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Classic Comfort Mom’s Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

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A nostalgic and hearty homemade spaghetti and meatballs recipe featuring juicy meatballs soaked in milk and a rich tomato sauce, perfect for cozy family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80% lean)
  • 1/2 lb ground pork
  • 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
  • 12 oz spaghetti (regular or whole wheat)
  • Salt for pasta water

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk. Let soak for 5 minutes until breadcrumbs absorb the milk and become soft.
  2. Add ground beef, ground pork, egg, minced garlic, parsley, Parmesan, salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes to the soaked breadcrumbs. Mix gently until just combined.
  3. Shape mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs, about 20-22 meatballs. Place on a plate or tray.
  4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown meatballs in batches, about 3-4 minutes per batch, until golden but not cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
  5. In the same skillet, add more olive oil if needed. Sauté onion over medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  6. Add crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, and sugar. Stir well, scraping browned bits from the pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Gently add meatballs back into the sauce. Cover and simmer on low heat for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  8. While sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain and set aside.
  9. Serve spaghetti topped with meatballs and sauce. Garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan if desired.

Notes

Do not overmix meatball mixture to avoid tough meatballs. Soak breadcrumbs in milk for tender meatballs. Brown meatballs to develop flavor but do not cook through before simmering. Save some pasta water to loosen sauce if needed. Meatballs and sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen.

Nutrition

Keywords: spaghetti, meatballs, classic recipe, comfort food, homemade dinner, tomato sauce, easy recipe

Find it online: https://clunkcook.com/classic-comfort-moms-spaghetti-and-meatballs-recipe-easy-homemade-dinner-idea/