Best 4 Favorite Spaghetti And Meatballs Recipes

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Gathering your loved ones around the table for a hearty and delicious meal is a timeless tradition, and spaghetti and meatballs is one dish that has stood the test of time. With its comforting flavors, succulent meatballs, and perfectly cooked spaghetti, this classic dish has become a favorite in households across the globe. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary journey, crafting the perfect spaghetti and meatballs can be a rewarding experience. In this article, we'll guide you through the steps of creating this iconic dish, from selecting the finest ingredients to the art of simmering the sauce to perfection, so you can impress your family and friends with a homemade meal that will leave them craving more.

Let's cook with our recipes!

TEST KITCHEN'S FAVORITE SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS



Test Kitchen's Favorite Spaghetti and Meatballs image

Swapping out some of the ground beef for chopped mushrooms is the secret behind the complex flavor of these meatballs. A quick blast in the broiler gives them a nice crust -- and the noncrisp parts soak up the delicious sauce.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Beef Recipes     Ground Beef Recipes

Time 1h10m

Number Of Ingredients 17

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cups finely chopped onion (from 1 large)
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 to 5 cloves)
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more for serving
2 cans (each 28 ounces) whole peeled tomatoes in juice, pureed in a blender or food processor
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
1 pound cremini mushrooms, finely chopped
1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs
1/4 cup whole milk
1/3 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano (1 ounce), plus more for serving
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, plus more for serving
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh oregano
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
3/4 pound ground beef (85 percent lean), preferably grass-fed
1 pound spaghetti, spaghettini, or bucatini

Steps:

  • Red Sauce: Heat a straight-sided skillet over medium. Swirl in oil; add onion and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft and translucent, 7 to 9 minutes. Stir in garlic and red-pepper flakes; cook 30 seconds. Transfer one-third of onion mixture to a bowl and reserve for meatballs. Add tomatoes to skillet; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced and thickened slightly, about 20 minutes.
  • Meatballs: While sauce simmers, heat a large skillet over medium-high. Swirl in oil. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and most of moisture has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl with reserved onion mixture; let cool slightly.
  • Preheat broiler with rack 4 inches below heating element. Stir breadcrumbs and milk into mushroom mixture until milk is absorbed. Add cheese, parsley, oregano, egg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add beef and gently fold with your hands until evenly combined (don't overwork, or meatballs will be tough). Use an ice cream scoop, or roll heaping tablespoons between dampened palms, to form thirty 1 1/2-inch balls. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet brushed with oil. Broil, undisturbed, until browned on top, about 5 minutes.
  • Transfer meatballs to skillet with red sauce. Simmer, stirring gently, until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, boil pasta in a large pot of generously salted water until al dente, about 2 minutes less than per package instructions. Drain pasta and return to pot; toss with 1 1/2 cups sauce. Serve, topped with meatballs, more sauce, cheese, red-pepper flakes, and parsley.

OUR FAVORITE SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS



Our Favorite Spaghetti and Meatballs image

Our ultimate version of everyone's favorite family-night dinner has a super tender and robust meat mixture, slow-simmered and flavorful sauce, and tons of cheese.

Provided by Rhoda Boone

Categories     Beef     Pasta     Pork     Kid-Friendly     Dinner     Veal     Back to School     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     Frankenrecipe     Small Plates

Yield Serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 27

For the tomato sauce:
1/2 cup olive oil
12 garlic cloves, peeled
4 (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 dried bay leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teapoon freshly ground pepper
2/3 cup (packed) basil leaves
For the meatballs:
1 cup roughly torn day-old Italian bread
1 cup whole milk
8 ounces ground beef
8 ounces ground pork
8 ounces ground veal
3 large eggs, beaten to blend
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 1/4 cups grated Parmesan, divided
3/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley, divided
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup olive oil
1 pound spaghetti

Steps:

  • Make the tomato sauce:
  • Heat a large, wide pot over medium-low and add oil and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden brown on all sides (if it starts to burn, reduce heat), 8-10 minutes. While garlic cooks, break up tomatoes into smaller pieces with a paring knife or kitchen shears. When garlic is almost ready, add red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until toasted and fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, bay leaves, salt, oregano, and pepper and stir, breaking up tomatoes with a wooden spoon, until well combined.
  • Increase heat slightly and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened and flavors have concentrated, at least 2 hours and up to 3 hours.
  • Meanwhile, make the meatballs:
  • Place bread in a medium bowl, add milk, and let rest until moistened, about 5 minutes. Squeeze bread with your hands to remove excess milk, discarding milk. Tear bread into smaller, pea-size pieces and return to the medium bowl.
  • Combine beef, pork, veal, eggs, garlic, 1 cup Parmesan, 1/2 cup parsley, 1 tsp. salt, oregano, pepper, fennel, and red pepper flakes in a large bowl. Using your hands, gently mix in bread until ingredients are evenly distributed (do not overmix).
  • Fill a small bowl with cool water. Moisten your hands and roll meat mixture between palms into golf-ball-sized balls, occasionally moistening hands as needed. Place meatballs on a rimmed baking sheet-you should have about 24-and chill until sauce is ready.
  • Finish the sauce and cook the meatballs and pasta:
  • After 2-3 hours of simmering, pluck out bay leaves and add basil. Using an immersion blender (or transfer sauce to a food processor or blender, working in batches, if necessary), purée until slightly chunky but not smooth. Reserve 1 1/2 cups sauce; keep remaining sauce in pot warm over very low heat.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high and add oil. Once hot, add meatballs to skillet (without crowding) and work in batches to brown on all sides, turning frequently, about 5 minutes per batch. Return meatballs to baking sheet as you brown them.
  • Once all meatballs are browned, add them to pot with tomato sauce. If your pot is not large enough, divide sauce and meatballs between 2 pots. Increase heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until meatballs are cooked through, 10-15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid, and return pasta to pot over medium-low heat. Spoon reserved 1 1/2 cups sauce over pasta and toss to coat. Add pasta cooking liquid, 1/4 cup at a time, as needed to loosen sauce and coat pasta.
  • Divide pasta among plates and top with meatballs and remaining sauce. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan and 1/4 cup parsley.
  • Do Ahead
  • Sauce can be made, cooled, and refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Meatballs can be shaped and refrigerated 1 day in advance. Meatballs can be cooked in sauce, cooled, and refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

