Spaghetti with Baked Meatballs recipe is an absolute delight, offering a comforting and flavorful dish that is both easy to prepare and perfect for any lunch or dinner occasion.
The star of this recipe is undoubtedly the meatballs. Baked to perfection, they are tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. While ground beef is the primary choice, you can also opt for a combination of beef and pork, which adds a rich and succulent dimension to the meatballs. It’s essential, however, to handle the meat mixture with care and avoid overworking it with the other ingredients. This ensures that the meatballs remain tender and don’t become tough when cooked.
The baked meatballs are then nestled in a delicious slow-cooked marinara sauce, creating a delightful blend of textures and tastes with the al dente spaghetti.
For an extra touch, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top to add a salty and nutty note that enhances the overall flavor.
You can prepare the sauce a day ahead, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify. Just reheat it before serving, making mealtime a breeze.
So, gather your ingredients and embark on a culinary adventure with this Spaghetti with Baked Meatballs recipe. Serve it up, savor each bite, and make cherished memories around the dinner table. Enjoy!
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How to prepare Spaghetti with Baked Meatballs
To prepare this delightful dish start by preparing the Marinara sauce, continue with the baked meatballs, cook the pasta and then you can assemble the dish.
How to prepare the Marinara Sauce.
Start by heating oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for approximately 3 minutes until it becomes translucent and slightly golden. Next, add the garlic and cook for an additional minute, allowing its aroma to infuse the dish. Stir in the tomato paste, cooking for another minute to deepen the flavors.
Now, it’s time to incorporate the diced tomatoes, water, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and a touch of sugar to balance the acidity. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let it simmer for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. During this time, the sauce will slightly reduce and thicken, intensifying its rich flavors. While the marinara sauce simmers, let’s prepare the meatballs.
How to prepare the meatballs.
Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200C) and generously grease a baking sheet with oil to prevent sticking. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with all the other ingredients: onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper. Gently mix the ingredients until they are well combined, taking care not to overwork the mixture, as it could result in tougher meatballs.
Form the meat mixture into 1-inch (2.5 cm) balls and arrange them evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake the meatballs for about 20 minutes, or until they develop a slight golden brown color.
Assemble the spaghetti with baked meatballs
Once the marinara sauce has thickened to your liking, gently add the baked meatballs into the sauce. Allow them to simmer together for an additional 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the meatballs to soak up the rich marinara goodness.
While the sauce and meatballs simmer, cook the spaghetti until it reaches the desired tenderness. Drain the cooked spaghetti and divide it among serving plates.
Now, it’s time to assemble the dish. Scoop generous amounts of the marinara sauce and meatballs on top of the cooked spaghetti, ensuring each plate receives a generous portion. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil over the top for an extra burst of flavor and visual appeal.
Other pasta recipes you may like to try
If you’re looking for a comforting and delicious meal that everyone will love, this Spaghetti Pie is a perfect choice. I chose to use a tomato and meat sauce filling, which is a favorite in my family. The crust is made of spaghetti, followed by a layer of creamy ricotta cheese, the savory tomato, and meat sauce, and topped with a generous amount of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. After baking the result is a mouthwatering, golden-brown pie that’s simply irresistible.
This Chicken Lasagna is a flavorful twist on the classic Italian favorite. Layers of tender chicken and tomato sauce, bechamel sauce and rich cheese create a mouthwatering experience that will leave you craving more.
Stuffed Shells are a popular and comforting dish that makes a great lunch or dinner and a perfect dish for whenever you have guests around. The large shells are filled with a three-cheese filling mixed with fresh herbs, all covered in marinara sauce, topped with more cheese and breadcrumbs and baked until beautifully browned. These Three Cheese Stuffed Shells are simple, quick and impressive, a dish that everybody will love for sure.
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Spaghetti with Baked Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 pound (500g) lean ground beef
- 1 small onion , finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1/4 cup (35g) breadcrumbs
- 1 egg , lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup (25g) Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp (15g) worcestershire sauce
- fresh parsley , half a bunch
- 1/2 tsp (3g) salt
- 1/4 tsp (1g) black pepper
Marinara Sauce
- 2 tbsp (30ml) olive oil
- 1 medium onion , chopped
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 3 (14 oz, 400g) cans, , diced tomatoes
- 1/3 cup (80g) tomato paste
- 1 ½ cups (360ml) water
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- Fresh basil
- 1/2 tsp (3g) salt
- 1/4 tsp (1g) black pepper
- 1-2 tsp (5-10g) sugar
Pasta
- 16 oz (450g) dried spaghetti
Instructions
Prepare the Marinara Sauce.
- In a large skillet heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and saute for 3 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook one more minute. Stir in tomato paste and cook for another minute.
- Add diced tomatoes, water, oregano, basil, salt, pepper and sugar.
Meanwhile prepare the meatballs.
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200C) and grease a baking sheet with oil.
- Place beef into a large bowl and add all the rest of ingredients: onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, worcestershire sauce, Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, salt and pepper.
- Mix together until combined, make sure not to overwork the mixture.
- Form into 1-inch (2.5 cm) balls and place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until meatballs are slightly browned.
- When Marinara Sauce is ready add meatballs into the sauce and cook for 10 minutes more.
Cook spaghetti.
- Meanwhile cook spaghetti according to package directions.
- Scoop sauce and meatballs on top of spaghetti, sprinkle grated Parmesan and fresh basil and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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Hi your recipe is missing the diced tomatoes in the ingredient section
yes, appeared the cans but for some reason the diced tomatoes words were missing. Thank you for noticing