My delicious Spaghetti and Meatballs are a family favourite. Tender, juicy meatballs in a rich tomato sauce. This easy Italian dinner is comfort food at its best.
At the end of a long busy day sometimes all we want is something comforting to eat.
My kids often vote for for spaghetti and meatballs - 'the sausagey ones!'. I rarely argue with that - it's one of those meals where you can pretty much guarantee that everyone will clear their plates.
And honestly, it doesn't seem to matter how many meatballs I make, they ALWAYS seem to ALL get eaten.
What do we need?
Full list of ingredients and quantities in the recipe at the bottom of this post.
NOTE: you can swap out the dried pasta for my homemade fresh pasta.
Why do you add breadcrumbs?
The breadcrumbs help to ensure the meatballs are tender and juicy. The breadcrumbs absorb the oil and cooking juices, expanding slightly in the meatballs, meaning they have a softer texture when you bite into them.
How to make it:
*Full ingredient quantities and recipe instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post*
- Mix skinned sausages, beef mince, panko breadcrumbs, parmesan, onion, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, egg, salt and pepper together in a bowl, using your hands.
- Shape into meatballs and place them on a baking tray.
- Cook in in the oven for 20 minutes.
- Fry onions in the olive oil until softened, then add garlic, celery and red pepper and cook for another 2 minutes. Start cooking your spaghetti at this time too.
- Add red wine and let it bubble for a couple of minutes, then add tinned tomatoes, tomato puree, sugar, oregano and salt and pepper.
- Bring to the boil. Then simmer until the meatballs are ready.
- Drain the spaghetti and add to sauce with a splash of the cooking water.
- Add the meatballs and toss everything together.
Divide between plates and top with a sprinkling of parmesan and a little fresh parsley or basil and serve up with some homemade garlic bread.
Is it better to bake or fry meatballs?
You can fry the meatballs in a little oil, then remove them from the pan and start on the sauce. Then add the meatballs back to the pan again when the sauce is simmering.
I find this takes a little longer to cook overall, and the meatballs occasionally fall apart a little.
My preference is to bake these meatballs so you get a lovely uniform, unbroken shape with a golden exterior.
How many meatballs per person?
I tend to serve:
- 4 meatballs for the average serving.
- 5 for hungry people and 3 for kids.
See how to make it
More Meatball Recipes:
- Chinese Style Curry with Juicy Meatballs
- One-Pot Turkey Meatballs With Courgetti
- Hidden Veg Meatballs
- Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs with Pappardelle
- Cheesy Baked Meatballs
- Swedish Meatballs
More Pasta Recipes:
Pasta Lover? I've got a whole Pasta category. Try these reader favourites:
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs (makes about 18-20 meatballs)
- 3 good quality sausages - taken out of their skins
- 10 ½ oz (300g) minced beef
- 2 tbsp (25g) panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (25g) grated parmesan
- ½ small onion - finely chopped
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 small egg
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- pinch of salt and pepper
Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion - finely chopped
- 2 sticks celery - finely chopped
- 1 red pepper - finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic - crushed
- ½ cup (120ml) red wine
- 28 oz (800g or 2x400g) tins of chopped tomatoes
- 1 heaped tbsp of tomato puree/paste
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- pinch of salt and pepper
also
- 10.5 oz (300g) dried spaghetti or fresh pasta
- grated parmesan and fresh parsley or basil to serve
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the over to 200C/400F.
- Mix all of the meatball ingredients in a bowl with your hands. Squash it all together but don't overmix as this will make the meatballs tough.
- Shape the meatballs into little balls - the size of a golfball - and place them on a baking tray.
- Put in the oven for 20 minutes. Keep an eye on them toward the end of the cooking time and turn the oven down a little if they start going too dark.
- Put the water on to heat for the spaghetti.
- Whilst the meatballs are cooking, make the sauce.
- Fry the onions in the olive oil on a medium heat for about 5 mins, until softened.
