Bring the pot of water to a boil as you prepare the meatballs, then cook the meatballs in an air fryer or the oven, cook the spaghetti, heat up the sauce and – voila! – you’ve just made homemade spaghetti and meatballs in half an hour.
Easy Spaghetti and Beef Meatballs
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients
1 lb (500 g) Lean Ground Beef
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup (125 mL) dry bread crumbs (see Note)
1 tsp (5 mL) onion powder
1/2 tsp (2 mL) EACH salt and black pepper
1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) garlic powder
1 jar or can (600 to 700 mL) tomato pasta sauce
12 oz (375 g) dry spaghetti
Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Combine egg, bread crumbs, onion powder, salt, pepper and garlic powder in a large bowl until well combined. Gently mix in ground beef with a fork (careful not to over-mix).
- Scoop using mini ice cream scoop or 2-tbsp (30 mL) measure and roll into about twenty 1½-inch (4 cm) meatballs. Place on a plate.
- Arrange meatballs in air fryer basket spacing them apart, in batches as necessary. Set temperature to 350°F (180°C) and time for 6 minutes. Cook until browned and a digital instant-read thermometer inserted into several meatballs reads 160°F (71°C).
- Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions
- Heat pasta sauce over medium heat in a medium saucepan until simmering. Cover leaving lid slightly open, reduce heat to medium-low and keep hot. When meatballs are cooked, add them to the sauce, spooning sauce over top.
- Drain spaghetti in a colander, then return to large pot. Spoon enough of the sauce over spaghetti just to lightly coat. Toss gently.
- Divide spaghetti among serving bowls; spoon remaining sauce and meatballs over top. Serve with additional Parmesan and garnish with parsley, if desired.
Notes
Oven variation: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Shape meatballs as directed and place on prepared baking sheet, spacing them apart. Bake in preheated 350°F (180°C) oven for about 20 minutes, until browned and a digital instant-read thermometer inserted into several meatballs reads 160°F (71°C).
Notes
In place of the dry bread crumbs you can use quick-cooking rolled oats or fine, dry gluten-free bread crumbs.
Depending on your air fryer, the cooking time may vary; add 2 to 3 minutes more cooking time, as necessary. It’s important to check the internal temperature with a thermometer.
Cooked meatballs can be refrigerated for 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
Tip: Instead of serving with spaghetti, make hot sub sandwiches: spoon the meatballs and sauce over toasted sub-style buns, top with shredded mozzarella and broil just until the cheese melts.
