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Spaghetti and Meatballs

Put on your cozy slippers because we are about to dive into all things cozy and what’s more comforting than a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs? This Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs is the ultimate comfort food. The sauce is full of flavor. It has four garlic cloves, two shallots and a blend of crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Bay leaves and fresh basil add extra depth of flavor. Now for the meatballs. The meatballs use moistened bread which makes the meatballs ultra tender. A blend of herbs and garlic add great flavor to the meatballs, but the real key to these is the flour that the meatballs are coated in. The flour adds a crispy exterior to the meatballs when pan fried, making them ultra delicious. Once the meatballs are seared, they are added into the sauce and left to cook for 30 minutes to absorb all the flavor of the sauce. Serve over spaghetti for the perfect comfort food meal.

Spaghetti and Meatballs – the ultimate comfort food

Spaghetti and meatballs were a staple meal in my household growing up. It actually happened to be my dad’s favorite meal, and while he is no longer here with us on Earth, I sure hope he is eating a giant bowl of spaghetti and meatballs in heaven.

oh the nostalgia

I ran track and cross country in high school and college, so some sort of pasta, and many times spaghetti and meatballs, graced our menu 2-3 times a week. I don’t run as much anymore, but I still love eating this comfort food meal. It has so much nostalgia for me, and to be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever met a person that doesn’t like eating spaghetti, or at least some variation of it. I had a period growing up where I did not like sauce, so I just ate butter on my spaghetti noodles. Why was I so weird!? Haha, it sounds gross to me now, but I do remember loving it at the time. Don’t worry, I’ve long grown out of that phase.

my own version

This Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe is my homemade version of the recipe I grew up eating. My mom always used canned spaghetti sauce, and while it’s good, nothing beats homemade. This homemade sauce has so much flavor, thanks to the fresh herbs and 30 minute simmer. Trust me, this is a meal, you’ll make again and again!

Here’s what you need to know

make the meatballs

I like to begin this spaghetti and meatballs recipe by starting with the meatballs. For these meatballs, I use white bread, torn into pieces, that is moistened by milk.

breadcrumbs vs. moistened bread in meatballs

Okay, quick divergent to talk about this topic for the meatballs in my spaghetti and meatballs recipe. Moistened bread makes the meatballs incredibly tender and moist as opposed to breadcrumbs. It truly makes a big difference.

back to the meatballs

Okay, back to making tthe meatballs. The meatballs have a mix of spices and herbs, along with egg and the moistened bread. Mix all of these ingredients together, then scoop into 2 1/2 -3 tablespoon size meatballs.

Coat the meatballs in flour, then cook in a drizzle of hot oil in a large skillet, or large pot. The flour on the meatballs gives the meatballs a crispy, tasty exterior. Cook the meatballs until browned on all sides, then remove from the skillet.

make the sauce

Now, it’s time to make the sauce. Using a large pot (you can use the same one that you used to make the meatballs), add the shallot and garlic. Cook 2-3 minutes, until garlic and shallot is fragrant and shallot is softened.

For this spaghetti and meatballs recipe, you’ll add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, bay leaves, fresh basil and parsley, and the seared meatballs. All that’s left to do at this point is let the meatballs simmer in the sauce for 30 minutes. The meatballs soak up all the flavor of the sauce as they cook and mmm, they are just truly delicious!

Here are a few other cozy recipes you may enjoy

Let me know what you thought!

If you make this spaghetti and meatballs recipe, make sure to rate the recipe and let me know what you thought in the comments below. I always appreciate your feedback as it helps me improve my recipes for you! Make sure you tag me on instagram @simplebakingwithpep and give me a follow to see my latest recipes and some fun behind the scenes. You can also follow me on youtube and facebook.

Let me know your favorite cozy recipe to make in the comments and perhaps I will make that recipe next!

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Spaghetti and Meatballs


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5 from 1 review

  • Author: Jolene
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

This Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs is the ultimate comfort food. This Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs is the ultimate comfort food. The sauce is full of flavor. It has four garlic cloves, two shallots and a blend of crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Bay leaves and fresh basil add extra depth of flavor. Now for the meatballs. The meatballs use moistened bread which makes the meatballs ultra tender. A blend of herbs and garlic add great flavor to the meatballs, but the real key to these is the flour that the meatballs are coated in. The flour adds a crispy exterior to the meatballs when pan fried, making them ultra delicious. Once the meatballs are seared, they are added into the sauce and left to cook for 30 minutes to absorb all the flavor of the sauce. Serve over spaghetti for the perfect comfort food meal.


Ingredients

Units Scale

Meatballs

  • 3/4 cup white bread, torn into small pieces (crusts removed)
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, to dredge meatballs
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, to saute

Sauce

  • 2 shallots, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, grated
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (28 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley

Other Ingredients

  • 1 pound spaghetti

Instructions

1. Make the meatballs. In a large bowl, add the white bread pieces and milk. Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes. To the same bowl, add the beef, cheese, salt and pepper, egg, parsley, basil, thyme, garlic and onion powder. Use your hands to combine the mixture together, then roll into 2 ½ to 3 tablespoon sized meatballs.

Place flour in a shallow bowl. Roll the meatballs through the flour mixture.

2. Pan fry the meatballs. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a large pot (you can use the same one you plan to use for the sauce), or a large skillet. Once the oil is hot, add the floured meatballs to the pan. Sauté until browned on all sides, about 6 minutes total (2 minutes per side). Remove meatballs and set aside.

3. Make the sauce. In a large pot (you may use the same one you used for the meatballs), add the shallot and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until garlic is fragrant and shallot is softened.

Add in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt and pepper and bay leaves. Bring mixture to a light boil.

Add the meatballs back into the sauce as well as the fresh basil and parsley. Partially cover with a lid or splatter screen to reduce splatter. Cook at a gentle simmer for 30 minutes, turning meatballs occasionally. Meatballs will be tender and sauce will be thickened.

4. Serve. Serve the sauce and the meatballs over spaghetti. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese and enjoy!

  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 40
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: Italian

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2 Comments

  1. My family and I loved this! The meatballs were incredibly tender and full of flavor and the sauce…wow! We will be making this meal on repeat.






    1. Willy,

      Thank you so much for making this recipe. I am thrilled your family enjoyed it so much. It’s definitely a favorite in our household, too 🙂

      -Jolene

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