Description
Spaghetti & meatballs offer a comforting Italian-American classic that brings families together around the dinner table. Rich marinara sauce and hearty beef meatballs make this dish something you’ll savor with pure culinary delight.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef (or beef & pork mix)
- ½ cup (60 g) breadcrumbs
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- ½ cup (120 ml) grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp dried basil (or 1 tbsp fresh basil)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup (30 g) fresh parsley, chopped
- 12 oz (340 g) spaghetti
- 1 tbsp salt (for boiling water)
- 1 (14-oz / 400 g) can crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
Instructions
- Meatball Preparation: Thoroughly mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and parsley until uniformly blended. Shape into compact, one-inch spheres.
- Meatball Searing: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Carefully brown meatballs on all sides, rotating periodically until golden and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Pasta Cooking: Bring salted water to a vigorous boil. Cook spaghetti until perfectly al dente, reserving a cup of pasta water before draining.
- Sauce Foundation: In the same skillet, sauté diced onions until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook briefly to release aromatic flavors.
- Tomato Sauce Development: Pour crushed tomatoes, incorporating basil, oregano, seasonings, and red pepper flakes. Simmer gently, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
- Cream Integration: Whisk heavy cream and Parmesan into the sauce, creating a luxurious, silky texture. Return meatballs to the skillet, coating thoroughly and heating completely.
- Final Composition: Reduce sauce to desired thickness, using reserved pasta water to adjust consistency if needed. Gently fold spaghetti into the sauce, ensuring even distribution of meatballs and pasta.
- Serving Presentation: Garnish with fresh basil and additional Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately, presenting a sumptuous Italian-inspired culinary masterpiece.
Notes
- Meat Mixture Mastery: Gently mix ingredients to prevent dense, tough meatballs; overmixing can lead to rubbery texture.
- Searing Secrets: Use high-quality cast iron or heavy-bottomed skillet for even browning and maximum flavor development in meatballs.
- Pasta Water Magic: Reserved starchy pasta water acts as natural sauce thickener and helps bind ingredients, creating smoother, more cohesive dish.
- Dietary Flexibility: Substitute ground beef with turkey or plant-based alternatives for lighter version; use gluten-free breadcrumbs and pasta to accommodate different dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg