Best Ever Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe
I can’t think of a more classic dinner recipe that everyone loves and never goes out of style. That is, classic spaghetti and meatballs with marinara sauce. If you’ve never made homemade meatballs or homemade marinara sauce, I promise you not only are you in for a real treat, but they are both so easy! Making homemade meatballs for spaghetti is a cinch because you dump all the ingredients into one bowl, mix, and form your little meatballs before baking them. For this spaghetti and meatballs recipe, I baked the meatballs but I also provide two other cooking methods below. Homemade marinara sauce is also a snap to make and really you’re just simmering canned tomatoes with onions, garlic, herbs, and spices for a bit. Quite literally then throw it all together with al dente cooked spaghetti, garnish with fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese, and it’s a guarantee that this Italian-inspired meal will be a hit. For this scratch spaghetti and meatball recipe, I heavily borrowed from my Cheesy Meatballs with Gnocci recipe so make sure to check that one out, too!
Ingredients in Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs
To make this scratch Italian spaghetti and meatballs recipe, you’ll need the following common ingredients:
Meatballs:
Ground beef Ground pork sausage Onion Garlic Breadcrumbs Eggs Parmesan cheese Dried basil Dried oregano Dried parsley Italian seasoning Milk Pepper Salt Olive oil
Marinara sauce:
Olive oil Onion Garlic Tomato paste Canned whole tomatoes Canned crushed tomatoes Fresh basil Italian seasoning Red chili flakes Salt Pepper Granulated sugar
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Meatballs for Spaghetti
These are incredibly easy meatballs for spaghetti and are worth the bit of effort it takes in my opinion. However, all the ingredients get mixed by hand in just one bowl to keep things super basic! To make them, follow these easy steps: Step 1: Add ALL the ingredients to one bowl and mix gently to combine. Step 2: Using a small cookie scoop form evenly sized meatballs, then place them on a baking sheet. Step 3: Bake for about 10 minutes. That’s it! Note: Some of that glorious Parmesan cheese will seep out during the baking process. This is totally normal!
Additional Ways to Cook Meatballs
I baked these meatballs, but you absolutely can cook your homemade meatballs in a couple other ways including:
Using an air fryer: Air fry the meatballs at 425F for 10 to 12 minutes. The temp and time are same as if you were baking them, but air fry them instead. When air fried, the texture on the outside is a bit crispy and the interior is nice and juicy. On the stovetop: Cook them in a skillet on the stove with a bit of olive oil over medium-high heat like I did in my Cheesy Gnocchi and Meatballs recipe. Take care not to overcrowd them and brown them in batches.
How to Make Spaghetti Sauce
While your meatballs are baking, get started on your homemade marinara sauce by doing the following: Step 1: Add olive oil to a skillet and sauté onions and garlic before adding tomato paste. Step 2: Add all the remaining ingredients and simmer before adding the meatballs and cooked spaghetti and serving!
Make-Ahead Freezer Instructions
If you like to batch cook or plan ahead so that you have some easy dinner options waiting for you in your freezer that you simply need to thaw and reheat, meatballs as well as marinara sauce both freeze very well. I recommend making a double batch of the meatballs and using half for spaghetti and meatballs, and then the other half will keep airtight in the freezer for up to 4 months. Pull them out as needed for recipes like Cheesy Gnocchi and Meatballs, thaw, and gently reheat either in the microwave if you’re like me or brown them up with a bit of oil in a skillet. The same can be said for marinara sauce from scratch in that it freezes and keeps well. Make sure you freeze it in freezer-safe containers and for up to 4 months.
Tips for the Best Spaghetti and Meatballs
Ground beef: When selecting the fat percentage of your ground beef, I recommend not going too low-fat because fat will helps the meatballs hold together. 80/20 ground beef is what I use. Pork sausage: You can use spicy sausage if you like heat and want to amp up the flavor of the meatballs. Normally I just use a regular basic pork sausage though. Meatballs: When you’re mixing the meatball mixture together, don’t ovemix. Use a wooden spoon or a (gloved) hand to just barely combine the ingredients, but don’t overdo it. This ensures the meatballs stay moist and juicy.
More Homemade Meatball Recipes:
Baked Honey Garlic Meatballs — These honey garlic meatballs are easy, can be prepped in advance, and hold well at room temp. They’re juicy, tender, and the honey garlic sauce gives them so much flavor! Freezer: Meatballs and sauce should be frozen separately for best results. I do not recommend freezing the cooked spaghetti. When ready to eat, thaw the meatballs and sauce overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop over medium heat. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Mexican Meatballs with Tomato Avocado Salad — These FAST and EASY ground beef meatballs are coated are loaded with Mexican-inspired flavors the whole family will LOVE!! Great for busy weeknight dinners or easy-breezy entertaining!! Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs — The EASIEST holiday appetizer that’s made with just 3 INGREDIENTS! People adore these saucy meatballs loaded with FLAVOR! A perfect appetizer for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s celebrations and holiday parties. Or make them for your next tailgating or game day party! Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs — The EASIEST slow cooker meatball recipe that’s sure to be a hit at parties and events! Or turn this into a no-fuss weeknight meal and serve these pineapple-infused Hawaiian meatballs over rice! Made with only 6 ingredients so you can just set your slow cooker and let it do all the work! Baked Italian Meatballs —Ready in just 30 minutes, these quick and EASY baked meatballs come out perfectly moist and tender every time! There’s no need to brown the meatballs before baking, which cuts back on dishes and saves time! Red Curry Meatballs — Indian-spiced beef meatballs are simmered in a homemade red curry sauce that’s perfectly spicy, savory, and so comforting especially when served over a bed of basmati rice! Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs — EASY homemade chicken meatballs that simmer in buffalo wing sauce, seasonings, and spices in your slow cooker! Juicy and full of all the flavor of traditional buffalo chicken wings, minus the messy factor! Tex Mex Meatballs — Tender, juicy homemade beef and pork meatballs with just the right amount of spicy kick!
