Easy Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs

Contents

Ingredients For the Meatballs Ingredients For the Sauce Bake the Meatballs Meatball Tips: Prep the Pasta Assemble Description Notes Want To Save This Recipe?Find more recipes like this:

This straightforward spaghetti and meatball recipe is cooked to perfection in one skillet. A timeless classic dinner recipe that’s sure to please the entire family.

! These straightforward steps make creating this a breeze. Throughout your day, let me share with you some smart prep strategies that will enable you to shave off even more time from your dinner routine.
This delectable and effortless dinner recipe has earned its place as a beloved staple in many households. What’s not to adore about a classic combination of tender pasta, rich tomato sauce, and hearty meatballs?
One of the most significant advantages of this recipe is its ability to be prepared ahead of time. This versatile dish can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance or even weeks beforehand and frozen with ease. I provide quick and practical shortcuts to simplify your preparation routine on hectic weekday evenings!

Baked Spaghetti topped with cheese, sauce and loaded with meatballs.

Here’s a quick and simple dinner recipe using common household ingredients you probably already have on hand. As you prepare to cook, please note that the complete recipe details can be found on the recipe card below.

Ingredients For the Meatballs

. You’re free to substitute regular breadcrumbs for the unseasoned panko bread crumbs if that’s your preference. Panko’s airy texture helps to lighten the meatballs and prevents them from becoming overly dense.
. This is a mixture of ground meats commonly found near ground beef in most supermarkets. A classic French dish requires a harmonious blend of ground beef, ground pork, and ground veal – the trifecta of rich, meaty flavors. Using meatloaf mix in meatballs adds a depth of flavor that’s hard to replicate with traditional ground beef and breadcrumbs alone. While traditional recipes often call for ground beef, feel free to substitute with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner alternative; however, keep in mind that reduced fat content may lead to slightly drier meatballs. Combining lean ground beef with ground Italian sausage creates a rich and complex flavor profile that’s sure to delight.
. This crucial component adds depth and zest to the meatballs, elevating their overall taste profile. Parmesan cheese is a naturally salty and intensely flavored delight. Grate a generous amount of high-quality Parmesan cheese directly over the freshly formed meatballs for an unparalleled burst of salty, nutty flavor. The pre-ground cheese is often coated with starches and cellulose to prevent sticking during processing, yet this treatment can hinder its ability to melt optimally when baked alongside meatballs.
: Milk and an egg. Egg and breadcrumbs are crucial binding agents within the meatball mixture, simultaneously providing essential structure and stability to maintain their shape and consistency.
Fresh parsley, finely chopped, with a pungency of minced garlic, seasoned with the subtlety of kosher salt and the depth of black pepper. With its delicate flavor and vibrant green hue, finely chopped parsley brings an unparalleled depth and zing to my homemade meatballs, infusing them with a delightful sense of freshness. You can definitely utilize dried parsley flakes too, should you happen to have them on hand.

Ingredients For the Sauce

. The convenience of this recipe lies in its ability to utilize a store-bought jar of sauce. While I appreciate the enthusiasm for certain brands, you’re absolutely right – what truly matters is the quality and taste of your pasta sauce.
. This step has dual functions within this culinary process. This subtle addition enhances the sauce’s depth and richness, simultaneously achieving a more nuanced consistency. As a crucial step in preparing authentic Italian cuisine, boiling the spaghetti to an ideal doneness followed by baking it in the rich and tangy sauce is essential for achieving a harmonious balance of flavors and textures. To ensure your baked pasta dish remains moist and flavorful, it’s essential to add a generous amount of sauce before baking. The spaghetti will naturally absorb some of the liquid during the cooking process, preventing the final product from becoming too dry.
. With the dish successfully prepped in the skillet or casserole pan, you’ll add an extra layer of indulgence by topping your spaghetti and meatballs with a generous helping of melted cheese. Freshly grated or thinly sliced fresh mozzarella can add a delightful creaminess to your dish.

For a complete and comprehensive understanding of this recipe, please consult the full recipe card below.

Meatball ingredients (ground beef, parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, seasonings, and parsley) in a blue bowl

Bake the Meatballs

The true elegance of this concept lies in its versatility, allowing for effortless preparation well in advance whenever required. The meatballs can be prepared ahead of time and assembled just prior to serving.

