Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe With Homemade Marinara Sauce

Liputan6.com, Jakarta The spaghetti and meatballs recipe is one of the most loved meals around the world. People of all ages enjoy this dish because it combines tasty pasta, rich tomato sauce, and flavorful meatballs. It is a comforting dish that feels special yet simple enough to make at home. For many families, it is a meal that brings people together at the dinner table.

The spaghetti and meatballs recipe is a true classic when it comes to comfort food. The warm pasta, the tender meatballs, and the delicious marinara sauce create a combination that makes you feel at home instantly. This dish has Italian-American roots and has grown to be a popular choice in many countries.

In this article, we will share our easy spaghetti and meatballs recipe that you can try at home. This recipe is complete with how to make homemade meatballs and marinara sauce that make it taste perfect. We gathered the recipe from various sources, Saturday (20/8/2025).

Making the meatballs is the first important step in the spaghetti and meatballs recipe. These meatballs should be tender, juicy, and full of flavor. You can make them with a mix of beef and pork for a richer taste.

Ingredients:

- 500g ground beef

- 250g ground pork

- 1 cup breadcrumbs

- 2 eggs

- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

- 2 cloves garlic, minced

- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

- Salt and black pepper to taste

- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for frying)

Instructions:

1. Place the ground beef and pork in a large bowl. Add breadcrumbs, eggs, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper.

2. Mix everything gently with your hands until well combined. Do not overmix, as this can make the meatballs tough.

3. Shape the mixture into small balls, about the size of a golf ball.

4. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Place the meatballs in the pan, making sure not to crowd them.

5. Cook the meatballs for about 10 minutes, turning them so all sides get browned. They do not need to be cooked fully at this stage because they will finish cooking in the sauce.

The marinara sauce is the classic choice for the spaghetti and meatballs recipe. A homemade sauce is always better than store-bought, and it is quite easy to make.

Ingredients:

- 2 tablespoons olive oil

- 1 medium onion, finely chopped

- 3 cloves garlic, minced

- 800g canned crushed tomatoes

- 1 teaspoon dried oregano

- 1 teaspoon dried basil

- 1 teaspoon sugar

- Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.

2. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute, stirring often to prevent burning.

3. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, then add oregano, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together.

4. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 20–25 minutes. Stir occasionally to keep it from sticking.

5. Once the sauce thickens slightly, add the browned meatballs. Cover the pan and let them simmer in the sauce for another 15–20 minutes until fully cooked.

After preparing both the meatballs and the sauce, it is time to put everything together. This is the final and most exciting step of the spaghetti and meatballs recipe.

Ingredients:

- Prepared meatballs and marinara sauce

- 400g dried spaghetti

- Salt for pasta water

- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish

- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions:

1. Fill a large pot with water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring it to a boil.

2. Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.

3. Drain the spaghetti but keep a small cup of pasta water in case you need to adjust the sauce later.

4. Place the drained spaghetti in a large serving bowl or pan. Pour the marinara sauce over the meatballs.

5. Gently toss the spaghetti with the sauce so that all the pasta is well coated.

6. Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil or parsley and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

Making a delicious spaghetti and meatballs recipe requires a few tricks to improve taste and texture. Here are some tips to make your dish even better:

1. Soak the breadcrumbs in milk: Before adding breadcrumbs to the meat mixture, soak them in a little milk. This will make the meatballs softer and more tender.

2. Use a mix of meats: Combining beef and pork gives the meatballs a deeper taste and better balance. The beef adds structure while the pork provides fat that keeps them moist and flavorful.

3. Simmer the sauce with meatballs: Cooking the meatballs directly in the marinara sauce lets the flavors blend together. It also ensures the meat stays juicy and the sauce tastes richer.

4. Do not overcook the spaghetti: Pasta should be cooked al dente, which means it is firm but not hard. This way, it holds the sauce better and tastes more authentic.

5. Add pasta water to the sauce if needed: If your sauce feels too thick, adding a little pasta water can make it smooth and help the sauce stick to the spaghetti.

Spaghetti and meatballs recipe often makes more than one serving, so storing it properly is important. Good storage will help you enjoy the dish later without losing its taste and texture.

To refrigerate, place the spaghetti and meatballs in an airtight container. Store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. When reheating, you can warm it on the stove with a splash of water or in the microwave until hot.

To freeze, store the sauce with meatballs separately from the spaghetti. Place them in freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, thaw them in the fridge overnight and reheat before serving.