Indulge in the tantalizing flavors of Italy with our comprehensive guide to preparing the ultimate Italian spaghetti sauce with meatballs. This culinary journey takes you through a symphony of authentic recipes, each meticulously crafted to deliver a delectable and unforgettable dining experience. From the zesty and aromatic tomato sauce, bursting with fresh herbs and spices, to the succulent and tender meatballs, infused with a blend of savory seasonings, this recipe embodies the essence of Italian cuisine. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook seeking to elevate your culinary skills, our step-by-step instructions and expert tips will guide you towards creating a masterpiece that will impress your family and friends. Embark on this culinary adventure and let the vibrant flavors of Italy dance on your taste buds.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITH MEATBALLS
Make and share this Italian Spaghetti Sauce With Meatballs recipe from Food.com.
Provided by CHEF GRPA
Categories Meatballs
Time 2h20m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder and beaten egg. Mix well and form into 12 balls. Store, covered, in refrigerator until needed.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until onion is translucent. Stir in tomatoes, salt, sugar and bay leaf. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 90 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, basil, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and meatballs and simmer 30 minutes more. Serve.
- My update Note: I was leary of making this without first pre-cooking the meatballs, but this is by far the best spaghetti and meatballs I have ever made. The meatballs ended up a nice brown color, they were not over cooked and I think putting them in before browning allowed some of the meat flavor to seep into the sauce.
- #2 Instead of using all ground beef, I opted to use a combination of ground pork and ground beef (12 oz ground beef, 4 oz ground pork) -instead of plain bread crumbs, I used pre-seasoned breadcrumbs, I increased the parmesan cheese to 4 oz. With the sauce, instead of using 2 (28 oz) cans of whole tomatoes, I used 1 (28 oz can) of whole tomatoes, and then two smaller cans (14 oz) of crushed tomatoes. After simmering the sauce, I ran half of it through the blender to make it smoother. I also added a small can of tomato sauce in addition to the tomato paste, plus for added flavour I added 1 tsp italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp basil, and 1 tsp garlic powder.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 384.4, Fat 19.1, SaturatedFat 5, Cholesterol 80.9, Sodium 1591.2, Carbohydrate 32.9, Fiber 5.2, Sugar 12.6, Protein 22.7
SPAGHETTI WITH ITALIAN MEATBALLS
Sharon Crider sends this hearty spaghetti dinner from Junction City, Kansas. "It's one of my family's favorite recipes," she writes. "We enjoy servings of the sauce with a variety of pasta."
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h35m
Yield 10 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, cook onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, water, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. , Meanwhile, in a small bowl, soak bread in water for 5 minutes. Squeeze out excess liquid. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, cheese, garlic, basil, parsley, salt and bread. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls. , In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. In batches, brown meatballs, adding more oil as needed. Remove to paper towels to drain. Add meatballs to sauce; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until meatballs are no longer pink. , Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain. Serve with meatballs and sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 385 calories, Fat 11g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 69mg cholesterol, Sodium 612mg sodium, Carbohydrate 49g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 21g protein.
GRANDMA'S OLD ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITH MEATBALLS
Grandma's sauce is an old recipe that she brought over from Italy. It is a long process with strange ingredients, but they all come together to make the best sauce I have ever had. The long process is worth your trouble the minute you take your first bite.
Provided by cherbear
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes Pasta Sauce Recipes Tomato
Time 8h
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in the bottom of a large saucepan, and fry the garlic cloves 5 to 8 minutes, until brown and fragrant. Remove the garlic cloves and set aside. Place the pig's feet and pork neck bones in the saucepan and fry, turning occasionally, until the meat and bones have browned, about 15 minutes.
- Return the garlic cloves to the saucepan, and stir in the tomato paste and 1 1/2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, and pour in the tomato puree. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 3 hours, stirring from the bottom often to prevent burning, until the pig's feet are tender and the mixture begins to thicken. Stir in the sugar, pepper, and baking soda. Continue to simmer while you prepare the meatballs.
- Soak the torn bread with 1 cup of water in a bowl. Squeeze excess water out of the bread, and place the bread in a large bowl with the 6 beaten eggs, ground pork, ground veal, and ground beef. Mix thoroughly and form into 24 meatballs about 2 1/2 inches in diameter.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, stir in the minced garlic and chopped fresh basil, let them cook for about 1 minute, and then add the meatballs. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and fry them on all sides until brown, about 15 minutes, working in batches, if necessary.