FAVORITE QUICK & EASY SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS



Favorite Quick & Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs image

I've been enjoying spaghetti all my life! Been to Italy, and have tried numerous versions all around the globe including this one which remains my all-time favorite (perfected over the years by yours truly!). Hope you enjoy, too. Notes: I like to keep a bag of meatballs (see my Frankies Spuntino New York - Italian Meatballs recipe #452689) on hand in the freezer, for ease of prep. You can use your favorite fresh or frozen prepared meatballs, -or- crumbled & browned ground beef is also fine. Just add a tossed green salad and garlic bread (see recipe #109257), and a nice bottle of red wine to round out the meal. Salut! Tip: I use a jar of Classico Italian Sausage & Peppers Pasta Sauce, and whole wheat spaghetti noodles (De Cecco), but your favorite pasta sauce and regular spaghetti noodles is fine.

Provided by BecR2400

Categories     Spaghetti

Time 50m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 golden bell pepper, roughly diced (optional)
26 ounces of your favorite spaghetti sauce (I use a jar of Classico Italian Sausage & Peppers Pasta Sauce)
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green pepper celery and onion
1/2 cup dry red wine (such as Reggiano Lambrusco, Chianti, Red Rose or Burgundy)
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 lb prepared italian meatballs (fresh or frozen, -or- use crumbled & browned ground beef)
whole wheat spaghetti (such as De Cecco)
grated parmesan cheese
snipped fresh Italian parsley, to garnish (or snipped basil or oregano)

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add the bell peppers, and saute them in the oil until slightly softened (5 to 10 minutes).
  • Add spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, red wine, the oregano, basil and garlic. Partially cover pot; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring often.
  • Reduce heat, partially cover pot and simmer sauce for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Meanwhile in a separate pot, boil water and prepare noodles al dente; drain.
  • Add fresh or frozen meatballs (or browned ground beef) to sauce; cook an additional 10-15 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
  • In individual bowls, ladle sauce over hot noodles.
  • Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and snipped fresh herbs (such as basil, parsley or oregano) at the table, as desired.
  • Great served with a tossed green salad & Mom's Onion Parmesan Bread recipe #109257, and a nice bottle of red wine!
  • Salut!

MY FAVORITE SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS



My Favorite Spaghetti and Meatballs image

I have tried a couple of recipes on zaar but I keep going back to my own. I got the sauce recipe from a friend of my moms and the meatball recipe is my own adaptation from a recipe on a Muellers box. Add your favorite pasta and you have a meal.

Provided by Chef Shelby

Categories     Meat

Time 1h30m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 18

2 -3 tablespoons garlic, minced
1 small onion (diced small)
2 (28 ounce) cans tomatoes (ground and peeled-I use Pastene Kitchen Ready)
2 (12 ounce) cans tomato paste
48 ounces water (2 cans water for each can tomato paste)
1 teaspoon sugar
salt and pepper
olive oil
1 1/4 lbs ground beef
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1 egg (slightly beaten)
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 tablespoon onion powder (real onion can be used but my family doesn't like finding onions in their meatballs, go figure)
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons parsley flakes

Steps:

  • Sauce:.
  • Cover bottom of large pan with olive oil.
  • Add garlic and onion and heat on low until tender.
  • Add Pastene tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, salt and pepper.
  • Simmer for at least 1 hour, stirring often.
  • Meatballs:.
  • In large bowl, mix together all the ingredients.
  • Shape into balls (makes about 30).
  • Meatball cooking directions:.
  • Bake in oven at 350, turning occasionally until the meatballs are brown on the outside.
  • Add the meatballs to sauce and simmer for at least 30 minutes.
  • This cooking method is also great for making the meatballs ahead of time. They can be frozen and dropped into sauce when you're ready.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 482.9, Fat 20.1, SaturatedFat 8.2, Cholesterol 109.8, Sodium 1399.7, Carbohydrate 48.2, Fiber 9.6, Sugar 23.6, Protein 32.5

Tips:

  • Choose the right pasta. Spaghetti is a classic choice, but you can also use other long pastas like linguine or fettuccine. For a heartier meal, try using a short pasta like penne or rigatoni.
  • Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. The better the ingredients, the better your spaghetti and meatballs will taste. Look for fresh, ripe tomatoes, high-quality ground beef, and a good quality pasta sauce.
  • Brown the meatballs thoroughly. This will help to develop their flavor and prevent them from falling apart in the sauce.
  • Simmer the sauce for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld and develop.
  • Serve the spaghetti and meatballs with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese. This will add a delicious finishing touch to the dish.

Conclusion:

Spaghetti and meatballs is a classic Italian dish that is loved by people of all ages. It is a simple dish to make, but it is also very versatile. You can use different types of pasta, sauce, and meatballs to create your own unique dish. No matter how you make it, spaghetti and meatballs is sure to be a hit at your next meal.

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