Let’s talk about your new favorite recipe for Spaghetti and Meatballs! This dish has been a classic for years, but trust me when I say that you’ve never had it like this before! We’ve got all your favorites- juicy meatballs, flavorful tomato sauce, and of course, steaming spaghetti to soak it all up.
One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to make. Most of the ingredients are probably already in your pantry, so no need to make a trip to the grocery store. I love meals that are delicious and don’t involve too much hassle, so this one definitely checks all the boxes.
The Perfect Balance
Let’s start by talking about the star of the dish- the meatballs. The combination of ground beef and mild Italian sausage gives the meatballs a really rich flavor, and the diced onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic mixture add a nice crunch. This mixture is sauteed in olive oil until translucent and then cooled to room temperature. Once it’s cooled, you can mix the mixture into the remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Eggs, Italian style breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and onion powder are added to the bowl, creating a really flavorful meatball base. If you’re a cheese lover, we recommend adding cubes of mozzarella to the center of the meatballs for an extra gooey surprise. The meatballs are baked in the oven for 15 minutes and come out juicy and delicious.
SAUCY!
Now let’s talk about the sauce. This is where all the magic happens, and this sauce is definitely magical. The diced onions, bell peppers, celery and garlic are used right off the bat and sauteed in olive oil. Once they’re translucent, wine, tomato paste, chicken bouillon powder, granulated sugar, dried oregano and fennel seeds are added to the pan, creating a really rich, fragrant sauce. Fresh basil leaves are added at the end for an extra pop of flavor. The sauce is simmered on low heat for 30 minutes with the meatballs added in. When everything is ready, just cook up some spaghetti and serve it topped with the delicious sauce and meatballs.
This dish is so flavorful and filling, and we love how easy it is to customize to your own preferences. If you’re feeling extra hungry, save a few of the meatballs for a sub. Trust us, you won’t regret it! We hope you enjoy this spaghetti and meatball recipe as much as we do, and make sure to leave us a comment and let us know what your favorite meatball recipe is!
Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage
- 1/4 diced onion diced bell pepper, celery stalk, and garlic clove mixture
- 3 torn basil leaves
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup Italian style breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 TBS Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 TBS seasoned salt
- 8 oz Mozzarella cubed (optional)
Sauce:
- 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
- 1 diced onion
- 1 diced bell pepper
- 1 diced celery stalk
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 2 cans 28oz crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup dry red wine
- 1 TBS tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- Torn fresh basil leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Garnish with fresh parmesan cheese
Instructions
Meatballs:
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Preheat oven to 400°F
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Saute the onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic listed for the sauce in olive oil until translucent; about 5 mins.
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Remove 1/4 of the veggies and set aside to cool
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Once the veggies have reached room temperature, combine them with all listed ingredients for the meatballs in a large mixing bowl excluding the mozzarella.
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Form the meatballs the size of your choosing and add a cube of the mozzarella cheese in the center.
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Place the meatballs in a cast iron skillet or foil lined baking sheet.
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Bake for 15 minutes.
Sauce:
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In a saucepan, combine all ingredients listed for the sauce except for the parmesan cheese.
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Bring to a low simmer.
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Once the meatballs are done, taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as desired.
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Add in the meatballs and simmer for 30 mins on low.
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Garnish with parmesan cheese and serve over warm spaghetti.
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Enjoy!