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Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs

Delicious Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs Recipe Guide

This Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs offers a comforting dish that combines juicy meatballs with a rich tomato sauce, perfect for family gatherings.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 696
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Meatballs
  • 3 slices white bread, crusts removed, diced
  • 2/3 cup cold water
  • 1 lb lean ground beef (7%-15% fat)
  • 1 lb Sweet Ground Italian sausage casings removed
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese , plus more to serve
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 large egg
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour , to dredge meatballs
  • 3 Tbsp Light olive oil to sauté, or use vegetable oil
Sauce
  • 1 medium yellow onion (1 cup chopped)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 56 oz crushed tomatoes (from 2 – 28 oz cans)
  • 2 bay leaves optional
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 2 Tbsp basil, finely minced , plus more to garnish
Pasta
  • 1 lb spaghetti

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Deep skillet
  • pot for boiling pasta

Method
 

Meatball Preparation
  1. Combine bread pieces with 2/3 cup water and set aside for 5 minutes, then mash with a fork.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, add ground beef, sausage, parmesan, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, egg, and mashed breadcrumbs. Mix until well combined.
  3. Form into 1 1/2" meatballs. Dredge meatballs in flour, dusting off excess.
  4. Heat a deep, large skillet over medium heat with about 3 Tbsp oil. Add meatballs in 2 batches and sauté until browned on all sides (about 6 minutes total).
Sauce Preparation
  1. In the same skillet, add more oil if needed and sauté chopped onion until soft and golden (5 minutes).
  2. Add minced garlic and stir until fragrant (1-2 minutes).
  3. Stir in crushed tomatoes and bay leaves. Bring to a light boil.
  4. Add meatballs back into the pan with the tomato sauce, partially cover, and gently simmer for 30 minutes, turning meatballs occasionally.
  5. A few minutes before sauce is done, stir in chopped fresh basil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Pasta Cooking
  1. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions in salted water until al dente, drain, and return to the pot.
  2. Pour sauce and meatballs over spaghetti and toss gently to combine.
  3. Garnish with parmesan cheese and fresh basil before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 696kcalCarbohydrates: 73gProtein: 35gFat: 29g

Notes

This dish brings memories of family gatherings and is perfect for feeding a crowd.

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