How To Make Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe | Homemade Marinara Sauce

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is lower in fat, while ground pork is often less expensive.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated cheese blend

Nutritional yeast is lower in calories and adds a cheesy flavor, while a cheese blend can be more budget-friendly.

Remove the crust from 3 slices of white bread and dice or tear into small pieces.

Transfer the bread to a large mixing bowl and add 2/3 cup of cold water. Let soak for 5 minutes, then mash with a fork.

Add 1 pound of ground beef, 1 pound of sweet ground Italian sausage, 1 large egg, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper to the bowl. Mix everything together using your hands.

Add 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and stir to combine.

Divide the mixture into about 22 meatballs, rolling each one into a ball and dipping in flour, tapping off the excess.

Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.

Add half of the meatballs to the pot and sauté until browned on all sides, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter and repeat with the second batch.

In the same pot, add 1 cup of diced onions and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add 4 minced garlic cloves and stir for 1 minute.

Pour in 2 cans of crushed tomatoes and add 2 bay leaves. Stir to combine and bring to a light boil.

Add the meatballs back to the pot along with any accumulated juices, stirring to submerge the meatballs. Partially cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook 1 pound of spaghetti in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta without rinsing it 5 minutes before the sauce is done.

Add 2 tablespoons of chopped basil to the sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Combine the cooked pasta with the sauce, stirring until the noodles are evenly coated.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens