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Creamy Spaghetti and Meatballs

Creamy Spaghetti and Meatballs for Cozy Family Dinners

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Creamy Spaghetti and Meatballs combines juicy meatballs with rich marinara sauce for a comforting family meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Chilling Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs
  • 1 large Egg Substitute with a flax egg for a vegan option.
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley Finely chopped; basil or Italian seasoning can be used instead.
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano Can be replaced with Italian seasoning.
  • 1 teaspoon Salt Essential for seasoning.
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper Freshly ground for best flavor.
  • 2 cloves Garlic Minced; can substitute with garlic powder.
  • 1/4 cup Water Substituting with broth can enhance flavor.
  • 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste Contributes richness.
  • 1 pound Ground Beef Ground turkey or chicken works as a leaner option.
  • 1/2 pound Ground Pork Can be replaced with turkey or chicken.
  • 1 cup Italian-style Breadcrumbs Provides structure to meatballs.
  • 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese Freshly grated; Pecorino Romano is suitable.
For the Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Butter Can be replaced with olive oil.
  • 1 medium Yellow Onion Finely chopped.
  • 2 cloves Garlic Minced for sauce.
  • 24 ounces Marinara Sauce Opt for high quality like Rao's.
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar Optional, to balance acidity.
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream Half-and-half is a lighter substitute.
For the Pasta
  • 12 ounces Spaghetti Can substitute for any pasta or zucchini noodles.
For Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Sweet Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Salt Adjust to taste.
  • 1 teaspoon Pepper Adjust to taste.

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Skillet
  • large pot
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Baking Sheet

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, mix egg, parsley, tomato paste, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic, and water. Add ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, and cheese. Mix gently and form meatballs, then bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway.
  2. While meatballs bake, heat butter in a skillet, sauté onion until soft. Add garlic, cook for 1 minute. Stir in marinara sauce, simmer gently, optionally add sugar.
  3. Lower heat, stir in heavy cream and let simmer for 5–7 minutes until thickened.
  4. In a pot, boil salted water, cook spaghetti for 8–10 minutes. Reserve a cup of pasta water, drain.
  5. Combine drained spaghetti with sauce, mix in baked meatballs, serve hot garnished with cheese and parsley.

Nutrition

Serving: 1plateCalories: 650kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 30gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 3mg

Notes

Ensure perfect meatball texture by maintaining ingredient proportions. Chill mixture before rolling to retain shape during baking. For best flavors, use quality marinara sauce and adjust salt after adding cream. Save pasta water for adjusting sauce consistency.

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