Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
My delicious Spaghetti and Meatballs are a family favourite. Tender, juicy meatballs in a rich tomato sauce. This easy Italian dinner is comfort food at its best.
Ingredients
Meatballs (makes about 18-20 meatballs)
3 good quality sausages taken out of their skins
300 g (10 1/2 oz) minced beef
25 g (2 tbsp) panko breadcrumbs
25 g (1/4 cup) grated parmesan
½ small onion finely chopped
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp ground cumin
1 small egg
2 tbsp olive oil
pinch of salt and pepper
Sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion finely chopped
3 cloves of garlic crushed
2 sticks celery finely chopped
1 red pepper finely chopped
120 ml (1/2 cup) red wine
2 x 400 g (28oz) tins of chopped tomatoes
1 heaped tbsp of tomato puree (paste for US)
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp dried oregano
pinch of salt and pepper
Also
300 g (10 1/2 oz) dried spaghetti or fresh pasta
grated parmesan and fresh parsley or basil to serve
Instructions
✅Preheat the oven to 200C/400F (fan).
✅Mix all of the meatball ingredients in a bowl with your hands. Squash it all together but don't overmix as this will make the meatballs tough.
✅Shape the meatballs into little balls – the size of a golfball – and place them on a baking tray.
✅Put in the oven for 20 minutes. Keep an eye on them toward the end of the cooking time and turn the oven down a little if they start going too dark.
✅Put the water on to heat for the spaghetti.
✅Whilst the meatballs are cooking, make the sauce.
✅Fry the onions in the olive oil on a medium heat for about 5 mins, until softened.
✅Add the garlic, celery and red pepper and cook for another 2 minutes.
✅Add the red wine and let it bubble for a couple of minutes.
✅At this point the water will probably be boiling, so put the spaghetti on to cook for about 12-13 minutes (or per pack instructions).
✅Add the tinned tomatoes, tomato puree, sugar, oregano and salt and pepper to the sauce and bring to the boil. Then simmer for gently until the meatballs and pasta are ready.
✅Drain the spaghetti, reserving a cup of the cooking water. Add the spaghetti to the sauce and toss together using tongs. Add some of the cooking water if you want it to be a little saucier.
✅Add the meatballs to the pan and move them around a little so they're coated in a little of the sauce.
✅Divide between plates and top with a sprinkling of parmesan and a little fresh parsley or basil.
My delicious Spaghetti and Meatballs are a family favourite. Tender, juicy meatballs in a rich tomato sauce. This easy Italian dinner is comfort food at its best.
Ingredients
Meatballs (makes about 18-20 meatballs)
3 good quality sausages taken out of their skins
300 g (10 1/2 oz) minced beef
25 g (2 tbsp) panko breadcrumbs
25 g (1/4 cup) grated parmesan
½ small onion finely chopped
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp ground cumin
1 small egg
2 tbsp olive oil
pinch of salt and pepper
Sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion finely chopped
3 cloves of garlic crushed
2 sticks celery finely chopped
1 red pepper finely chopped
120 ml (1/2 cup) red wine
2 x 400 g (28oz) tins of chopped tomatoes
1 heaped tbsp of tomato puree (paste for US)
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp dried oregano
pinch of salt and pepper
Also
300 g (10 1/2 oz) dried spaghetti or fresh pasta
grated parmesan and fresh parsley or basil to serve
Instructions
✅Preheat the oven to 200C/400F (fan).
✅Mix all of the meatball ingredients in a bowl with your hands. Squash it all together but don't overmix as this will make the meatballs tough.
✅Shape the meatballs into little balls – the size of a golfball – and place them on a baking tray.
✅Put in the oven for 20 minutes. Keep an eye on them toward the end of the cooking time and turn the oven down a little if they start going too dark.
✅Put the water on to heat for the spaghetti.
✅Whilst the meatballs are cooking, make the sauce.
✅Fry the onions in the olive oil on a medium heat for about 5 mins, until softened.
✅Add the garlic, celery and red pepper and cook for another 2 minutes.
✅Add the red wine and let it bubble for a couple of minutes.
✅At this point the water will probably be boiling, so put the spaghetti on to cook for about 12-13 minutes (or per pack instructions).
✅Add the tinned tomatoes, tomato puree, sugar, oregano and salt and pepper to the sauce and bring to the boil. Then simmer for gently until the meatballs and pasta are ready.
✅Drain the spaghetti, reserving a cup of the cooking water. Add the spaghetti to the sauce and toss together using tongs. Add some of the cooking water if you want it to be a little saucier.
✅Add the meatballs to the pan and move them around a little so they're coated in a little of the sauce.
✅Divide between plates and top with a sprinkling of parmesan and a little fresh parsley or basil.
