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Spaghetti and Meatballs with Homemade Marinara Sauce

Time for my favorite comfort food recipe – spaghetti and meatballs with a homemade pasta sauce.

My homemade marinara sauce is one of my most popular recipes.  I am always looking for recipes into which I can incorporate it.

This time I decided to make homemade meatballs and used the mushroom marinara variation.

Who doesn’t like a big old dose of comfort food once in a while.  Spaghetti recipes are one of my favorite when I get into a mood like this.

Spaghetti and Meatballs with Homemade marinara sauce

Spaghetti & meatballs with homemade marinara sauce

You can use a store bought sauce, but my recipes are so easy and use roasted tomatoes.

Why not try making one my homemade version today?

IngredientsThe meatball recipe calls for fresh herbs, garlic, onion, Panko bread crumbs, eggs, soy sauce and Parmesan cheese.

onion, garlic and spicesChop the onions and dice the fresh garlic.  Finely chop the fresh herbs. 

For this recipe, I used rosemary, thyme, basil and oregano. The sauce is beginning to sound Italian, don’t you think?

You can use dried if that is all you have on hand, but fresh herbs give so much more flavor and are easy to grow. If you use dried, use 1/3 the amount called for in my recipe.Ground beef mixtureMix the chopped onion, garlic, spices, eggs, soy sauce, Parmesan and bread crumbs thoroughly together in a bowl.

divide for meatballsI divided the mixture in half, then in half again and again and again to end up with 16 pieces of mix for meatballs.

Shape the mixture  into round balls and place on a baking sheet that is sprayed with Pam cooking spray.

Cooked meatballs

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 15 to 20 minutes until the meatballs are browned.

Fresh Marinara saucePlace the mushroom marinara sauce in a skillet and simmer gently.

meatballs in sauce

Add the cooked meatballs to the sauce and continue simmering while you cook the pasta.

water and chicken stock for pastsCombine water and 1/2 cup of chicken stock. Cook the pasta until al dente. I used linguine today because I had no spaghetti on hand.

cooked linguineDrain the pasta.  Layer it with the cooked meat balls and marinara sauce.Spaghetti and Meatballs with Homemade marinara sauceAdd a tossed salad and garlic bread and you have a wonderful and easy week night meal that will delight the most discerning appetites.

More Italian recipes to try

If you love Italian cooking, try these recipes on for size:

Yield: 6

Spaghetti and Meatballs with Home Made Marinara Sauce

Spaghetti and Meatballs with Home Made Marinara Sauce

A homemade spaghetti sauce with freshly roasted tomatoes gives this spaghetti and meatballs dish a nice step up.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces of spaghetti or your favorite pasta
  • water
  • 1/2 cup of chicken stock
  • 1 pound ground beef (I used grass fed beef but any type will do)
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced and divided
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 28 ounces of home made marinara sauce (see link to the recipe in the post above)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (I used oregano, rosemary, basil and thyme)
  • Extra Parmesan cheese for the top.

Instructions

  1. Combine ground beef, eggs, panko, soy sauce, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, spices, onions and 3 cloves of garlic in large bowl until well mixed.
  2. Shape into 1 1/2-inch sized meatballs.
  3. Bake the meatballs at 350°F on a Pam sprayed cookie sheet for 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, heat deep skillet, add the home made marinara sauce and heat through.
  5. Place the cooked meatballs into the sauce and simmer for at least 20 minutes.
  6. While the sauce is simmering, cook spaghetti according to package directions in the water and chicken stock, rinse and drain.
  7. Serve the spaghetti with the sauce on top.
  8. Sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese and add a tossed salad and garlic bread.
  9. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 735Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 153mgSodium: 1289mgCarbohydrates: 81gFiber: 9gSugar: 11gProtein: 45g

Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission from the sale, but the price is the same for you. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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