In this Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe, spaghetti pasta is married to a homemade robust marinara sauce and succulent hand rolled meatballs. This dish will turn any meal into one to remember!
Spaghetti and Meatballs is a meal I grew up with for so many years. It was a mainstay, and is the perfect comfort food for any weeknight or even dressy enough for a Sunday supper. This recipe has a ton of flavor, and will remind you of all of those wonderful nostalgic meals you remembered growing up.
Ingredients
- Poultry: A dynamic duo of turkey or chicken sausage and ground turkey or chicken makes our meatballs lean, mean, and full of flavor.
- Eggs: One large beaten egg to keep our meatball mix tight and right.
- Seasoning: A medley of Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, Italian herbs, and a kick of crushed red pepper – this mix is the secret to meatballs with attitude.
- Breadcrumbs: These add texture and soak up all that goodness in our meatballs.
- Sauce: Start with chopped onions and minced garlic, then add crushed tomatoes for that rich, saucy base.
- Wine: A splash of red wine in the sauce brings depth and a touch of elegance.
- Flavor: Italian seasoning and a bit of sugar to balance the tang, with salt and pepper to taste.
How to Make Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Add sausage, ground turkey or chicken, egg, worchestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, italian herbs, red pepper and bread crumbs into a medium sized bowl and mix together using your hands until well combined.
- Ball the mixture into small to medium sized meatballs and set aside on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Wash hands and add 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil into a medium sized pan over medium high heat.
- Cook meatballs in batches until golden brown, turning over on all sides to make sure it is thoroughly cooked through. Add more olive oil if necessary to cook all meatballs. Remove meatballs from pan and drain on paper towels until all are done.
- Begin on the sauce by turning the heat to medium low and adding a bit more olive oil then chopped onions and cook until tender.
- Next add in garlic and cook for only 30 seconds making sure not to burn.
- Add in your crushed tomatoes, and stir in red wine, Italian seasoning, sugar and salt and pepper. Allow to simmer for about 4-5 minutes then add in your meatballs and cover to cook for 15-20 minutes over low heat to thicken and allow the flavors to come together.
- Either toss your cooked spaghetti pasta in or spoon spaghetti sauce and meatballs over cooked spaghetti. Garnish with parmesan cheese, basil and/or parsley and serve.
How to Serve
Garlic Bread: Check out my easy-peasy recipe for the ultimate garlic bread that’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Shrimp Caesar Salad: Add a fresh twist with a crisp Caesar salad. It’s a light and refreshing counterpart to the hearty spaghetti and meatballs. With a little shrimp, you gives you a little extra protein too.
Strawberry Tiramisu for Dessert: End on a sweet note with our mouthwatering Tiramisu recipe. It’s a delightful Italian dessert that will transport your taste buds straight to the streets of Rome!
How to Store and Reheat
After enjoying your meal, cool the leftovers and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they’ll stay fresh for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply warm the spaghetti and meatballs in a saucepan over medium heat until heated through, adding a splash of water or extra sauce if needed to keep it moist and delicious.
Favorite Italian Recipes to Try
- If you adore stuffed shells, check out my Chicken Stuffed Shells. Next level!
- If you really love stuffed shells and want even more, you will adore this Italian Sausage Stuffed Shells version.
- There is nothing more satisfying than this comforting Italian Pot Roast recipe.
- Want a vegetarian version of your favorite, try my Lentil Meatballs!
- If you love more spaghetti, definitely try this Baked Spaghetti recipe!
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1/2 pound turkey or chicken sausage decased
- 1/2 pound ground turkey or chicken
- 1 large egg beaten
- 3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian herbs
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper for some heat
- 1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
For the Spaghetti Sauce:
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1/3 cup red wine
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooked spaghetti
- Optional: Parmesan Cheese, Basil or Parsley to Garnish.
Instructions
- Add sausage, ground turkey or chicken, egg, worchestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, italian herbs, red pepper and bread crumbs into a medium sized bowl and mix together using your hands until well combined.
- Ball the mixture into small to medium sized meatballs and set aside on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Wash hands and add 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil into a medium sized pan over medium high heat.
- Cook meatballs in batches until golden brown, turning over on all sides to make sure it is thoroughly cooked through. Add more olive oil if necessary to cook all meatballs. Remove meatballs from pan and drain on paper towels until all are done.
- Begin on the sauce by turning the heat to medium low and adding a bit more olive oil then chopped onions and cook until tender.
- Next add in garlic and cook for only 30 seconds making sure not to burn.
- Add in your crushed tomatoes, and stir in red wine, Italian seasoning, sugar and salt and pepper. Allow to simmer for about 4-5 minutes then add in your meatballs and cover to cook for 15-20 minutes over low heat to thicken and allow the flavors to come together.
- Either toss your cooked spaghetti pasta in or spoon spaghetti sauce and meatballs over cooked spaghetti. Garnish with parmesan cheese, basil and/or parsley and serve.
Best spaghetti and meatball that we have ever had. Everyone loves them – from the kids to the grandparents. Thank you for this delicious and savory recipe.
You’re so welcome!
Made this for dinner and the flavors are wonderful! We don’t have ALDIs in Seattle, but when I lived in TX it was my go to store. Many of us are paying way too much for groceries these days, but thankfully this is a meal that stretches.