The Best EVER Homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs

The Best EVER Homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs is a family favorite recipe. It originated from my dad's Italian immigrant neighbor where he grew up in Chicago. I remember my grandma and parents making this dish all the time when I was a kid. And now I make it on a regular rotation! It's the very definition of comfort food. The sauce is ground beef-based. You can choose to make it all on it's own without meatballs, and it'll still be very filling. However, these meatballs are amazing and really make the dish, so I recommend adding them!Jump to Recipe

Ingredients for The Best EVER Homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs:

First, you'll make the meat sauce. It combines ground beef, onion, garlic, tomato sauce, tomato paste, beef broth, basil, oregano, parsley paprika, a bay leaf, salt and pepper. It’s the same sauce I use for my homemade lasagna (also on the blog and linked below), so if you liked that recipe you're bound to like this one!

Instructions for Spaghetti & Meatballs:

Using a large stock pot or dutch oven, brown your ground beef. Drain off most of the grease, but leave a little behind to saute the onion and garlic.

Next, add tomato sauce, paste and beef broth.

Then, bring to boil and stir in spices. Turn down to simmer for about 1 ½ - 2 hours. Meanwhile, prepare your meatballs and spaghetti.

Meatballs:

If you do decide to make meatballs then follow the below recipe. You'll add them to the sauce in the last hour of cooking, because while you brown them, they cook fully and really become tender from simmering in the sauce.

Homemade Meatballs

Cook pasta according to package directions. Do so while your sauce and meatballs are simmering. Drain, don't rinse.

How to serve The Best EVER Homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs:

Serve sauce and meatballs directly over pasta. Top with fresh Parmesan. Garnish with a little parsley if you'd like.

Storage Instructions:

This recipe makes a lot of spaghetti sauce! If you're cooking for a smaller group, you'll have leftovers. Luckily, they heat up great! Store in the refrigerator in an airtight contains for 4-5 days. You can also freeze for later use. Don't freeze the pasta with the sauce and meatballs. Enjoy!

**I've also gotten a lot of questions on this pasta bowl I've used for other recipes. I found it antiquing, but here's a link for similar ones from Etsy!**

Etsy Bowls

If you enjoyed this recipe you might also enjoy:

Lasagna with Homemade Noodles

https://www.cuisineandcocktails.com/lasagna-with-homemade-noodles/

https://www.cuisineandcocktails.com/handmade-gnocchi-with-bolognese-sauce/

https://www.cuisineandcocktails.com/handmade-gnocchi-with-bolognese-sauce/

Shrimp Fra Diavolo

https://www.cuisineandcocktails.com/pancetta-tomato-pasta/

The Best EVER Homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs

The Best EVER Homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs is the definition of comfort in a bowl.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 1 ½ - 2 lb ground beef
• 1 large onion diced
• 6-8 garlic cloves minced
• 2 - 32 oz cans of tomato sauce
• 1 - 15 oz can tomato paste
• 32 oz beef broth
• 1 teaspoon ground basil
• 1 ½ teaspoon ground oregano
• ½ teaspoon ground parsley
• ½ teaspoon ground paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 16 oz spaghetti
• meatballs recipe linked in post
• fresh Parmesan garnish
• fresh parsley garnish, optional

Method

 

1. In a large stock pot or dutch oven add ground beef. Brown over medium heat.
2. Drain most of grease leaving a tiny bit behind. Add onion and saute for 4-5 minutes.
3. Add garlic and saute 1 more.
4. Pour in tomato sauce, pasta and beef broth. Stir well.
5. Turn heat to high and bring to boil.
6. Stir in spices. Turn down heat to simmer for about 1 ½ - 2 hours or until thickened. Stir occasionally.
7. Add meatballs during last hour (if planning on making).
8. Cook pasta according to package directions.
9. Spoon sauce and meatballs over spaghetti. Top with Parmesan.