The BEST Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe | Chef Jean-Pierre

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork can be less expensive.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

canned tomatoes

🥗Healthier: fresh tomatoes

💰Cheaper: tomato paste

Fresh tomatoes provide a lighter taste, while tomato paste is budget-friendly.

spaghetti

🥗Healthier: whole wheat pasta

💰Cheaper: pasta made from other grains

Whole wheat pasta offers more fiber.

Chop country bread and remove crust if desired.

Chop Italian parsley and sun-dried tomatoes.

Mix chopped bread, parsley, and sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl.

Soak the bread mixture in buttermilk.

In a separate bowl, combine ground beef, spicy Italian sausage, chopped garlic, and onion (previously sautéed for sauce).

Add Parmesan cheese, oregano, 1 egg, salt, and pepper to the meat mixture.

Mix everything thoroughly but do not overmix.

Scoop the mixture into meatballs using an ice cream scoop and place them on a tray.

Refrigerate the meatballs to firm them up before cooking.

Prepare the tomato sauce by sautéing onion until caramelized, then add garlic and sauté briefly.

Add tomato paste to the sautéed onion and garlic, cooking until caramelized.

Add tomato puree and canned tomatoes to the mixture, stirring well.

Do not cover the sauce while it simmers to avoid acidity buildup.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens