Description
This classic Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe features tender, flavorful meatballs simmered in a rich homemade tomato sauce made from stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and aromatic onions. Served over perfectly cooked spaghetti and topped with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese, this hearty Italian-American dish is perfect for a comforting family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Tomato Sauce
- 3 (28-ounce) cans whole stewed tomatoes
- 2 (28-ounce) cans tomato sauce
- 3 large white onions, halved
- 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter
Meatballs
- 2 pounds 80/20 ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
- ¾ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, plus more for serving
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper
To Serve
- 2 pounds cooked spaghetti
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In a large pot, combine the whole stewed tomatoes with their juices, crushing the tomatoes by hand as you add them, along with the tomato sauce, halved onions, and salted butter. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook while stirring often, until the onions are softened, about 40 minutes. Carefully remove and discard the onions using tongs.
- Make the Meatballs: While the sauce simmers, in a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, eggs, Italian-style breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Mix everything together well. Using wet hands, form the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs, about 2 tablespoons each. This should yield 40 to 45 meatballs.
- Cook the Meatballs in the Sauce: Gently add the meatballs into the simmering tomato sauce. Return the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and cook for 30 minutes, or until the meatballs are thoroughly cooked through.
- Serve: Spoon the meatballs and tomato sauce over cooked spaghetti. Garnish with additional fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese as desired, then serve immediately for a delicious, comforting meal.
Notes
- If you prefer a smoother tomato sauce, use an immersion blender to blend the sauce after removing the onions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/8 of recipe)
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 880 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 155 mg
