Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe (VIDEO) (2024)

Spaghetti and Meatballs in homemade marinara sauce. These are amazing “WOW”-inducing MEATBALLS – so tasty and juicy and BIG! We’re sharing all of our secrets for incredibly tender and flavorful meatballs.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

We included Amazon affiliate links below for tools used in this recipe.

Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe:

The secret to getting uber tendermeatballs is bread; yes, bread. And the secret to getting uber flavorful meatballs is in the combination of meats – I’m talking about lean ground beef with sweet Italian sausage.

You’ll finish these up by simmeringthem in the super yummy and easyhome-made marinara sauce. This are seriously the best spaghetti meatball recipe I’ve ever tried.

Store-bought meatballs can’t touch these (in an MC Hammer kind of way) – I have no idea why I keep referencing Mr. Hammer? I think I grew up in the 90’s, in Seattle.

Ingredients forMeatballs (makes 22-23 meatballs):

White bread is best but you can use whole wheat or other soft sliced bread
Use lean ground beef – 7% to 15% fat content
If you aren’t able to find Italian sausage meat only, use sausages and remove casings
Use freshly grated parmesan or finely shredded pre-packaged
Do not skimp on the garlic in the meatballs or the sauce

Ingredients for Marinara Sauce:

It seems like alot ofchopped yellow onion but it shrinks considerably
If you use “Crushed tomatoes with basil” you can omit the fresh basil if desired
Bay leaves are nice, but optional if you don’t have them on hand

How to Make the Best Italian Meatballs:

1. Combine diced crustless bread pieces with 2/3cup water and set aside for 5 minutes then mash together with a fork.

2. In a large mixing bowl (I use my KitchenAid mixer to do the work), add:1 lb ground beef, 1 lb sausage, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 egg and the mashed moist bread crumbs. Mix until well combined.

3. Form into 1 1/2″ meatballs (about a flat ice cream scoop’s worth of meat). Dredge/roll meatballs in flour. Heat a deep, large, heavy skillet or a Dutch oven over medium heat with about 3 Tbsp oil. Add meatballs in batches so you don’t crowd the pan and saute until browned on all sides (6 min total or 2 min per side). Remove meatballs to a separate dish and set aside (don’t worry about cooking through at this point).

How to Make Marinara Sauce:

1. In the same skillet over medium heat, add more oil if needed and saute 1 cup chopped onion stirring often until soft and golden (5 min). Add 4 cloves minced garlic and stir 1 minute.

2. Stir in 2 cans of crushed tomatoes and 2 bay leaves. Bring to a light boil (stir to make sure it’s actually boiling and hot and not just letting bubbles to the surface).

3. Add meatballs back into thepan with tomato sauce, partially cover and cook at a gentle simmer for 30 min, turning the meatballs occasionally. Meatballs will be tender and sauce will be thickened. 5 minutes before your sauce is done, stir in chopped fresh basil and add salt and pepper to taste.

Finishing Details:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions until aldente or softer if your family loves it that way! Truth be told, Ilove slightly overcooked pasta.Drain pasta and return to the empty pot.

2. Pour sauce and meatballs over spaghetti and toss gently to combine. To serve family-style, transfer to a large platter, garnish with more parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves if desired and serve hot.

More Family-Favorite Pasta Recipes:

Creamy Shrimp Pasta – so creamy with plump juicy shrimp
Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo – Mom’s classic recipe
Chicken Tetrazzini – creamy, cheesy and easy with rotisserie chicken

Watch Natasha Make Spaghetti and Meatballs:

This recipe is also great for meal prep and to-go lunches since it freezes and reheats really well.I hope this becomes a new favorite recipe for you!

Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

4.96 from 632 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Spaghetti and Meatballs in homemade marinara sauce. Learn how to make juicy Italian Meatballs - so tender and big! The Best Homemade Spaghetti Meatballs.

SavePinReviewPrint

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 45 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 8 (2-3 meatballs per serving)

Ingredients for Meatballs (makes 22-23 meatballs):

3 slices white bread, (crusts removed), diced or torn to pieces
2/3 cup cold water
1 lb lean ground beef, (7%-15% fat)
1 lb Sweet Ground Italian sausage, casings removed
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more to serve
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 large egg
3/4 cup all-purpose flour, to dredge meatballs
3 Tbsp Light olive oil to saute, or use vegetable oil

Ingredients for Sauce:

1 medium yellow onion, (1 cup chopped)
4 cloves garlic, minced
56 oz crushed tomatoes, (from 2 - 28 oz cans)
2 bay leaves, optional
Salt & pepper , to taste
2 Tbsp basil, finely minced*

Other Ingredients:

1 lb spaghetti

Instructions

How to Make the Best Italian Meatballs:

Combine bread pieces with 2/3 cup water and set aside 5 min then mash with a fork.
In a large mixing bowl add: 1 lb ground beef, 1 lb sausage, 1/4 cup parmesan, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 egg and mashed bread crumbs. Mix until well combined.
Form into 1 1/2" meatballs (about a flat ice cream scoop of meat). Dredge/roll meatballs in flour, dusting off excess. Heat a deep, large, heavy skillet or a Dutch oven over medium heat with about 3 Tbsp oil. Add meatballs in 2 batches without crowding the pan and saute until browned on all sides (about 6 min total or 2 min per side). Remove meatballs and set aside (don't worry about cooking through at this point).

How to Make Easy Marinara Sauce:

In the same skillet over medium heat, add more oil if needed and saute 1 cup chopped onion stirring often until soft and golden (5 min). Add 4 cloves minced garlic and stir 1-2 min until fragrant.
Stir in 2 cans of crushed tomatoes and 2 bay leaves. Bring to a light boil (stir to make sure it's actually boiling and not just sending bubbles to the surface).
Add meatballs back into the pan with tomato sauce, partially cover with lid or cover with a splatter screen to reduce splatter and cook at a gentle simmer for 30 min, turning the meatballs occasionally. Meatballs will be tender and sauce will be thickened. Five minutes before sauce is done, stir in chopped fresh basil and season with salt and pepper to taste.

How to Make Spaghetti and Meatballs:

Cook pasta according to package instructions until aldente (or to desired doneness), drain and return to the empty pot.
Pour sauce and meatballs over spaghetti and toss gently to combine. To serve family-style, transfer to a large platter, garnish with parmesan cheese and fresh basil and serve hot.

Notes

*Basil is nice but optional if your crushed tomatoes jar has basil as 1 of the ingredients.

Nutrition Per Serving

696kcal Calories73g Carbs35g Protein29g Fat9g Saturated Fat101mg Cholesterol1112mg Sodium1110mg Potassium6g Fiber11g Sugar520IU Vitamin A21.5mg Vitamin C167mg Calcium6.4mg Iron

Full Nutrition Label
Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

696

% Daily Value*

Fat

Saturated Fat

Cholesterol

101

Sodium

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.