Description
This classic Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe features tender meatballs simmered in a rich, homemade tomato sauce made from stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, onions, and butter. Served over perfectly cooked spaghetti and garnished with fresh parsley and Parmesan, this comforting Italian-American dish is perfect for family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Tomato Sauce
- 3 (28-ounce) cans whole stewed tomatoes
- 2 (28-ounce) cans tomato sauce
- 3 large white onions, halved
- 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter
Meatballs
- 2 pounds 80/20 ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
- ¾ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, plus more for serving
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper
To Serve
- 2 pounds cooked spaghetti
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a large pot, combine the whole stewed tomatoes with their juices, crushing the tomatoes by hand as you add them. Add the tomato sauce, halved onions, and butter. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook while stirring often, until the onions are softened, about 40 minutes. Using tongs, carefully remove and discard the onions.
- Make the meatballs: While the sauce is simmering, in a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, eggs, Italian breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Mix everything thoroughly. With wet hands, form the mixture into golf ball–sized meatballs, about 2 tablespoons each, yielding 40 to 45 meatballs.
- Cook the meatballs in the sauce: Carefully add the meatballs to the simmering sauce. Bring the sauce back to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and cook for 30 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
- Serve: Serve the cooked meatballs and tomato sauce over cooked spaghetti, garnished with additional fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- If you prefer a smoother tomato sauce, use an immersion blender to blend the sauce after removing the onions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 350g)
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
