Melt-In-Your-Mouth Italian Meatballs StepByStep

Here’s a classic Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe for a hearty, delicious meal:

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

•1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)

•1/2 cup (50 g) breadcrumbs

•1/4 cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese

•1 large egg

•2 cloves garlic, minced

•2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried parsley)

•1 teaspoon salt

•1/2 teaspoon black pepper

•1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

•1/4 cup (60 ml) milk

For the Sauce:

•2 tablespoons olive oil

•1 medium onion, finely chopped

•3 cloves garlic, minced

•1 can (28 oz/800 g) crushed tomatoes

•1 can (14 oz/400 g) diced tomatoes (optional, for extra texture)

•2 tablespoons tomato paste

•1 teaspoon sugar (to balance acidity)

•1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tbsp fresh basil)

•1 teaspoon dried oregano

•Salt and black pepper to taste

•1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a slight kick)

For the Spaghetti:

•1 lb (450 g) spaghetti

•Water for boiling

•Salt

Garnish:

•Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

•Fresh parsley or basil, chopped

Instructions

1. Make the Meatballs:

1.In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, oregano, and milk. Mix gently with your hands until just combined (don’t overmix to keep the meatballs tender).

2.Roll the mixture into meatballs, about 1–1.5 inches in diameter, and set aside.

2. Cook the Meatballs:

•Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1–2 tablespoons of olive oil.

•Brown the meatballs on all sides, about 5–7 minutes. They don’t need to be fully cooked as they’ll finish cooking in the sauce. Remove and set aside.

3. Make the Sauce:

1.In the same skillet, add more olive oil if needed and sauté the onion until soft, about 5 minutes.

2.Add the garlic and sauté for another 1 minute, until fragrant.

3.Stir in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes (if using), tomato paste, sugar, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (optional).

4.Bring the sauce to a simmer, then gently add the meatballs to the sauce. Cover and cook on low heat for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Cook the Spaghetti:

•While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

•Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions (usually 8–10 minutes for al dente).

•Drain the spaghetti and set aside.

5. Combine and Serve:

•Toss the cooked spaghetti with a bit of the sauce to coat the pasta evenly.

•Plate the spaghetti, then top with meatballs and additional sauce.