Monday, December 8, 2025

Spaghetti and Meatballs


My scrumptious Spaghetti and Meatballs are a household favorite. Tender, juicy meatballs in a wealthy tomato sauce. This simple Italian dinner is consolation meals at its finest.
On the finish of an extended busy day generally all we wish is one thing comforting to eat.

Close-up of a black frying pan filled with spaghetti and meatballs sauce, topped with grated cheese and garnished with fresh basil leaves.

Nicky’s Notes

My youngsters typically vote for for spaghetti and meatballs – ‘the sausagey ones!‘.  I hardly ever argue with that – it’s a kind of meals the place you may assure that everybody will clear their plates.

And truthfully, it doesn’t appear to matter what number of meatballs I make, they ALWAYS appear to ALL get eaten.

📋 Components for Spaghetti and Meatballs

***Full recipe with detailed portions within the recipe card beneath***

Ingredients for Spaghetti and meatballs on a wooden tableIngredients for Spaghetti and meatballs on a wooden table

Why do you add breadcrumbs?

The breadcrumbs assist to make sure the meatballs are tender and juicy. The breadcrumbs take in the oil and cooking juices, increasing barely within the meatballs, that means they’ve a softer texture while you chew into them.

Abbreviated Recipe

***Full recipe with detailed steps within the recipe card beneath***

Combine sausage meat, beef mince, panko, parmesan, onion, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, egg, salt and pepper collectively in a bowl. Kind into meatballs, place on a tray and bake within the oven.

8 step collage showing how to make meatballs8 step collage showing how to make meatballs

Fry onions, garlic, celery, pink pepper. Add pink wine and let it bubble for a few minutes, then add tinned tomatoes, tomato puree, sugar, oregano and salt and pepper. Simmer, add in cooked and drained spaghetti, then toss collectively and serve!

8 image collage showing how to make spaghetti and meatballs8 image collage showing how to make spaghetti and meatballs

Recipe Suggestions

  • Sausages: I take advantage of medium-sized (round 150g/5.3 oz every) pork sausages. I take advantage of plain pork sausages, however you should utilize flavoured ones in case you desire. Go for good high quality sausages in case you can.
  • The fats within the minced beef offers the meatballs extra flavour and makes them extra tender. For essentially the most juicy meatballs go along with 20% or 15% fats minced beef. You will get away with 12% fats. They meatballs will likely be just a little drier in case you go beneath 12% fats. Don’t fear although, they’ll nonetheless style good, as we now have loads of flavour from the sausage and additional elements within the meatballs.

What number of meatballs per particular person?

I are inclined to serve:

  • 4 meatballs for the common serving.
  • 5 for hungry individuals
  • 3 for youngsters.
A white plate with spaghetti and meatballs topped with rich tomato sauce, grated cheese, and parsley, with a fork on the side.A white plate with spaghetti and meatballs topped with rich tomato sauce, grated cheese, and parsley, with a fork on the side.

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🍽️ What to serve it with

The one and solely, excellent combo – Garlic Bread

Wide image of slices of garlic bread on a dark background next to a bowl of garlic butterWide image of slices of garlic bread on a dark background next to a bowl of garlic butter

📺 Watch learn how to make it

Meatballs (makes about 18-20 meatballs)

  • Preheat the oven to 200C/400F (fan).

  • Combine the entire meatball elements in a bowl together with your palms. Squash all of it collectively however do not overmix as this may make the meatballs powerful. 

    3 good high quality sausages, 300 g (10 1/2 oz) minced beef, 25 g (2 tbsp) panko breadcrumbs, 25 g (1/4 cup) grated parmesan, 1/2 small onion, 1 tbsp chopped parsley, 1 tbsp  Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tsp floor cumin, 1 small egg, 2 tbsp olive oil, pinch of salt and pepper

  • Form the meatballs into little balls – the dimensions of a golfball – and place them on a baking tray. 

  • Put within the oven for 20 minutes.  Keep watch over them towards the top of the cooking time and switch the oven down just a little if they begin going too darkish.

