Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs

4.6
(3,727)
2,739 Reviews
276 Photos

This is an Italian-style pasta sauce with homemade meatballs that's cooked slowly over low heat for an intense tomato flavor. It's easy to make the spaghetti sauce ahead of time; gently reheat and add meatballs 30 minutes before you're ready to serve with your favorite pasta.

Submitted by Jeremy
Updated on June 7, 2024
Tested by
Allrecipes Test Kitchen
Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen
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a low angle view looking into a single serving of spaghetti topped with a red sauce, meatballs, and parmesan cheese.
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Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
2 hrs
Total Time:
2 hrs 20 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
6 servings
Jump to Nutrition Facts


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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

Meatballs:

  • 1 pound lean ground beef

  • 1 cup fresh bread crumbs

  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley

  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

  • ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 egg, beaten

Sauce:

  • ¾ cup chopped onion

  • 5 cloves garlic, minced

  • ¼ cup olive oil

  • 2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes

  • 2 teaspoons salt

  • 1 teaspoon white sugar

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

  • ¾ teaspoon dried basil

  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Overhead of meatball ingredients in various bowls and containers.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
    Overhead of pasta sauce ingredients in various containers.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder and beaten egg. Mix well and form into 12 balls. Store, covered, in refrigerator until needed.

    Overhead of formed meatballs in a baking sheet with the meat mixture in a bowl off to the side.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until onion is translucent.

  4. Stir in tomatoes, salt, sugar and bay leaf. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 90 minutes.

    Overhead of tomatoes, sugar, and a bay leaf being mixed and cooked into onions on a skillet.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Stir in tomato paste, basil, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and meatballs and simmer 30 minutes more.

    Overhead of meatballs being cooked and mixed in to a pasta sauce.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
    Cooked meatballs covered in a pasta sauce resting in a skillet.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Serve hot and enjoy!

    a low angle view looking into a single serving of spaghetti topped with a red sauce, meatballs, and parmesan cheese.

    DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS 
5,046 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

347 Calories
21g Fat
23g Carbs
19g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 347
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 77mg 26%
Sodium 1493mg 65%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 5g 16%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 19g 38%
Vitamin C 33mg 36%
Calcium 140mg 11%
Iron 6mg 31%
Potassium 1023mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.