Homemade Italian Meatball and Tomato Sauce Pasta

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-16 · Updated 2026-06-16

Tender homemade beef and pork meatballs simmered in a rich tomato sauce, served over al dente spaghetti for a classic Italian dinner. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs ground beef, ground pork, Italian breadcrumbs for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 6 oz ground beef
• 6 oz ground pork
• 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg
• 2 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small, diced onion
• 1 can (28 oz) canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 12 oz spaghetti
• 6 quarts for boiling pasta water

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, soak 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs in 1/4 cup milk for 5 minutes until absorbed.
2. Step 2: Add 6 oz ground beef, 6 oz ground pork, 1 large egg, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the soaked breadcrumbs. Mix gently until combined.
3. Step 3: Shape the mixture into meatballs about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, yielding around 16 meatballs.
4. Step 4: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs and brown on all sides for 6-8 minutes; remove and set aside.
5. Step 5: In the same skillet, add 1 small diced onion and sauté for 4 minutes until translucent.
6. Step 6: Pour in 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, and 1 tsp dried basil. Stir and bring to a simmer.
7. Step 7: Return meatballs to the sauce and simmer gently for 20 minutes until cooked through and sauce thickens.
8. Step 8: Meanwhile, bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain pasta.
9. Step 9: Serve meatballs and sauce over spaghetti with extra Parmesan if desired.