Grandmother's Spaghetti & Meatballs
Total Time
150 min
Prep
30 min
Cook
120 min
Servings
8
Est. Cost
$2.75/serving
Difficulty
medium
Sunday dinner at Grandma's. The sauce simmered all morning, and the meatballs were always the first thing gone.
Ingredients
Instructions
Mix beef, pork, breadcrumbs, eggs, Parmesan, and 1/3 of the garlic. Form into 1.5-inch meatballs.
Brown meatballs in olive oil, working in batches. Set aside.
Sauté onion and remaining garlic in the same pot. Add tomato paste and cook 2 minutes.
Add crushed tomatoes, basil, and 2 cups water. Bring to a simmer.
Gently add meatballs to the sauce. Cover and simmer 90 minutes.
Cook spaghetti until al dente. Serve meatballs and sauce over pasta.
Grandmother's note: the sauce is always better on the second day.
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Nutrition Facts
Get AI-estimated calorie counts, macros, and allergen warnings for this recipe.
Recommended Tools & Appliances
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer
KitchenAid
Using the paddle attachment allows for consistent mixing of the meat and breadcrumb mixture without overworking the proteins, resulting in more tender meatballs.
Dutch Oven
Its heavy bottom and excellent heat retention are ideal for browning meatballs evenly and then simmering the sauce for long periods without sticking.
Vitamix Professional Series 750
Vitamix
You can use this to quickly create a perfectly smooth or slightly textured sauce base directly in the pot after sautéing the aromatics.
Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor
Cuisinart
This is highly efficient for finely grating the Parmesan cheese and mincing the yellow onion to ensure uniform distribution throughout the meatballs and sauce.
Common Substitutions
AI suggestions are for inspiration only. Always check ingredient labels for allergens and dietary restrictions.