Print

Juicy Spaghetti and Meatballs in Under 1 Hour: Instant Comfort

spaghetti and meatballs
Print Recipe

Classic spaghetti and meatballs with homemade meatballs simmered in marinara sauce. A simple Italian dinner ready in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
  • 1/2 lb ground pork (or use all beef)
  • 1/2 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for topping)
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (or 2 tsp dried)
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (for browning)
  • 24 oz marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1/2 cup water or beef broth (to thin sauce as needed)
  • 1 tbsp butter (optional, for richer sauce)
  • 12 oz spaghetti
  • Salt (for pasta water)
  • Chopped parsley or basil (optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. Mix meatball ingredients: In a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk; let sit 2 minutes. Add beef, pork, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix gently until just combined.
  2. Shape meatballs: Roll into 1 1/2-inch balls (about 18–22).
  3. Brown meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown meatballs in batches, turning to brown all sides (about 6–8 minutes total). They don’t need to cook through yet.
  4. Simmer in sauce: Pour marinara into the skillet (or a pot), add water/broth, and bring to a gentle simmer. Nestle meatballs into sauce. Cover and simmer 15–20 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through (165°F). Stir in butter if using.
  5. Cook spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti to al dente according to package directions. Drain (reserve a splash of pasta water).
  6. Serve: Plate spaghetti, spoon marinara over top, add meatballs, and finish with grated Parmesan and parsley.

Notes

  • Use all beef if pork isn’t available.
  • Fresh parsley adds better flavor than dried.
  • Brown meatballs in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
  • Simmer meatballs gently to keep them tender.

Nutrition

Keywords: spaghetti and meatballs, homemade meatballs, meatballs in marinara sauce, easy Italian dinner, classic spaghetti dinner, pasta with meatballs

Find it online: https://jessicarecipe.com/spaghetti-and-meatballs-recipe-homemade-juicy/