{31 Days} Cooking from Scratch: Spaghetti & Meatballs

The classic Italian meal.

 
Spaghetti & meatballs. 

Now, you can make this dish nearly entirely from scratch. 

You already know how to make the pasta – so, the next step is making your own meatballs and spaghetti sauce. 

Spaghetti & Mini Meatballs
{Meatballs inspired by How Sweet It Is and Mom}

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1 T minced onion
• 1 tsp. parsley
• 1 tsp. basil
• 1 tsp. dried, minced garlic (or 2 fresh cloves)
• 1/4 C panko bread crumbs
• salt & pepper, as desired
• Pasta (whole wheat preferably)
• 3-4 C spaghetti sauce
• Parmesan cheese, or mozzarella cheese, for garnish

Directions

Prepare two cookie sheets, lined with tinfoil and set the aside – in easy access to where you’ll make the meatballs.  Go ahead and pre-heat your oven to 400 as well.

In a large bowl, combine together the 1 egg, 1 T minced onion, 1 tsp. parsley, 1 tsp. basil and 1 tsp. dried minced garlic. 

Add in 1/4 C panko bread crumbs. 

Add the ground beef.  Using your hands, mix the ingredients together. 

Squish it all around … if I, a raw meat grossed-out girl can do this, you can too. 

Taking about 1-2 T of meat, roll the meat mixture into tiny meatballs.  I got about 35 – 40 mini meatballs from this mixture.

Arrange the meatballs on the tinfoil-lined cookie sheets.

Bake the meatballs for 20-25 minutes at 400.  Check that the internal temp has reached safe temperature for beef (170 degrees). 

Serve atop pasta {even homemade if you’re up for the challenge}. 

Spoon over pasta sauce & top with cheese.  You can use either quick stove-top sauce, or if you have time, plan ahead and make some crockpot sauce. 

Enjoy!