Back to Recipe

Sarah Leah Chase's Ultimate Spaghetti & Meatballs

Here's how you make Sarah Leah Chase's Ultimate Spaghetti & Meatballs
Pause Continue Reading
  • Servings: 12
  • Prep: 60m
  • Cook: 3h
    • The following recipe serves 12 people.

Ingredients

The ingredients are:
  • Sauce
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 cup onion, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 carrot, peeled, minced
  • 1 cup bell pepper, seeded, diced
  • 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 56 ounces tomatoes, whole, undrained (2 cans)
  • 6 ounces tomato paste (1 can)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup red wine, dry
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper to taste
  • Meatballs
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 4 ounces prosciutto, finely minced
  • 1 cup onion, finely minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1/2 cup parsley, fresh, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 4 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated (1/2 cup)
  • 3/4 cup ricotta
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • Pasta
  • 2 pounds spaghetti, dry
  • 8 cups water, boiling
  • 1 teaspoon salt
We recommend you get your ingredients ready before you start cooking. Once you're ready, here are the steps to making this delicious recipe

How to Make

  • Step 1: Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

  • Step 2: Get water boiling.

  • Step 3: Tomato sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium high heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, and bell pepper and sauté 10 minutes.

  • Step 4: Stir in the herbs and fennel seeds.

  • Step 5: Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, wine, sugar, salt, and pepper.

  • Step 6: Rinse out cans with water.

  • Step 7: Bring to a simmer, cover, and continue to simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

  • Step 8: Add pasta water to the sauce the last 10 minutes.

  • Step 9: While the sauce is simmering, prepare the meatballs.

  • Step 10: Combine the beef, pork, and prosciutto in a large mixing bowl.

  • Step 11: With your hand, mix in all the remaining ingredients through to the eggs.

  • Step 12: Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Step 13: Grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.

  • Step 14: To form each meatball: take a generous scoop of the meat mixture, flatten it into a patty, place a cube of mozzarella in the meatballs and form into balls.

  • Step 15: The meatballs should be 1/2 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.

  • Step 16: The mixture should make around 24 meatballs.

  • Step 17: Brush each meatball lightly all over with the olive oil.

  • Step 18: Bake until cooked through and lightly browned, about 40 minutes.

  • Step 19: Using a slotted spoon, transfer the meatballs to the tomato sauce.

  • Step 20: Simmer uncovered 30 minutes longer.

  • Step 21: 15 minutes before serving, cook the spaghetti in a large pot of heavily salted boiling water until al dente.

  • Step 22: Drain, saving 1/2 cup pasta water, and transfer to a pasta bowl.

  • Step 23: Top with the sauce and meatballs.

We hope you enjoy this recipe!

This page is built for your convenience in the kitchen.

If you want helpful tools, tips and recipes from our community of real cooks, please consider signing up.

Oh... And one more thing... We also have some pretty wild forums.