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Classic Spaghetti and Juicy Meatballs

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A comforting and easy-to-make classic Italian dinner featuring juicy meatballs simmered in a rich tomato sauce, served over perfectly cooked spaghetti.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (80/20 for best juiciness; can swap half with ground pork)
  • 1/2 cup (50 g) breadcrumbs (plain or Italian seasoned)
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) whole milk (or dairy-free milk)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup (15 g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tsp dried parsley)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 28 oz (800 g) canned crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 12 oz (340 g) spaghetti (regular or whole wheat)
  • Salt, for pasta water
  • Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
  • Extra grated Parmesan

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, minced garlic, grated Parmesan, chopped parsley, salt, black pepper, and dried oregano. Mix gently until just combined, about 5 minutes.
  2. Shape the mixture into 1 1/2-inch (4 cm) meatballs, about 16 total. Place on a plate or baking sheet.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown meatballs in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until golden but not fully cooked. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  4. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and sauté chopped onion for 4-5 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  6. Nestle browned meatballs into the sauce. Cover and cook on low heat for 20-25 minutes, turning meatballs halfway through, until cooked through (internal temp 160°F/71°C).
  7. While meatballs simmer, cook spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain and toss with a little olive oil.
  8. Serve spaghetti topped with meatballs and sauce. Garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan. Serve immediately.

Notes

Do not overmix meatball ingredients to keep them tender. Use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C). Browning meatballs before simmering adds flavor and texture. Simmer sauce gently to prevent meatballs from falling apart. Add pasta water to sauce if it becomes too thick. Let meatballs rest a few minutes if not serving immediately.

Nutrition

Keywords: spaghetti, meatballs, classic Italian, easy dinner, family meal, tomato sauce, comfort food

Find it online: https://magnetmeal.com/classic-spaghetti-and-juicy-meatballs-recipe-easy-perfect-dinner-idea/