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Spaghetti & Meatballs Recipe

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4.1 from 14 reviews

A classic Italian-American dish featuring tender homemade meatballs simmered in a rich tomato sauce, served over perfectly cooked al dente spaghetti and topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. This comforting meal is perfect for family dinners and comes together in about an hour.

Ingredients

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, to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
  • 1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the spaghetti until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and set aside.
  2. Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, grated Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and red pepper flakes. Mix gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs. Shape the mixture into 16 evenly sized meatballs.
  3. Brown Meatballs: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer the browned meatballs to a plate and set aside.
  4. Make Sauce and Simmer: In the same pot, add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and add the bay leaf. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer. Return the meatballs to the pot, cover, and let simmer until the sauce thickens and meatballs are cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  5. Serve: Plate the cooked spaghetti, top with a generous scoop of meatballs and tomato sauce. Finish with extra freshly grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Notes

  • For juicier meatballs, avoid overmixing the meat mixture.
  • If preferred, you can bake the meatballs at 400°F for 15-20 minutes instead of pan-browning.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes to control the spice level.
  • Use fresh parsley for best flavor, or substitute with dried parsley if needed.
  • Reserve some pasta water to loosen the sauce if it gets too thick.

Find it online: https://bitezly.com/spaghetti-and-meatballs-recipe/