  • Put the water on to warmth for the spaghetti.

  • While the meatballs are cooking, make the sauce. 

  • Fry the onions within the olive oil on a medium warmth for about 5 minutes, till softened. 

    1 tbsp olive oil, 1 massive onion

  • Add the garlic, celery and pink pepper and prepare dinner for one more 2 minutes. 

    2 sticks celery, 1 pink pepper, 3 cloves of garlic

  • Add the pink wine and let it bubble for a few minutes.

    120 ml (1/2 cup) pink wine

  • At this level the water will in all probability be boiling, so put the spaghetti on to prepare dinner for about 12-13 minutes (or per pack directions).

    300 g (10 1/2 oz) dried spaghetti or contemporary pasta

  • Add the tinned tomatoes, tomato puree, sugar, oregano and salt and pepper to the sauce and convey to the boil. Then simmer for gently till the meatballs and pasta are prepared. 

    2 x 400 g (28oz) tins of chopped tomatoes, 1 heaped tbsp of tomato puree (paste for US), 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp dried oregano, pinch of salt and pepper

  • Drain the spaghetti, reserving a cup of the cooking water. Add the spaghetti to the sauce and toss collectively utilizing tongs. Add among the cooking water if you’d like it to be just a little saucier.

  • Add the meatballs to the pan and transfer them round just a little in order that they’re coated in just a little of the sauce.

  • Divide between plates and high with a sprinkling of parmesan and just a little contemporary parsley or basil.

    grated parmesan and contemporary parsley or basil to serve

Can I make them forward?

You may make the meatballs and sauce forward of time, however I’d suggest cooking the spaghetti and mixing with the meatballs and sauce proper earlier than serving.
Place the meatballs and sauce collectively in a lined container and refrigerate for as much as two days.
Take out of the fridge about an hour earlier than reheating to take the coolness off the meatballs. Reheat in a pan with a lid over a low warmth for 15-20 minutes, till piping scorching all through. It’s possible you’ll want so as to add a splash of boiling water (and even higher, cooking water out of your pasta) to loosen the sauce just a little.
Combine with the cooked pasta earlier than serving.

Can I freeze them?

Sure, as per the make forward directions above, you may make the meatballs and sauce, then place in a lined container within the freezer.
Defrost in a single day within the fridge, then take out of the fridge about an hour earlier than reheating to take the coolness off the meatballs.
Reheat in a pan with a lid over a low warmth for 15-20 minutes, till piping scorching all through. It’s possible you’ll want so as to add a splash of boiling water (and even higher, cooking water out of your pasta) to loosen the sauce just a little.
Combine with the cooked pasta earlier than serving.

Kind of sausage to make use of

I take advantage of medium-sized (round 150g/5.3 oz every) pork sausages. I take advantage of plain pork sausages, however you should utilize flavoured ones in case you desire. Go for good high quality sausages in case you can.

Minced beef

Don’t be tempted to go for very low fats minced (floor) beef. The fats within the beef offers the meatballs extra flavour and makes them extra tender
Use 20% or 15% fats minced beef. You will get away with 12% fats, however don’t go for something decrease.

Dietary Info is per serving – together with meatballs, sauce and spaghetti – based mostly on 5 parts. Take away 220 cals per portion if not together with the spaghetti.

Energy: 652kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 31g | Fats: 26g | Saturated Fats: 8g | Ldl cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 608mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 14g

Diet data is mechanically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

This put up was first printed in January 2014. Up to date later with new pictures, ideas, video and for housekeeping causes.

🍲 Extra unbelievable Meatball recipes

A number of the hyperlinks on this put up could also be affiliate hyperlinks – which implies in case you purchase the product I get a small fee (at no additional value to you). For those who do purchase, then thanks! That’s what helps us to maintain Kitchen Sanctuary working. The dietary data offered is approximate and may fluctuate relying on a number of components. For extra data please see our Phrases & Situations.

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