The tender juicy recipe of meatballs with spaghetti , is all time favorite in my house. Pasta rolled in mouth-watering tomato sauce topped with soft meatballs is our family favourite dish, for weekend dinners and friends get to gathers. Today I will share with you a detailed but simple recipe of meatballs with spaghetti that no one can resist. I love to prepare recipes from scratch, hence today you will learn the secret of juicy meatballs spaghetti, prepared with homemade meatballs and spaghetti sauce from fresh tomatoes.
Recipe of Meatballs With Spaghetti
This Italian-American dish is a modern version of an Italian dish, which was enjoyed by combining meatballs and any type of pasta. Today this recipe is not only famous in Italy and America but enjoyed worldwide. From restaurants to family dinner tables, now it has become a comfort food for many of us. Although you can make this delicious recipe easily with store brought ingredients, I like to make meatballs , and tomato sauce at my own kitchen.
By making homemade meatballls you can enhance the tenderness of meatballs as well as it is a great way to balance the spices according to your taste buds. So let’s go through ingredients that will boost the flavour of this delicious recipe of meatballs with spaghetti.
What You Will Need
Ground Beef: The secret of juicy and tender meatballs is a type of meat you are using. The ratio of meat to fat should be 80/20 for soft meatballs. You have to take ground beef with 20% fat. The fat content in the meat makes your meatballs super juicy and full of flavors. But if you are getting late then you can use store brought meatballs in the recipe.
Bread Crumbs: Bread crumbs play an essential role in making meatballs it helps in binding. I am using white bread instead of bread crumbs. But you can use plain bread crumbs or Italian pre-seasoned bread crumbs.
Eggs: Eggs work as a binding agent for meatballs.
Tomato Sauce: The tomato sauce makes this recipe delicious and aromatic. I am preparing a homemade marinara sauce from fresh tomatoes for this Italian pasta recipe. However, you can use canned tomato puree or simply a canned spaghetti sauce.
Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan cheese adds a cheesy aroma to the recipe, use good quality parmesan cheese. You can use a shredded cheese or use a cheese block and shred it yourself. Powdered parmesan is not suitable for the recipe.
Infusion of flavors: For meatballs I am using garlic powder, paprika powder, salt, black pepper powder, all-purpose flour, and cayenne powder. However, for fresh marinara sauce, I am using fresh tomatoes, salt, black pepper powder, basil, bay leaves, garlic cloves, oil, and onion.
Step By Step Directions
Step1- Preparing Meat Balls
- Take 3 slices of white bread and tear them into small pieces. Then add them in a bowl.
- Soak them with 2-3 tbsp of water for 5 minutes. Then mash them using a fork or a spoon.
- In another bowl, add ground beef, eggs, mashed bread slices, garlic powder, paprika powder, salt, black pepper powder, and cayenne powder.
- Give them a good mix using your hands until well combined.
- Then form 2 inches meat balls using your hands.
- Once all the meatballs are prepared. Roll them in all-purpose flour and set them aside.
- In a pan, heat 2-3 tbsp of olive oil and pan sear meatballs in small batches.
- Cook them for 4-5 minutes each side . Then set them aside.
Step2- Boil Spaghetti
- In a pot, boil water with salt and drizzle cooking oil in water.
- Then boil the spaghetti according to packet instructions.
- Once the spaghetti is boiled, rinse them with cool water to stop the cooking process. Then set them aside.
Step3- Prepare Marinara Sauce
- In a pan heat 2-3 tbsp of olive oil.
- Then add chopped onion and saute it until translucent.
- Then add chopped garlic and saute it for a minute.
- In a blender blend fresh tomatoes and make a smooth paste.
- Then add this smooth paste into the pan.
- Also add salt, black pepper powder, bay leaves, and basil into the sauce.
- Then cook it on a medium flame for 5- 7 minutes or until bubbles start to appear on the surface of the sauce.