- Place the browned meatballs, along with the oil, garlic, and basil from the skillet into the sauce, stirring lightly to avoid breaking them. Add the whole hard-boiled eggs, and simmer for about 1 1/2 more hours, until the meatballs are cooked, the sauce is thick, and all the flavors have blended.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 599.1 calories, Carbohydrate 38 g, Cholesterol 319.1 mg, Fat 29.4 g, Fiber 4.7 g, Protein 46.2 g, SaturatedFat 9.4 g, Sodium 1437.4 mg, Sugar 11.6 g
ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITH MEATBALLS (SOOO GOOD!)
I wanted a really great sauce and found this one on Allrecipes where it is highly rated. And rightly so...just try it and find out for yourself! If desired you could add some red wine to the sauce, but first make it as given. The meatballs are a little dry when made with lean ground beef. To counteract that, either use 2 eggs or add 1/2 c. milk when making them. I do add 1/2 tsp. oregano for more flavor. If you like, you may bake the meatballs and add to the sauce.
Provided by Debaylady
Categories Vegetable
Time 2h25m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- First make the meatballs.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan cheese, pepper, garlic powder and beaten egg.
- Combine well and form into 12 balls. Store covered in refrigerator until needed. Note: I remove them 1/2 hour before adding to the sauce.
- The sauce:.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute' onion and the minced garlic in olive oil until the onion is transparent and you can smell the garlic.
- Stir in tomatoes, salt, garlic, sugar and bay leaf. Cover and reduce heat to low; simmer for 90 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste, basil, pepper and meatballs, if using them.
- Simmer 30 minutes more. Remove bay leaf before serving over your cooked spaghetti.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 384.9, Fat 19.1, SaturatedFat 5, Cholesterol 85.1, Sodium 1550.6, Carbohydrate 32.8, Fiber 5, Sugar 13.1, Protein 22.7
ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITH MEATBALLS
This is a recipe I got from my mother years ago -- it's great.
Provided by Jeremy
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes Pasta Sauce Recipes Tomato
Time 2h20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder and beaten egg. Mix well and form into 12 balls. Store, covered, in refrigerator until needed.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until onion is translucent. Stir in tomatoes, salt, sugar and bay leaf. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 90 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, basil, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and meatballs and simmer 30 minutes more. Serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 346.6 calories, Carbohydrate 23 g, Cholesterol 77.4 mg, Fat 21.2 g, Fiber 4.5 g, Protein 18.9 g, SaturatedFat 5.9 g, Sodium 1492.5 mg, Sugar 11.1 g
HOMEMADE ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SAUCE AND MEATBALLS
All good things come to those who wait and this spaghetti and meatballs recipe is proof of that. Simmer the sauce for so long really brings out the robust tomato and garlic flavors. Sprinkling Parmesan cheese at the end brings another depth of cheesy flavor. The tender meatballs soak up all the yummy sauce while cooking. Serve...
Provided by Julia Ferguson
Categories Beef
Time 7h
Number Of Ingredients 24
Steps:
- 1. This makes a lot of sauce, so you will need a very large soup pot with a good weight to it.
- 2. Cover the bottom of the pan with olive oil (you want just enough to barely cover the bottom of the pan) begin to warm the oil gently.
- 3. Place peeled garlic cloves in oil, on low heat cook cloves until just starting to lightly blister. Do not let the garlic brown or burn. Remove garlic.
- 4. Add tomato paste, one can at a time, thoroughly incorporating the olive oil into the tomato paste each time. I find this is easier to do with a wire whisk.
- 5. Add tomato puree mixing thoroughly. Add tomato sauce and mix well.
- 6. At this point, some water can be added, as the sauce will be cooking for at least 6 hours and will thicken as it cooks. I wouldn't add more than 2 of the paste cans full of water. Mix well.
- 7. Add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, bay leaves, and salt. Additional cloves of garlic can be added. depends on how garlicky you want the sauce.
- 8. Cover pan with lid cocked and simmer on low for at least 6 hours. Stirring occasionally, to keep the sauce from sticking to the bottom. While the sauce is getting hot, mix together the meatballs, see below.
