Meatballs & Spaghetti
Posted: | Categories: Recipes | Tags:dinner inspo pasta
Meatballs & Spaghetti
Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users
Category
Savory Recipes
Author:
Melissa Ben-Ishay
I make magic sauce for my little one multiple times a week. She loves tomato sauce, and it’s a great way to pack nutrients into her dinner without her knowing. Recently, my babysitter gave us a few containers of her family’s homemade tomato sauce from Sauce Day (iykyk), without the thingies (this is a critical step in getting my daughter to eat sauce—there can be no lumps). Since I had local ground beef on hand, meatballs and spaghetti seemed like the perfect meal to make. They have minimal filling (made egg-free thanks to summer zucchini) and are packed with delicious flavors everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef (80/20) — if you're in the tri-state area, I used this blend from Four Mile River Farm
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1 large zucchini, grated using the small holes on a box grater
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cups tomato sauce
- 1 cup broth
To serve
- ½ lb. dried spaghetti
- Salt
- Parmesan cheese (optional)
Directions
Add the beef, garlic, shallot, zucchini, breadcrumbs, salt, paprika, pepper, oregano, and olive oil to a large bowl. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Heat a large, high-walled pan over medium heat.
- While the pan heats up, portion the mixture into roughly 1/4 cup pieces and roll into balls.
- Add the meatballs to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes so it sears on one side, then flip to sear on the other.
- Once you have a good sear on the meatballs, add your favorite tomato sauce to the pan. Add the broth to the sauce jar and shake to get all the sauce out. Pour into the pan and stir.
- When all the meatballs are covered in sauce, lower the heat and cover the pan. Cook for 20-30 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through. (You can cook for longer if you prefer or have time, just keep the heat on low and the pan covered.)
- About 15 minutes before serving, boil a large pot of water over high heat. Season with salt once boiling and add the spaghetti.
- Cook the spaghetti for one minute less than the package instructs, and transfer with tongs to the pan with the meatballs to finish cooking. Stir gently—making sure to not break the meatballs but cover the spaghetti with liquid. Add pasta water as needed to create your ideal sauce consistency. Use tongs to plate and garnish with Parmesan if desired.
What You'll Need
What You’ll Need
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