Tuesday, November 18, 2025
HomeCookingSpaghetti and Meatballs

Spaghetti and Meatballs


My scrumptious Spaghetti and Meatballs are a household favorite. Tender, juicy meatballs in a wealthy tomato sauce. This straightforward Italian dinner is consolation meals at its greatest.
On the finish of an extended busy day generally all we would like 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 usually vote for for spaghetti and meatballs – ‘the sausagey ones!‘.  I hardly ever argue with that – it’s a type of meals the place you’ll be able to assure that everybody will clear their plates.

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

📋 Elements for Spaghetti and Meatballs

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

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 once you chew into them.

Abbreviated Recipe

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

Combine sausage meat, beef mince, panko, parmesan, onion, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, egg, salt and pepper collectively in a bowl. Type 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, crimson pepper. Add crimson 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 Ideas

  • Sausages: I exploit medium-sized (round 150g/5.3 oz every) pork sausages. I exploit plain pork sausages, however you need to use flavoured ones in the event you desire. Go for good high quality sausages in the event you can.
  • The fats within the minced beef provides the meatballs extra flavour and makes them extra tender. For probably the most juicy meatballs go along with 20% or 15% fats minced beef. You may get away with 12% fats. They meatballs will probably be somewhat drier in the event you go under 12% fats. Don’t fear although, they’ll nonetheless style good, as we now have loads of flavour from the sausage and further components within the meatballs.

What number of meatballs per individual?

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, good 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 all the meatball components in a bowl together with your arms. Squash all of it collectively however do not overmix as this can 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 scale of a golfball – and place them on a baking tray. 

  • Put within the oven for 20 minutes.  Keep watch over them towards the tip of the cooking time and switch the oven down somewhat 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 crimson pepper and cook dinner for an additional 2 minutes. 

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

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

    120 ml (1/2 cup) crimson wine

  • At this level the water will in all probability be boiling, so put the spaghetti on to cook 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 in order for you it to be somewhat saucier.

  • Add the meatballs to the pan and transfer them round somewhat so that they’re coated in somewhat of the sauce.

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

    grated parmesan and contemporary parsley or basil to serve

Can I make them forward?

You can also make the meatballs and sauce forward of time, however I’d advocate 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 nippiness off the meatballs. Reheat in a pan with a lid over a low warmth for 15-20 minutes, till piping scorching all through. You might want so as to add a splash of boiling water (and even higher, cooking water out of your pasta) to loosen the sauce somewhat.
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 nippiness off the meatballs.
Reheat in a pan with a lid over a low warmth for 15-20 minutes, till piping scorching all through. You might want so as to add a splash of boiling water (and even higher, cooking water out of your pasta) to loosen the sauce somewhat.
Combine with the cooked pasta earlier than serving.

Kind of sausage to make use of

I exploit medium-sized (round 150g/5.3 oz every) pork sausages. I exploit plain pork sausages, however you need to use flavoured ones in the event you desire. Go for good high quality sausages in the event you can.

Minced beef

Don’t be tempted to go for very low fats minced (floor) beef. The fats within the beef provides the meatballs extra flavour and makes them extra tender
Use 20% or 15% fats minced beef. You may 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 info is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

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

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Among the hyperlinks on this publish could also be affiliate hyperlinks – which suggests in the event you purchase the product I get a small fee (at no further price to you). For those who do purchase, then thanks! That’s what helps us to maintain Kitchen Sanctuary working. The dietary info offered is approximate and might fluctuate relying on a number of elements. For extra info please see our Phrases & Circumstances.

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