Perruso's Spaghetti and Meatballs

Experience ultimate comfort with Perruso’s Spaghetti and Meatballs, a classic Italian-American dish that combines tender, flavor-packed meatballs with a rich, homemade tomato-basil sauce. This recipe features a perfect blend of ground beef and pork, enhanced with garlic, parsley, and Parmesan, creating irresistibly juicy meatballs browned to perfection. Simmered gently in a vibrant tomato sauce, the meatballs are paired with al dente spaghetti for a hearty, satisfying meal. With simple pantry staples like canned crushed tomatoes and dried oregano, this dish is both approachable and elegant. Serve with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and extra Parmesan for a restaurant-quality dinner that’s sure to impress. Perfect for family meals or casual entertaining, this spaghetti and meatballs recipe is a timeless crowd-pleaser. Keywords: spaghetti and meatballs, Italian-American recipe, homemade tomato sauce, comfort food.

Nutriscore Rating: 70/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:50 mins

Total Time:70 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 500 grams ground beef (80% lean)
• 250 grams ground pork
• 120 grams breadcrumbs
• 50 grams Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 large egg
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
• 1.5 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 800 grams canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 6 leaves basil leaves, chopped
• 400 grams spaghetti
• 3 liters water (for boiling pasta)
• 2 teaspoons salt (for pasta water)

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, and 0.5 teaspoon black pepper. Mix until just combined; avoid overmixing to keep meatballs tender.

Step 2

Roll the mixture into meatballs, about 1.5 inches in diameter (approximately 16-20 meatballs). Set aside on a plate.

Step 3

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add the meatballs in batches and brown them on all sides, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the browned meatballs and set aside.

Step 4

In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 5

Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and chopped basil. Simmer the sauce on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 6

Return the browned meatballs to the skillet, stirring gently to coat them in the sauce. Cover and simmer on low heat for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are fully cooked and tender.

Step 7

While the meatballs finish cooking, bring 3 liters of water to a boil in a large pot. Add 2 teaspoons of salt and the spaghetti. Cook according to the package instructions (usually 8-10 minutes) until al dente.

Step 8

Drain the spaghetti and transfer it to a serving bowl. Toss with a ladle of the sauce to coat the noodles evenly.

Step 9

Serve the spaghetti on plates topped with meatballs and additional sauce. Garnish with extra grated Parmesan and a sprinkle of parsley, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(5386.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3959.3

Total Fat 216.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 77.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.6g
Cholesterol 839.7mg	0%
Sodium 11172.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 286.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 29.2g	0%
Total Sugars 54.6g
Protein 229.0g	0%

Vitamin D 84.7IU	0%
Calcium 1128.1mg	0%
Iron 34.6mg	0%
Potassium 4765.4mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 48.6%

Protein: 22.8%

Carbs: 28.5%