There’s just something about a big bowl of homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs that feels like a warm hug around the supper table. With tender pasta, hearty meatballs, and rich tomato sauce, this classic comfort food is always a welcome sight at dinnertime. Serve it up with a crisp garden salad and warm garlic bread for a homemade Italian feast that’ll have everybody reaching for seconds!

Classic Spaghetti with Meatballs Recipe

This homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe is the kind of supper that brings everybody to the table without a whole lot of fuss. Keeping weeknight dinners fresh and interesting can be a challenge, even for those of us who spend plenty of time in the kitchen. I have days myself when I’m busy testing a dessert recipe or working on a client’s campaign, and before I know it, supper has been pushed to the back burner. See what I did there? The truth is, we all have those days when we need a dependable meal that doesn’t require a lot of thought. That’s where this homestyle spaghetti and meatballs comes in handy! With tender pasta, hearty meatballs, and rich tomato sauce, it’s an old-fashioned favorite that appeals to all ages.

Serve it for a busy weeknight supper, a relaxed Sunday dinner, or anytime you’re craving a comforting, home-cooked meal. Add a crisp garden salad and warm garlic bread, and you’ve got a family-friendly Italian feast worth gathering around the table for.

Key ingredients to make homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs: (Scroll down for the full recipe card and quantities.)

Meatballs – A combination of ground beef and sweet Italian sausage.
Breadcrumbs – Panko bread crumbs add structure to the meatballs.
Cheese – Grated Parmesan cheese for a salty bite.
Onion – Fresh onion and garlic expand the flavor.
Spices and Seasonings – Italian seasoning, salt,crushed red pepper flakes.
Liquid – Milk for moisture.
Whole Eggs – Large eggs bind the meatball mxture.
Tomato Sauce – Crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoned tomato paste, dry Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper, sugar and fresh parsley.
Pasta – Cooked spaghetti for serving.

ingredients-to-make-spaghetti-and-meatballs

How to Make Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

Heat Oven and Prepare Pan – Preheat oven spray a broiler pan with cooking spray.
Make Meat Mixture – To a medium size mixing bowl add ground beef and sausage, onion, panko, Parmesan cheese and seasonings.
Wet Mixture – Beat milk and eggs together then, add to the bowl. Stir to combine.
Divide the Meat Mixture – Form into balls and place onto the prepared pan without touching. I use a meatball scoop to keep meatballs uniform in size.
Oven – Bake per the recipe until cooked through.
Make Sauce – Saute onion with garlic. Add tomatoes, tomato paste and spices. Simmer over medium low heat, covered while meatballs bake.
Combine – Add cooked meatballs to sauce, gently stir to coat. Simmer over medium low uncovered for 5 minutes.
Serve over cooked spaghetti garnished with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Spaghetti and Meatballs

Pasta pot.
Large bowl.
Meatball scoop or small ice cream scoop.
Kitchen knife and chopping board.
Medium saucepan.
Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
Cheese grater.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

Protein – You can use hot Italian sausage or mild Italian sausage, only lean ground beef, ground pork, veal, ground turkey or a combination your favorites for making these meatballs. Should you choose to use spicy sausage, omit the crushed red pepper flakes.
Bread Crumbs – You could use Italian seasoned dry breadcrumbs in place of panko breadcrumbs.
Fresh Herbs – You can use fresh basil or oregano in place of parsley.
Thicken the Sauce – You can thicken the tomato sauce further by adding more tomato paste. Likewise you can thin the sauce adding a splash of red wine, beef broth or tomato sauce.

Storage and Leftovers

Leftovers – Store leftover spaghetti and meatballs in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave in single serving portions. You can also reheat over medium heat in a saucepan on the stovetop.
Reheating – Reheat in the sauce in a saucepan over medium heat or single servings in the microwave.
Freezing Meatballs – These delicious meatballs can be formed and frozen either before or after baking.
Unbaked Meatballs – To freeze unbaked, form meatballs and arrange on a parchment paper lined sheet pan. Transfer to the freezer until firm. Once solid, store in a freezer safe storage container or bag and you’re halfway there for a future meal. They can be baked from frozen, adding enough baking time to cook through. Likely, it will take another 5-10 minutes. Alternately, thaw in the fridge overnight and bake per the recipe.
Freezing Baked Meatballs – To freeze after baking. Cool the meatballs completely then pop into an airtight freezer safe container or bag and freeze. They can be thawed in the fridge and then added to the sauce to reheat.
Make-Ahead Tip – The sauce can also be prepared in advance, cooled and frozen or chilled until you’re ready to combine with the meatballs to reheat.

Side Dishes to Serve with Spaghetti and Meatballs

Salad and garlic bread are both classic options and you can never go wrong with either one. While I have many to choose from, I always like to highlight a few other options for you to consider:

Pull apart Mozzarella Cheese Garlic Bread is the kind of shareable food that everyone loves.
Crispy Roasted Panko Parmesan Broccoli is perfection baked in the oven.
Tear and Share Cheesy Italian Bread Twists are made using frozen bread dough for a shortcut hack.
Fresh Spinach Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette eats like a meal.
Cheesy Garlic and Herb Bread is addictive.
Italian Green Beans and Tomatoes from Plain Chicken.

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