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Classic Comfort Spaghetti and Juicy Meatballs

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A nostalgic and easy homemade dinner recipe featuring tender, juicy meatballs simmered in a rich tomato sauce served over al dente spaghetti. Perfect for family dinners and crowd-pleasing occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 for juiciness)
  • ½ pound ground pork (optional but recommended)
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian seasoned, fresh preferred)
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes (San Marzano if available)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 12 ounces spaghetti, cooked al dente
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined, about 3 minutes.
  2. Shape the mixture into golf-ball sized meatballs (about 1.5 inches diameter), yielding roughly 18-20 meatballs. Place on a plate or tray.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Brown meatballs in batches, avoiding overcrowding, about 5 minutes per batch until golden on all sides. Transfer browned meatballs to a plate.
  4. In the same skillet, sauté chopped onion until translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
  5. Add crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes if using. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  6. Nestle browned meatballs into the simmering sauce. Cover and cook over low heat for 20-25 minutes, turning occasionally, until meatballs are cooked through and tender.
  7. While meatballs cook, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain well.
  8. Serve spaghetti topped with meatballs and sauce. Garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Mix meatball ingredients gently to avoid tough meatballs. Brown meatballs in batches to create a flavorful crust. Simmer meatballs in sauce to keep them tender and infuse flavor. Add pasta cooking water to sauce if too thick. Meatballs are done at 160°F internal temperature or when firm but springy.

Nutrition

Keywords: spaghetti, meatballs, classic recipe, comfort food, homemade dinner, easy recipe, family meal

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