Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe
This easy spaghetti and meatballs recipe combines juicy, tender meatballs made with ground beef and Italian sausage, simmered in rich marinara sauce and served over perfectly cooked spaghetti noodles. It’s a classic and comforting Italian-American dish perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1/2 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 lb. Italian sausage meat
- 2 and 1/2 tsp. salt, divided
Sauce
- 1 large jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
Pasta
- 12 oz. spaghetti
Instructions
- Boil the Water: Fill a large pot with water and add 2 teaspoons of salt. Cover and bring it to a boil over high heat to prepare for cooking the spaghetti.
- Prepare the Meat Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef and Italian sausage meat. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt over the mixture. Mix gently but thoroughly with your hands, taking care not to overmix to keep the meatballs tender.
- Shape the Meatballs: Form the meat mixture into 16 evenly sized golf ball-shaped meatballs for even cooking.
- Brown the Meatballs: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook them until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Flip them carefully and brown another side to seal in flavor.
- Simmer in Sauce: Pour the marinara sauce over the browned meatballs in the skillet and bring to a simmer, stirring often to prevent sticking. Reduce heat to low and let the meatballs cook gently in the sauce for 4-5 minutes, or until meatballs are no longer pink inside. Turn off the heat and cover the skillet with a lid to keep warm.
- Cook the Spaghetti: As the meatballs begin simmering in the sauce, add the spaghetti to the boiling salted water. Cook according to package instructions or to your preferred doneness. Drain the pasta well once cooked.
- Serve: Divide the cooked spaghetti evenly among four dinner plates. Remove the lid from the skillet, stir the meatballs and sauce, then distribute the meatballs and sauce over the pasta. Serve hot for a delicious, hearty meal.
Notes
- Be careful not to overmix the meat to keep the meatballs tender and juicy.
- Browning the meatballs before simmering helps develop flavor and texture.
- Simmer meatballs gently to ensure they cook through without drying out.
- You can use pre-ground Italian sausage or remove the casings from sausage links to make the sausage meat.
- Adjust salt amount based on your preference and sodium content of marinara sauce.
- For extra flavor, add garlic or Italian seasoning to the meat mixture before shaping.
Keywords: spaghetti, meatballs, Italian sausage, marinara sauce, easy dinner, classic recipe, pasta dish
Find it online: https://dishedbydana.com/easy-spaghetti-and-meatballs-recipe/
