Spaghetti and Meatballs
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1 egg, large
- 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, plain
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
For the Sauce and Pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 24 fluid ounces pasta sauce, jarred or homemade
- 12 ounces spaghetti
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, 1/2 cup finely chopped onion, 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and salt. Mix thoroughly with a fork or your hands until all ingredients are well combined.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Using your hands, form the meat mixture into approximately 15-16 individual meatballs, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Carefully place the formed meatballs into the hot pan using tongs. Cook, turning occasionally, until the meatballs are browned on all sides and cooked through, about 10-12 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the pan and set aside.
⏱️ 12 min
- 4
In the same pan (or a separate large pot), melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the 1/2 cup chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 7 min
- 5
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to deepen its flavor. Pour in the pasta sauce and bring it to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer while you cook the pasta.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
In another large pot, bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes.
⏱️ 10 min
- 7
Once the spaghetti is cooked, drain it well. Add the cooked spaghetti and the cooked meatballs directly into the pot with the simmering sauce. Toss everything together until the spaghetti is well coated with sauce and combined with the meatballs.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Serve the spaghetti and meatballs into individual bowls. Garnish with a generous sprinkle of additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil.
⏱️ 3 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Spaghetti and Meatballs
For the Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1 egg, large
- 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, plain
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
For the Sauce and Pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 24 fluid ounces pasta sauce, jarred or homemade
- 12 ounces spaghetti
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, 1/2 cup finely chopped onion, 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and salt. Mix thoroughly with a fork or your hands until all ingredients are well combined.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Using your hands, form the meat mixture into approximately 15-16 individual meatballs, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Carefully place the formed meatballs into the hot pan using tongs. Cook, turning occasionally, until the meatballs are browned on all sides and cooked through, about 10-12 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the pan and set aside.
⏱️ 12 min - 4
In the same pan (or a separate large pot), melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the 1/2 cup chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to deepen its flavor. Pour in the pasta sauce and bring it to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer while you cook the pasta.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
In another large pot, bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes.
⏱️ 10 min - 7
Once the spaghetti is cooked, drain it well. Add the cooked spaghetti and the cooked meatballs directly into the pot with the simmering sauce. Toss everything together until the spaghetti is well coated with sauce and combined with the meatballs.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Serve the spaghetti and meatballs into individual bowls. Garnish with a generous sprinkle of additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil.
⏱️ 3 min