
A beloved American-style pasta dish: juicy meatballs simmered in rich tomato sauce, served over spaghetti. Perfect for a comforting family dinner.
🔥 Calories: ~700 kcal per serving (estimate)
⏱️ Total Time: ~1 hour 5 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 4
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
• 1½ lb (about 680 g) ground beef/pork mix (or 100% beef)
• ¾ cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• Salt & freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
• Optional: ¼ tsp nutmeg for extra depth
For the Tomato Sauce
• 2–3 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes or tomato passata
• 1 bay leaf (optional)
• 1 tsp dried oregano or 2 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
For the Pasta & Serving
• 12 oz (≈340 g) spaghetti
• Freshly grated Parmesan
• Fresh basil or parsley leaves
Instructions
1. Make the Meatballs
1️⃣ In a large mixing bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix gently — do not over-mix.
2️⃣ Shape the mixture into meatballs about 1½ inches (≈4 cm) in diameter.
3️⃣ Heat a little olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
4️⃣ Brown the meatballs on all sides (about 2 minutes per side) until golden. Do not cook through yet.
5️⃣ Transfer to a plate and set aside.
2. Make the Tomato Sauce
1️⃣ In the same pot/skillet, add more olive oil if needed.
2️⃣ Sauté the chopped onion until soft and translucent (about 5 minutes).
3️⃣ Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute.
4️⃣ Add crushed tomatoes (or passata), bay leaf, oregano or basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
5️⃣ Stir to combine, then return the browned meatballs to the sauce.
6️⃣ Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes until meatballs are fully cooked and sauce is thickened.
3. Cook the Spaghetti
1️⃣ In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil.
2️⃣ Cook spaghetti until al dente (usually 8–10 minutes).
3️⃣ Drain, reserving a small amount of pasta water in case you need to loosen the sauce.
4. Combine & Serve
1️⃣ Toss spaghetti directly into the sauce, or plate spaghetti first and spoon the meatballs and sauce over it.
2️⃣ If sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
3️⃣ Garnish with Parmesan and fresh basil or parsley.
Tips for Best Results
• Use a beef/pork mix (70/30) for extra juicy meatballs.
• Don’t over-mix; it keeps the meatballs tender.
• Browning meatballs first adds deep flavor.
• Simmering in the sauce keeps them moist and rich.
• Make extra — meatballs freeze very well.