26 Easy Dinner Recipes
12. Spaghetti and Meatballs
Spaghetti and meatballs is a classic dinner that brings comfort to any table. You can make this dish with basic kitchen tools like a pot, pan, and mixing bowl. It’s a convenient option for busy weeknights, offering protein from the meat and carbohydrates from the pasta for a satisfying meal.
This Italian-American favorite combines tender pasta with juicy, flavorful meatballs and rich tomato sauce. The recipe is highly customizable—you can use beef, pork, turkey, or a combination for the meatballs. Even picky eaters will approve of this timeless dish!
Cooking Times
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 25-35 minutes
Total time: 45-55 minutes
Serving Size
- Makes 4-6 servings (approximately 22-24 meatballs)
Ingredients
For meatballs:
- 1 pound ground meat (beef, turkey, or a mix)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 egg
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- Salt and pepper
For pasta:
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 24 oz tomato sauce (jarred or homemade)
- Extra Parmesan for serving
Preparation
- Mix all meatball ingredients in a bowl.
- Form 1-inch balls with your hands.
- Brown meatballs in a pan with olive oil for 5-7 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce to the pan with meatballs and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions.
- Serve meatballs and sauce over drained pasta with extra cheese on top.
Nutritional Info
Each serving (1 ½ cups spaghetti with sauce and 3 meatballs, approx. 350g) provides about:
- Calories: 525 kcal
- Protein: 28 g
- Total Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Calcium: 150 mg
- Iron: 3 mg
