Italian-Style Meatballs & Semi-Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

My kids absolutely love spaghetti, and I love to serve it to them because it’s a really fun, easy way to help them eat more vegetables. Sometimes we keep it simple and mix browned hamburger into jarred spaghetti sauce, but when I want something a bit fancier, I’ll make homemade meatballs. They’re surprisingly simple to make, and oh-so-tasty. They’re great with spaghetti, but this particular recipe also makes an AMAZING meatball sandwich if you happen to have any leftovers (this recipe makes a lot of meatballs, so you can have plenty in your spaghetti with leftovers for sandwiches the next day). The sauce is just a doctored-up jarred sauce, but it’s super yummy.

Italian Style Meatballs

• 2 lbs ground meat (beef, pork, turkey – whatever is your favorite combination)
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 3/4 C bread crumbs
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 C Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp ground thyme

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Once combined, form into 1 1/2 inch meatballs. Heat a small amount of olive oil over medium high heat in a large skillet. Working in batches (don’t crowd the pan), cook meatballs until brown on all sides. Set aside and prepare your sauce (recipe below). Add the meatballs to the sauce, cover, and simmer for 30-45 minutes.

Semi-Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

• 2 jars of your favorite bottled sauce (I love Ragu 7-herb sauce)
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
• 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 1/2 Tbs Italian Seasoning
• 1 TBS sugar
• 1/2-1 TBS butter, for sauteing

Heat a large dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add butter to the pot. Once melted, add the onion, and saute until translucent. Add garlic and cook an additional 1 minute. Add jarred sauce, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and sugar to the pot. Bring to a boil, then add the meatballs to the sauce. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30-45 minutes.