How To Make Spaghetti and Meatballs

Learn how to make spaghetti and meatballs for a simple dinner the whole family will love! Cook the meatballs in the oven or crockpot and you can even make extra to freeze for later.

This is one of the easiest meals and such a classic that it’s always a hit. Using a crockpot means you can start the meatballs in the morning and then it’s totally hands off until you quickly cook some pasta right before serving.

How To Make Spaghetti & Meatballs Step by Step

If you want to make this super easy, use frozen meatballs and just dump them in the crockpot with sauce to let them simmer for several hours.

But meatballs are easy enough to make on their own so if you haven’t tried it yet, here’s what you do:

• In a large bowl, combine a pound of ground beef or turkey with minced garlic, an egg, some breadcrumbs and seasonings.
• Use your hands or a spoon to mix until well combined.
• Form mixture into balls. You can make them small or large.
• Brown the meatballs in a pan, then place them on a baking sheet or in the crockpot.
• Cover with sauce and let cook. They usually take about 20 minutes in the oven to reach 165 degrees but it will depend on the size of your meatballs. If you’re using the crockpot, cook on low for 4-6 hours.
• Took cook the spaghetti, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt and noodles and boil for 8-10 minutes or according to package directions.

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Spaghetti and Meatballs

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Here’s the recipe:

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Spaghetti and Meatball FAQs

What meat to use for meatballs?

You can use whatever type of ground meat you have on hand – beef, turkey, chicken, pork, lamb or a combination. Know that some types of ground meat, like chicken, tend to be lower in fat than options like beef which can impact how dry the meatballs are.

Can you freeze meatballs?

Yes! If you’re making meatballs, it’s always a good idea to make extra. Bake them in the oven and then let them cool completely. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag and freeze them for up to 3 months. Then when you need a quick dinner, just pull them out and add sauce and noodles!

What can I substitute for breadcrumbs?

If you want to make the meatballs gluten-free or you don’t have any breadcrumbs on hand, you can use crushed-up cereal – rice Chex works well, crushed-up crackers or almond meal.

How long do you bake meatballs?

This will depend on the size of your meatballs but typically at 400 degrees they take around 18-20 minutes. If your meatballs are smaller they will cook more quickly. You can start checking the temperature around 14 minutes if you want to but meatballs tend to be fine if they get a little overcooked, especially since they’re in a sauce.

Why add hemp seeds?

This is totally optional. It’s just an easy way to add some extra nutrients to the meatballs. Since hemp seeds are so small they’re not noticeable in the meatballs at all.

Can I add vegetables?

Yes! There are several ways you can add vegetables to this dish. Try shredding some vegetables like peppers and carrots and mixing them into the meatballs. You can also mix them into the sauce if you’re cooking the meatballs in a slow cooker.

If you want the vegetables to be less noticeable, roast a pan full of veggies and add them to a blender with a jar of sauce. Blend it up!

Other pasta options besides spaghetti

While it won’t technically be spaghetti and meatballs if you don’t use spaghetti noodles, you can use whatever pasta you like. If you’d prefer to use shells, elbows etc go right ahead!

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Need more dinner ideas? Try:

• Easy Chicken Enchiladas
• Homemade Pizza
• Ritz Chicken
• Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage
• Crescent Wrapped Zucchini Meatballs
• One Pot Chicken & Rice

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–