- Add the garlic, celery and red pepper and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add the red wine and let it bubble for a couple of minutes.
- At this point the water will probably be boiling, so put the spaghetti on to cook for about 12-13 minutes (or per pack instructions).
- Add the tinned tomatoes, tomato puree, sugar, oregano and salt and pepper to the sauce and bring to the boil. Then simmer for gently until the meatballs and pasta are ready.
- Drain the spaghetti, reserving a cup of the cooking water. Add the spaghetti to the sauce and toss together using tongs. Add some of the cooking water if you want it to be a little saucier.
- Add the meatballs to the pan and move them around a little so they're coated in a little of the sauce.
- Divide between plates and top with a sprinkling of parmesan and a little fresh parsley or basil.
Video
✎ Notes
Can I make them ahead?
You can make the meatballs and sauce ahead of time, but I'd recommend cooking the spaghetti and mixing with the meatballs and sauce right before serving. Place the meatballs and sauce together in a covered container and refrigerate for up to two days. Take out of the refrigerator about an hour before reheating to take the chill off the meatballs. Reheat in a pan with a lid over a low heat for 15-20 minutes, until piping hot throughout. You may need to add a splash of boiling water (or even better, cooking water from your pasta) to loosen the sauce a little. Mix with the cooked pasta before serving.Can I freeze them?
Yes, as per the make ahead instructions above, you can make the meatballs and sauce, then place in a covered container in the freezer. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator, then take out of the refrigerator about an hour before reheating to take the chill off the meatballs. Reheat in a pan with a lid over a low heat for 15-20 minutes, until piping hot throughout. You may need to add a splash of boiling water (or even better, cooking water from your pasta) to loosen the sauce a little. Mix with the cooked pasta before serving.Type of sausage to use
I use medium-sized (around 150g/5.3 oz each) pork sausages. I use plain pork sausages, but you can use flavoured ones if you prefer. Go for good quality sausages if you can.Minced beef
Don't be tempted to go for very low fat minced (ground) beef. The fat in the beef gives the meatballs more flavour and makes them more tender.Use 20% or 15% fat minced beef. You can get away with 12% fat, but don't go for anything lower. Nutritional Information is per serving - including meatballs, sauce and spaghetti - based on 5 portions. Remove 220 cals per portion if not including the spaghetti.
Nutrition
This post was first published in January 2014. Updated April 2020 with new photos, tips and video.
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Lauren says
First time making my own meatballs but so so easy, and quick! I nearly cheated and bought shop bought ones but I'm so glad I didn't. The sauce is also lovely. This recipe has been added to my recipe collection!
Kath says
Seeing this gorgeous pic, I had to make your version and I have to say it didn't disappoint, so tasty. Thank you
Stewart says
Great meatball recipe, so tasty.
BJ Stark says
I have to say Nicky, I look at a lot of recipe/food sites, and your recipe pics look so good, better than most! If they taste as good as they look, you have a gift! Haven't tried any yet. Although, I will have to find a measurement converter, I am in the US, and not proficient in metric.
Nicky Corbishley says
Thanks BJ 🙂
Yeah, that's one of my older recipes, before I starting adding in US measurements. It's on my to-do list to update, but in the meantime, this is a good one (and it's a one-pot version, so even easier): https://www.kitchensanctuary.com/one-pan-spaghetti-and-meatballs/
Juliet says
Do you think I could make and freeze the meatballs without the sauce. Have made this recipe once before, it was gorgeous. We thought if we flattened the meatballs we could make them into little oven burgers.
Nicky Corbishley says
Hi Juliet,
Yes, you can freeze the meatballs - either cooked or uncooked (although I'd only advise freezing them uncooked if the beef mince (ground beef) hasn't been frozen beforehand.
The meatballs should be defrosted, then you can cook or reheat in the oven.
margotvangils says
I would just like to say your blog is amazing! and your recipes are really cool!
Nicky Corbishley says
Thank you Margot, I'm really glad you like the recipes 🙂