Combine the meatball ingredients in a large bowl to create a harmonious blend, then shape this mixture into uniform meatballs that are pleasing to the eye.

Meatball Tips:

Utilize a cookie scoop to uniformly portion out the meatballs at precisely identical dimensions.
Avoid overpacking your meatballs to ensure they cook evenly and retain their texture. Will they hold together when baking, you ask? Be wary: packing them too tightly can lead to a firm, dense meatball rather than a soft, tender one.

Prep the Pasta

Cook pasta to the recommended al dente texture, following package guidelines, and thoroughly drain the cooked noodles. The cooked pasta is then immediately returned to the pot, where it’s skillfully tossed with the rich sauce and savory broth. As the pot sits atop the flame, the gentle heat will gradually warm the sauce to perfection. Since you’re preparing this recipe, the sauce doesn’t have to be piping hot.

Assembling baked spaghetti topped with sauce and meatballs in a skillet.

Assemble

With gentle precision, add the coated pasta to a deep skillet or casserole dish, then generously sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese over its surface. Arrange the meatballs within the noodles in an even distribution, then proceed to bake.

! Here’s the improved text: The meatballs in this recipe are a variation on my classic Baked Meatballs Recipe, with some subtle adjustments.
. Don’t feel obligated to create your own meatballs from scratch – simply opt for high-quality, pre-made ones instead? While you can certainly use frozen meatballs, we recommend thawing them first to ensure the best results in this dish. A true lifesaver when under deadline pressure!
. You can accomplish this a few hours beforehand or even prepare everything a day in advance. To ensure the perfect consistency, consider preparing your pasta a day ahead; when refrigerating, add an extra helping of sauce to account for the inevitable absorption by the noodles overnight.

A spoon serving a scoop of spaghetti and meatballs

Prepare the sauce accordingly by increasing the liquid ratio to compensate for the pasta’s absorption and prevent over-drying.
Store in the refrigerator at a temperature of 40°F (4°C) or below, or place in the freezer at 0°F (-18°C) or below.
Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Preheat your oven to a higher temperature setting, then uncover the dish and continue baking for an extra 10 minutes, or until it reaches a satisfactory internal heat.
Bake covered in foil at a moderate heat of 350°F for approximately 40 minutes. Bake without foil for an additional 10 minutes, or until the dish is thoroughly warmed through.

See also Grilled Sweet Potatoes

You’re all set since you’ve got a jar of premade spaghetti sauce at the ready. No further action required! Consider adding an extra layer of flavor to your jarred sauce by incorporating these simple tweaks:

. The possibilities are endless, suggesting that this space is a canvas waiting to be filled. With a trifecta of bold flavors from fresh basil, pungent garlic powder, earthy oregano, and spicy red pepper flakes, this combination provides a straightforward way to intensify the taste of your sauce.
. This is a technique I frequently employ when working with sauces. Sauté diced yellow onion in a mixture of olive oil until caramelized to a golden brown hue. As you add the sauce directly into the pan, cook the ingredients together for approximately ten minutes, allowing the flavors to meld harmoniously.
. It would seem obvious. Adding minced garlic directly to the sauce allows its bold flavour to burst forth in every bite. Why not simply combine garlic powder with the other seasonings as you initially suggested?
. Can anything surpass the allure of a rich, velvety tomato sauce? To elevate your sauce’s richness, simply warm it on the stovetop and incorporate 2-8 fluid ounces of heavy cream, tailoring the amount to suit your desired level of creaminess. Why not incorporate four ounces of cream cheese directly into the sauce, allowing it to melt and achieve a silky consistency as you cook? Cream cheese imparts a luscious silkiness to dishes, its rich flavor undeniably delectable.

Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs in a cast iron skillet

Why not try my scrumptious Stuffed Garlic Bread recipe to elevate your pasta game?
Why not pair this dish with a crisp green salad or a classic Caesar, its freshness and tanginess perfectly complementing the rich flavors of the pork chops?
Why not elevate the humble green bean by roasting them to perfection, a match made in heaven when served alongside classic spaghetti and meatballs?

Store the airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.