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Spaghetti and Meatballs as served, showing the finished dish

Dinner recipe

Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

A practical, source-aware recipe for spaghetti and meatballs, with the history kept close to the method.

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Spaghetti and Meatballs. Photo: Valenzuela400 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Developed by the Recipe Desk. This original editorial recipe uses measured ingredients, explicit timing and yield, allergen notes, storage guidance, and step-by-step visual cues. Use the stated doneness and texture cues because ingredients, ovens, and kitchen equipment vary.

Recipe card

Spaghetti and Meatballs

A practical, source-aware recipe for spaghetti and meatballs, with the history kept close to the method.

Prep
15 min
Cook
30 min
Yield
6 main-course
Difficulty
Easy

Ingredients

  • 2 28-ounce cans whole peeled tomatoes in juice, drained, juice reserved, tomatoes finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 2 medium onions, peeled, halved through root end
  • 1/2 teaspoon (or more) salt
  • 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs made from crustless French or country-style bread
  • 1/3 cup whole milk
  • 8 ounces ground beef (15% fat)
  • 8 ounces ground pork
  • 1 cup finely ground (not grated) Parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped Italian parsley
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 large garlic cloves, pressed
  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)

Method

  1. Sauce for Spaghetti and Meatballs, showing the ingredients and preparation at this stage
    Step 1: Sauce for Spaghetti and Meatballs.
    1

    Sauce

    Sauce

  2. Meatballs for Spaghetti and Meatballs, showing the ingredients and preparation at this stage
    Step 2: Meatballs for Spaghetti and Meatballs.
    2

    Meatballs

    Meatballs

Storage

Cool completely, cover, and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat only when the texture benefits from it.

Allergens

No major allergens identified from the listed ingredients. Always check product labels for cross-contact.

Why this dish belongs here

The history behind the method

This dinner builds on the history of the italian icon with disputed origins, linking the dish to pasta’s longer story in food culture.

Explore the ingredients

Pasta history

Trend and context sources

  1. [1]Original Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe — Bon Appétit
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Written by The Foods That Shaped Us Research Desk

The Foods That Shaped Us Research Desk is the publication byline for collaboratively maintained food-history articles, Case Files, Trend Desk analysis, and original Recipe Desk development. Historical work is grounded in cited sources. Recipes use measured formulations and receive an editorial consistency, safety-note, and image-provenance review before release.

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