Home cooked Italian food Is always about bringing everyone together, I think it’s because it always make so much and this dish is definitely that. This is a recipe I have had many variations of in the past but this is the usual base of it. If you like spicier sauce just add some red pepper flakes, if you like sweeter more tomato tasting sauce skip the spice all together. This recipe for sauce makes enough for at least 2 lbs dried noodles if you like them extremely saucy. It can probably be stretch to 3 lbs of noodles without any adjustments. As is this recipe feeds 6 to 8 people.
The best part about this dish is easily the stuffed meatballs. I made mine on the large side, but you can make them any size you want. Just be sure not to over cook them. They taste great leftover as is or on a meatball sub (recipe coming soon).
I also made some basic garlic bread to go along with it. It’s so good for dipping and cleaning off the remaining sauce on your plate.
Spaghetti with Cheese Stuffed Meatballs in Homemade Marinara Sauce
Marinara Sauce (You will want to start this first. It can be made only cooking for 30 min but the longer you cook the better the flavors meld).
Ingredients:
- 100oz Tomato sauce (For me this was 3-29oz cans and 1 12oz can, i know this is only 99oz but it’s close enough).
- 12oz Tomato paste
- 1c Onion (Diced)
- 6 Cloves Garlic (minced)
- 2T Olive Oil
- 2T Dried Rosemary
- 5T Italian Seasoning
- 2T Dried Oregano
- 1T Dried Basil
- 1t Smoked Paprika (Any paprika will work i just like the smoked flavor).
- 1t Red Pepper Flakes
- 1t Cayenne Pepper
- 1T Dried Garlic Powder
- 1t Chili Powder
- 1t White Sugar
- 1T Black Pepper
- 1t Kosher Salt (More may be needed but this is the minimum).
- 4oz Dry Red Wine
- 1T Fresh Oregano (chopped)
- 3T Fresh Rosemary (minced)
- Water if necessary
Directions:
- Add olive oil to hot pan and sauté onion until translucent. Add garlic and cook for 1 min.
- Add in tomato paste and all of the dried ingredients: rosemary, Italian seasoning, oregano, basil, Paprika, Red pepper flakes, Cayenne powder, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and cook for 3 to 5 min, or until tomato paste is loose and everything is combined.
- Deglaze pan with red wine and stir until completely combined. Add tomato sauce, stir, cover, then turn down heat to med low and simmer for at least 20min. (The longer the better, just make sure to stir every 30 min.)
- About halfway through the cook add in the sugar, fresh oregano, and fresh rosemary.
- Before serving adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
Cheese Stuffed Meatballs
Ingredients:
- 1lb Ground Beef (80% lean or leaner)
- 1/2lb Sweet Italian Sausage (ground)
- 1/2lb Spicy Italian Sausage (ground)
- 1/2C Yellow Onion (diced)
- 1T Garlic Powder
- 1t Dried Oregano
- 1t Kosher Salt
- 2 Eggs
- 8oz Fresh Mozzarella Cheese (cut into small cubes)
- 1C Bread Crumbs
- 2T Olive Oil
- 2T Parmesan (freshly grated)
Directions:
- In large bowl beat eggs. Then add the ground meats, garlic powder, dried oregano, diced onions, diced mozzarella cheese and bread crumbs. Stir to combine making sure everything is evenly mixed in.
- Using a scoop evenly portion meatballs and place them on a tray in refrigerator for at least 30 min. (I used an ice cream scoop and made 14 large meatballs, whatever size you like just make sure they are all approximately the same size.)
- After 30 minutes turn oven to 350. In large skillet heat up olive oil over medium heat.
- When oil has come up to temp start to place meatballs in pan, turning after 30 sec to evenly brown them. You may have to work in batches. This step is only for color and texture not to fully cook. Once the meatballs have been browned place in a baking dish large enough to hold all of them and cover with sauce and parmesan cheese.
- Bake until internal temp reaches 165, approximately 30 min, but this may have to be adjusted based on the size of the meatballs you choose.
Garlic Bread
Ingredients:
- 1C Melted Butter
- 1 loaf French Bread
- 1 t Garlic Powder
- 1T Italian Seasoning
- 1T Dried Oregano
Directions:
- Turn oven to 350, melt butter and slice loaf of bread lengthwise in half.
- Brush melted butter evenly over open French bread. Sprinkle garlic powder, oregano, and Italian seasoning evenly over the butter.
- Place in oven and bake until lightly browned.
- Remove from oven and slice evenly.
Overall Directions:
Ingredients:
- Marinara Sauce (above)
- Meatballs (above)
- Garlic Bread (above)
- Salt for pasta water
- 1lb Dried Spaghetti Noodles
- 2oz Fresh Basil (Cut into fine strips)
- Freshly Grated Parmesan
- Olive Oil
Directions:
- Make Marinara sauce and allow to simmer, the longer the better.
- Make meatballs.
- When meatballs just go in oven start water with salt for noodles and bring to boil. Start noodles when the meatballs come out of the oven.
- After removing meatballs, start garlic bread.
- When noodles are cooked strain and move to a bowl, drizzle with olive oil and toss.
- I like to keep everything separate and allow people to assemble their own plates. I have the fresh basil and parmesan out as well because it is the perfect way to finish the plate.
Notes: First, this goes great with a dry red wine. Second, this is the base for the marinara sauce, it works well with ground beef mixed, or kicked up with more red pepper flakes. Finally, be sure to invite lots of people over because this will make a ton of food and there will be lots of leftovers.
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