Step4- Cook Spaghetti & Meatball
- Once the marinara sauce is ready, add prepared meat balls into the sauce.
- Then cook it on low flame for 25 minutes.
- After 25 minutes, add boiled spaghetti and toss it well so it will be completely covered with marinara sauce.
- Then sprinkle parmesan cheese on the spaghetti for a cheesy flavor and turn off the heat.
Step5- Garnish
- Finally, garnish with fresh basil and serve hot.
Tips That Will Help
- Make sure that spaghetti is not 100% boiled. Your spaghetti should be 80% done as later on it will also cook in the sauce.
- After boiling the spaghetti rinse it with cool water to slow down the cooking process.
- For mixing ground beef for meatballs use your hands. Also your hands should be cleaned and it will be better to wear gloves.
- Sear the meatballs in batches and don’t overcrowd the pan.
FAQ’s
How long is spaghetti and meatballs good for?
It is better to store spaghetti and meatballs for a shorter period. The cooked spaghetti and meatballs can be refrigerated for 3-4 days. However, in Freezer it will be good for 2-3 weeks if stored in an airtight container.
How to freeze spaghetti and meatballs?
I prefer to store spaghetti sauce, boiled spaghetti, and meatballs separately in freezer. In an airtight container I freeze, metballs and spaghetti and in another airtight container I freeze sauce for the recipe. But you can freeze them together in an airtight container for 3-4 weeks. Make sure it is completely cool before storing it.
Can I bake the meatballs in the oven?
You can bake meatballs in the oven. In a baking tray with baking paper. place the meatballs. Then bake them for 10 minutes at 71 degree preheated oven. Then take out the baking tray turn the meatballs and bake another side for more 10 minutes.
Recipe of Meatballs with Spaghetti
Equipment
- Stove
- Pan
- Pot
Ingredients
- 400 g Ground Beef
- 3 Slices White Bread
- 400 g Spaghetti
- 2 Large Eggs
- 4 Tomatoes
- 1 Onion
- 3 Garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp Parmesan Cheese
- 6 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Paprika Powder
- 2 tsp Salt
- 2 tsp Black Pepper Powder
- 1 tsp Cayenne Powder
- 2 tbsp All- Purpose Flour
- 2 Bay Leaves
- Basil for garnish
Instructions
- Take 3 slices of white bread and tear them into small pieces. Then add them in a bowl.
- Soak them with 2-3 tbsp of water for 5 minutes. Then mash them using a fork or a spoon.
- In another bowl, add ground beef, eggs, mashed bread slices, garlic powder, paprika powder, salt, black pepper powder, and cayenne powder.
- Give them a good mix using your hands until well combined.
- Then form 2 inches of meatballs using your hands.
- Once all the meatballs are prepared. Roll them in all-purpose flour and set them side.
- In a pan, heat 2-3 tbsp of olive oil and pan sear meatballs in small batches.
- Cook them for 4-5 minutes each side. Then set them side.
- In a pot, boil water with salt and drizzle cooking oil in water.
- Then boil the spaghetti according to packet instructions.
- Once the spaghetti is boiled, rinse them with cool water to stop the cooking process. Then set them aside.
- In a pan heat 2-3 tbsp of olive oil.
- Then add chopped onion and saute it until translucent.
- Then add chopped garlic and saute it for a minute.
- In a blender blend fresh tomatoes and make a smooth paste.
- Then add this smooth paste into the pan.
- Also add salt, black pepper powder, bay leaves, and basil into the sauce.
- Then cook it on a medium flame for 5- 7 minutes or until bubbles start to appear on the surface of the sauce.
- Once the marinara sauce is ready, add prepared meatballs into the sauce.
- Then cook it on low flame for 25 minutes.
- After 25 minutes, add boiled spaghetti and toss it well so it will be completely covered with marinara sauce.
- Then sprinkle parmesan cheese on the spaghetti for a cheesy flavor and turn off the heat.
- Finally, garnish with fresh basil and serve hot.