- 9. My mother used veal in her meatballs. The price of veal is so expensive I have started using ground sirloin and ground chuck. The rule of thumb here is to use 2 parts lean veal or sirloin to 1 part ground chuck.
- 10. Mix together, ground sirloin (or veal), ground chuck, finely diced onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, ground black pepper, parsley, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and eggs.
- 11. Using a spoon (I like to use my large cookie scoop), take a good amount of meat mixture and roll in the palm of your hand, forming a ball. The meatballs should hold together and be about the size of a golfball. I like to get a plateful of meatballs made then drop them into the hot sauce. Then go back and make another plateful to be dropped in the sauce. Repeat until all meatballs have been added to the sauce. Gently, so as not to break up meatballs, push and stir the sauce to get the meatballs down into the sauce.
- 12. Cover with lid cocked, so steam can escape and thicken the sauce. Simmer on low on the stovetop. After about 1/2 hour check the meatballs and stir carefully, making sure the meatballs do not stick. The sauce and meatballs should cook for at least 6 hours or longer if you like. About 1 hr before serving add a pinch of sugar and stir well, being careful not to break up the meatballs. Add the Parmesan cheese. Mom never stirred the cheese into the sauce, she just let it melt into the sauce. Be careful after adding the sugar and cheese, as they could cause the sauce to stick on the bottom. Remove bay leaves before serving.
- 13. Serve sauce and meatballs over hot cooked pasta and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top.
ITALIAN SPAGHETTI WITH MEATBALLS
My mother got this recipe from our Italian neighbors in the 1950s. It's been a big hit at our church community dinners, where we sometimes make three or four batches of this wonderful sauce.-Monica Crouch, Trotwood, Ohio
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 3h45m
Yield 20-24 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 26
Steps:
- In two or three stockpots or Dutch ovens, saute garlic and parsley in oil 1 minute. Add tomato puree, sauce, paste, sugar and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 2-1/2 hours., Preheat oven to 375°. For meatballs, in a large bowl, combine the eggs, water, onion, bread crumbs, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, garlic and seasonings; mix well. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls. Place meatballs on greased racks in shallow baking pans. Bake, uncovered, 15-18 minutes or until no longer pink., Stir the remaining Parmesan into spaghetti sauce; simmer 30 minutes. Drain meatballs on paper towels; add to sauce. Freeze option: Freeze cooled meatballs and sauce in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a covered saucepan, gently stirring and adding a little broth / water if necessary.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 185 calories, Fat 8g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 66mg cholesterol, Sodium 545mg sodium, Carbohydrate 11g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 16g protein.
Tips and Conclusion: A Culinary Journey into Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs
Mastering the art of Italian spaghetti sauce with meatballs requires careful attention to detail and a blend of culinary skills. Here are some essential tips to ensure a flavorful and authentic dish:
- Select High-Quality Ingredients: Use fresh, ripe tomatoes for a vibrant sauce. Opt for high-quality ground beef and pork for succulent meatballs. Fresh herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme add a burst of flavor.
- Brown the Meatballs Thoroughly: Searing the meatballs before simmering them in the sauce enhances their flavor and texture. Ensure they are golden brown on all sides for optimal results.
- Simmer the Sauce with Patience: Allow the sauce to simmer for at least 30 minutes, or up to several hours, to develop a rich and complex flavor. The longer it simmers, the better it tastes.
- Add Vegetables for Added Nutrition: Incorporate vegetables like carrots, celery, and onions into the sauce for added texture, sweetness, and nutritional value.
- Season with Care: Use a combination of salt, pepper, garlic, and Italian seasoning to taste. Start with a small amount and gradually adjust to your preference.
- Serve with Fresh Pasta: Cook your favorite pasta al dente, then toss it with the flavorful sauce and meatballs. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil for an authentic Italian touch.
Conclusion: Embracing the Culinary Delights of Italy
Italian spaghetti sauce with meatballs is a culinary masterpiece that embodies the essence of Italian cuisine. With its rich, flavorful sauce, tender meatballs, and the perfect accompaniment of pasta, it's a dish that delights taste buds and brings people together. Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting your culinary journey, this recipe provides a step-by-step guide to create an authentic and delicious Italian meal. So, gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and embark on a culinary adventure that will transport you to the heart of Italy.
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