About
Well, Momma, it doesn't get any better than Mia's Spaghetti & Meatballs when it comes to authentic Italian food! Slow cooked and savory, the hearty meatballs simmer brilliantly in a thick and richly seasoned tomato sauce for the chef's kiss of excellence. When added atop al dente spaghetti noodles, Mia's Spaghetti & Meatballs will quickly become your (and Momma's) mealtime friend to win the family over. Now that's Italian!
Ingredients
- For the meatballs:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, grated, plus more, to taste, shredded, for serving
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 egg, beaten
- For the sauce:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3/4 cup onion, chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- spaghetti, to taste, cooked and hot, for serving
Directions
Step 1 -Line an 18x26-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2 -In a large bowl, add the ground beef, the breadcrumbs, the parsley, 1 tablespoon of the grated parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon of the black pepper, the garlic powder, and the beaten egg, and by hand, mix well but gently to combine.
Step 3 -By hand, form the ground beef mixture into evenly sized balls.
Step 4 -Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet 2-3 inches apart.
Step 5 -Tightly cover the meatballs with foil and transfer them to the refrigerator.
Step 6 -In a large saucepan over medium heat, add the olive oil.
Step 7 -Add the onions and the garlic to the hot oil and sauté until the onions are translucent, about 4-5 minutes.
Step 8 -Add the tomatoes and their juices, the salt, the sugar, and the bay leaf to the onion-garlic mixture and cook, while stirring frequently, until it comes to a simmer.
Step 9 -Cover the saucepan and reduce the stovetop heat to low.
Step 10 -Simmer the sauce mixture until the flavors meld together, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Step 11 -Add the tomato paste, the basil, the remaining black pepper, and the prepared meatballs to the sauce mixture, and simmer, while stirring frequently, until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 155 degrees F, about 30 minutes.
Step 12 -Plate the meatballs and the sauce over the spaghetti.
Step 13 -Sprinkle the spaghetti and the meatballs with the extra shredded parmesan cheese and serve.
