Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs (No Frying)
Skip the frying. These homemade meatballs go straight into the oven, then into the sauce. On the table in under 30 minutes.
Homemade Meatballs Can Be Quick and Easy
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Twirl tender spaghetti into a rich tomato sauce and add soft, golden-baked meatballs on top, and you have a dinner that never disappoints. The sauce clings to every strand, the meatballs stay juicy and flavorful, and each bite is hearty without being heavy.
Frozen meatballs can work for appetizers, but they tend to firm up a bit after simmering in sauce. These bake in about 30 minutes and come out tender with lightly crisp edges.
Spoon them over pasta with a good jar of tomato sauce, and it tastes like something from a cozy neighborhood Italian restaurant, made right in your own kitchen.
If you’re looking for more meal ideas that truly make life easier, check out this collection of easy dinner recipes.
What You’ll Need to Make these EASY Spaghetti and Meatballs
- 6 oz (half a box) of spaghetti noodles
- 1 lb lean ground beef (I like to use 90/10)
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp dry bread crumbs
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2-3 cups of pasta sauce (Use more or less, depending on how “saucy” you like your spaghetti and meatballs.)
How to Make the Best Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs
Step One
Begin by preheating the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Next, mist a baking sheet with olive oil (using a Misto) or nonstick cooking spray.
Step Two
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, and oregano. Mix with your hands until well combined and shape into 16 meatballs (about 1 ½ inches in diameter each).
Step Three
Next, place the meatballs on your baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes. While not totally necessary (meaning, I’ve forgotten to do this, and they turn out just fine), I like to take the meatballs out of the oven after about 6 minutes and flip them, so they brown evenly.
While the meatballs are baking, boil your water and cook the spaghetti noodles according to the package directions.
Step Four
Place the spaghetti sauce in a large pot and, when the meatballs are done baking, add them to the pan. Heat the sauce and meatballs over medium heat for 5-10 minutes.
(You’ll know it’s done when the sauce is heated, and the meatballs begin to absorb some of the sauce. For good measure, I always like to stick my digital thermometer into the middle of a meatball to make sure it’s at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit because, well, salmonella freaks me out a bit.)
To serve, place the spaghetti noodles on your plate and top with the meatballs and sauce.
The Best Jarred Pasta Sauce for Spaghetti and Meatballs
I very occasionally make my own spaghetti sauce, preferring the convenience of a jarred version to pulling out my immersion blender. And, until recently, I would just buy whatever version was on sale at the grocery store, because I pretty much thought they all tasted the same.
A few months ago, I was at book club, and one of my friends mentioned Rao’s Marinara Sauce, and said it was the only jarred sauce her Italian friend would serve her family. About a week later, an email from a food blog ended up in my inbox, singing the praises of Roa’s spaghetti sauce.
Clearly the universe was sending me a message that I need to try this sauce. And it didn’t disappoint! The sauce is excellent and now a staple in my pantry.
It has a very smooth taste and texture and, the best way I can describe it is that it compliments the meatballs in this recipe as opposed to being the star of the show and overpowering them.
The sauce also comes with a pretty cool back story. Raos’ is a tiny New York restaurant that’s nearly impossible to get a seat in unless you’ve had reservations for year, are uber-famous, or filming a movie. (Leonard enjoyed a meal there in a scene in Wolf of WallStreet.)
Regardless of which pasta sauce you choose to use, I hope you enjoy this quick and easy spaghetti and meatball recipe as much as my family does!
More Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas You Will Love!
- How to Make Quick and Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan
- This is the BEST Grilled Chicken Marinade Ever
- This Chicken Pesto Pasta Meal is Ready in Just 15-Minutes
- Steakhouse Pasta Salad is a Hearty Meal in Under 30-Minutes
- You’ve Got to Check Out This Amazing Steak Marinade!
The Ultimate Comforting {and EASY} Spaghetti & Meatball Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 oz half a box of spaghetti noodles
- 1 lb lean ground beef I like to use 90/10
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp dry bread crumbs
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2-3 cups of pasta sauce Use more or less, depending on how “saucy” you like your spaghetti and meatballs.
Instructions
- Step One
- Begin by preheating the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Next, mist a baking sheet with olive oil (using a Misto) or nonstick cooking spray.
- Step Two
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, and oregano. Mix with your hands until well combined and shape into 16 meatballs (about 1 ½ inches in diameter each).
- Step Three
- Next, place the meatballs on your baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes. While not totally necessary (meaning, I’ve forgotten to do this, and they turn out just fine), I like to take the meatballs out of the oven after about 6 minutes and flip them, so they brown evenly.
- While the meatballs are baking, boil your water and cook the spaghetti noodles according to the package directions.
- Step Four
- Place the spaghetti sauce in a large pot and, when the meatballs are done baking, add them to the pan. Heat the sauce and meatballs over medium heat for 5-10 minutes.
- (You’ll know it’s done when the sauce is heated, and the meatballs begin to absorb some of the sauce. For good measure, I always like to stick my digital thermometer into the middle of a meatball to make sure it’s at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit because, well, salmonella freaks me out a bit.)
- To serve, place the spaghetti noodles on your plate and top with the meatballs and sauce.
