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Spaghetti and Meatballs

My spaghetti and meatballs recipe is one of my family's favorite dinners. Tender beef meatballs are baked, then simmered in marinara sauce and served over spaghetti pasta. On the side, I like to serve a green salad and garlic bread with this easy main dish.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6
Calories 447 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Canola or avocado oil for greasing the baking sheet
  • ¼ cup Panko bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pound ground beef 80% or 85% lean is best
  • 12 ounces spaghetti
  • 24- ounce jar marinara sauce
  • For serving: chopped fresh basil or parsley and grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • Make the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Grease a rimmed baking sheet with canola oil or avocado oil.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the panko bread crumbs, grated Parmesan, egg, ketchup, garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined. Add the ground beef and use your hands to mix until just combined. Try not to over-mix, as this can make the meatballs tough.
  • Use your hands to shape the meat mixture into 1 ½-inch meatballs and place them on the greased baking sheet. You should end up with about 16-18 meatballs.
  • Bake the meatballs for 13-15 minutes, until they are cooked through. The meatballs should register at least 160°F on an instant-read thermometer.
  • While the meatballs bake, cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions. Drain the pasta (do not rinse).
  • Warm the sauce: Put the marinara sauce in a large saucepan. Add the baked meatballs to the pot, cover, and simmer over low/medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the meatballs and transfer them to a clean serving bowl. Stir the cooked spaghetti into the sauce.
  • Serve the meatballs over the spaghetti and sauce, garnished with fresh basil or parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Keyword Spaghetti and Meatballs