Des

Hey! I'm Des!

Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.

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Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

Spaghetti and Meatballs is a comfort food classic and the ultimate family friendly food. With this spaghetti and meatballs recipe learn how to make tender, juicy meatballs and finish them in a savory homemade marinara sauce. 

I have been making this  spaghetti and meatballs recipe for over a decade. It what everyone requests when I invite people for dinner. It is what my kiddos request when I ask them to pick their favorite dinner.

I don’t blame them, it’s my favorite too. I love to make it in the fall when the weather turns cold. There is nothing better than the aroma of simmering pot of spaghetti and meatballs. Am I right?!

Spaghetti and Meatballs is a comfort food classic and the ultimate family friendly food. With this spaghetti and meatballs recipe learn how to make tender, juicy meatballs and finish them in a savory homemade marinara sauce. 

Over the years, I have perfected this recipe and have since developed tips to ensure you can make the perfect juicy meatball and a hearty homemade marinara sauce.

Tips for making juicy meatballs:

  • Tip #1 for making juicy meatballs is bread. More specifically, bread soaked in milk. I have tried this recipe with dried bread crumbs and while good, those made with bread soaked in milk are even more tender.

Bread soaking in milk for tender meatballs.

  • Tip #2 for making juicy meatballs is using a combination of ground beef and ground Italian sausage. You will also want to use ground beef that is 80/20 (that means 80 percent lean beef to 20 percent fat).
  • Tip #3: Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty! Over mixing will make meatballs tough. Instead mix the meatball mixture with your hands just until it starts to come together and can roll into a ball.

Rolled meatballs in a baking dish.

  • Tip #4 You may be asking yourself if you can cook raw meatballs in the sauce. The answer is sure, but I don’t recommend it. Cooking the raw meatballs in the sauce will leave the sauce greasy and your meatballs won’t have the nice crust. Instead, my advice is to bake them in the oven until they are almost cooked through. Then slow simmer them in the sauce.

DES’ TIP: Starting the meatballs in the oven and finishing them in the sauce, ensures they are tender, juicy and flavorful.

How to make Spaghetti Sauce:

In addition to perfecting meatballs over the years, I have perfected making spaghetti sauce. First, you will want to cook onions and garlic in olive oil just until they become translucent. I also like my sauce a bit chunky so I add some mushrooms, this is totally optional of course.

Once the onions and garlic have cooked, add red wine to deglaze the pan. Be sure to scrape up any bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan. This is where all the flavor is!

Adding wine to spaghetti sauce.

Next you’ll want to stir in all of the seasonings before returning the meatballs to the sauce to finish cooking. I like to add a bit of sugar to my tomato sauce to cut back on the acidity of the tomatoes. I also prefer to add my salt and pepper after the sauce has had a chance to cook a bit. This way you’re adjusting after the flavors have developed.

Steps for making Spaghetti and Meatballs:

  • Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Step 2: Combine all ingredients for meatballs in a large mixing bowl. Use clean hands to mix everything together and then roll into 1 – 1 1/2 inch balls.
  • Step 3: Bake meatballs in the oven just until browned.
  • Step 4: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, mushrooms and garlic and cook just until translucent.
  • Step 5: Pour in wine and scrape up any bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan.
  • Step 6: Add in crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes. Stir in seasonings.
  • Step 7: Return the meatballs to the sauce and cook over low heat for at least 45 minutes.
  • Step 8: Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
  • Step 9: Scoop pasta into a bowl and spoon meatballs over the top. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper if desired.

Overhead picture of spaghetti and meatballs.

What should I serve with Spaghetti and Meatballs?

Whenever I make this spaghetti and meatballs recipe, I have to serve it along side our favorite easy garlic bread to sop up all the sauce. If you want to make things a bit heartier, you could even go with some cheese bread.

If you loved this main dish recipe, check out some of our other favorites:

Brined Fried Chicken 

Cajun Shrimp Pasta

Flat Iron Steak 

Spaghetti and Meatballs is a comfort food classic and the ultimate family friendly food. With this spaghetti and meatballs recipe learn how to make tender, juicy meatballs and finish them in a savory homemade marinara sauce.  #spaghettiandmeatballs #meatballs #pasta #dinner

If you like this recipe, you might like these other pasta recipes!

Pasta Pomodoro

Pasta Amatriciana 

Pulled Pork Rigatoni

Shrimp and Scallop Pasta

Linguine Aglio e Olio

Classic Aglio e Olio pasta is one of my favorites and a favorite of all garlic lovers!

 

Note: When I started my blog back in 2008, this was the very first recipe that I posted. It was updated in 2019 with tips, nutrition facts and new photos.

Spaghetti and Meatballs is a comfort food classic and the ultimate family friendly food. With this spaghetti and meatballs recipe learn how to make tender, juicy meatballs and finish them in a savory homemade marinara sauce. 

Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

Spaghetti and Meatballs is a comfort food classic. With this spaghetti and meatballs recipe tender, juicy meatballs are simmered in marinara sauce.
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 2 hrs 45 mins
Total Time 3 hrs 15 mins
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 800 kcal

Ingredients
  

Ingredients:

  • 3 slices Italian bread
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 lb ground mild Italian sausage
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion diced small, divided
  • 8 cloves garlic minced, divided
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon dried oregano divided
  • 2 tablespoon fresh chopped Italian parsley
  • 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese parmesan works too!
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1 28oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon Allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 pound dried spaghetti noodles

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
  • Dip the bread into the milk, squeeze excess milk out and tear the bread into pieces. Using your hands mix together bread, Italian sausage, ground beef, 1/2 of the medium onion, 1/2 of the garlic cloves, egg, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, parsley and romano cheese.
  • Roll the mixture into approx. 30 meatballs. Place these meatballs in a baking dish. Cook in oven just until browned.
  • While the meatballs are cooking, start your sauce. In a large pot heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add remaining diced garlic and onions to pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the mushrooms.
  • When the mushrooms are soft and the onions are translucent add the red wine. Allow to cook for five minutes and make sure you scrape up all the little bits of goodness that are on the bottom of the pan. Next add the diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, allspice, sugar.
  • Carefully add the browned meatballs to the sauce. Cook the sauce for at least 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. The longer the sauce cooks the thicker it will become.
  • When you're ready to eat, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
  • Spoon meatballs and sauce over the top.

Notes

Nutrition facts are for estimation purposes only.

Nutrition

Calories: 800kcalCarbohydrates: 52.7gProtein: 53.5gFat: 39.3gSaturated Fat: 13.8gCholesterol: 208mgSodium: 1623mgFiber: 5.7gSugar: 12.8g
Tried this recipe?Mention @lifesambrosia or tag #lifesambrosia!
Keywords: beef, italian, meatballs, pasta, Recipe, spaghetti, tomato sauce

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




  • Reply
    Michelle
    November 8, 2022 at 11:16 am

    Hello, can I use all ground beef if I don’t eat pork?

    Thanks!

  • Reply
    Hina Munawar
    November 28, 2020 at 6:44 am

    5 stars
    My whole family love meatballs. I will try this recipe next weekend.

  • Reply
    Jade
    October 14, 2019 at 9:31 am

    5 stars
    This looks like a family recipe everyone will love!!

  • Reply
    Sara Welch
    October 11, 2019 at 2:27 pm

    5 stars
    Love this traditional recipe! So flavorful and always a hit; delicious!

  • Reply
    Taylor
    October 11, 2019 at 6:54 am

    5 stars
    My absolute favorite meal! Those meatballs are so much flavor!

  • Reply
    Melanie
    October 10, 2019 at 8:37 pm

    5 stars
    My most favorite comfort food – who could turn this down?

  • Reply
    Demeter
    October 10, 2019 at 1:57 pm

    5 stars
    This is pure comfort food! It really doesn’t get any better than this.

  • Reply
    justdorkin
    April 2, 2013 at 4:31 pm

    when says 3 slices of italian bread how much bread is it?

    • Reply
      Deseree
      April 4, 2013 at 2:54 pm

      JustDorkin- I usually use three slices of 1 inch thick cut Italian bread. After it’s torn up maybe a cup/ cup and a half.

  • Reply
    ashweed.
    March 29, 2010 at 11:15 am

    yur mom loves this food!

  • Reply
    Jackie
    July 23, 2009 at 6:55 pm

    Hi Des

    I want to know if I could use turkey sausage instead of italian sausage in this recipe, if so, do I have to change or add any other seasonings.

    • Reply
      Deseree
      July 23, 2009 at 7:36 pm

      Hi Jackie, if you buy turkey Italian sausage, all of the seasonings that is in pork Italian sausage is in there. Hope that helps!

  • Reply
    Jackie
    July 9, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    Hi Des

    I was wondering if I could use freshly grated parmesan chesse instead of romano. Also do it add a better flavor than parmesean cheese. Also what kind of mushrooms did you use.

    • Reply
      Deseree
      July 10, 2009 at 8:16 am

      Hi Jackie, you can use freshly grated Parmesan. Romano has a salty flavor and is more pungent then Parmesan, I personally enjoy the flavor a little more, however some people find it too strong and prefer Parmesan. But you can often substitute one for the other depending on your personal taste. As far as mushrooms go you can use white button mushrooms or crimini, I tend to use crimini because they have a more earthy flavor than button mushrooms. But I have used white button mushrooms before and they have worked just fine.

  • Reply
    Sharon
    November 4, 2008 at 12:10 pm

    I can speak from experience, this spaghetti is absolutely wonderful!!!!!

  • Des

    Hey! I'm Des!

    Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.

    Read more »

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