Description
Classic spaghetti and meatballs featuring tender beef meatballs simmered in a rich tomato sauce, served over perfectly cooked spaghetti and topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. This comforting Italian-American dish combines savory flavors with a satisfying texture for a hearty family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 lb. spaghetti
Meatballs
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/3 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
- 1 large egg
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
Sauce
- 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 bay leaf
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Prepare the meatball mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and red pepper flakes. Mix gently until just combined to keep the meatballs tender. Shape the mixture into 16 equal-sized meatballs.
- Brown the meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the meatballs carefully and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove meatballs from the pot and set aside on a plate.
- Sauté the onions and make the sauce: In the same pot, add the finely chopped onion and cook over medium heat until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and bay leaf. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer meatballs in sauce: Return the browned meatballs to the pot with the tomato sauce, cover, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until the sauce thickens and meatballs are cooked through.
- Serve: Plate the cooked spaghetti, ladle a generous amount of meatballs and sauce on top, and finish with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately for best flavor.
Notes
- This easy spaghetti and meatballs recipe is a classic comfort food that’s perfect for any night of the week.
- Feel free to customize the meatball seasoning or add herbs like oregano or basil for extra flavor.
- Use fresh garlic and good-quality Parmesan for the best results.
- For a spicier dish, increase the amount of red pepper flakes or add crushed chili flakes to the sauce.
- Leftover meatballs and sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 938
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 1139 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 101 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 44 g
- Cholesterol: 133 mg
