Spaghetti and Meatballs in Marinara Sauce

This spaghetti and meatballs recipe is smothered in a flavorful marinara sauce that’s seasoned with fresh herbs. The secret to these juicy, tender meatballs is a mixture of ground pork, ground beef, and breadcrumbs.

spooning meatballs and marinara over spaghetti noodles

Why this recipe works

Spaghetti and meatballs served with fresh baked Italian bread are a favorite in this house, and pretty much a family tradition. It’s of those very personal meals. Some recipes have been handed down from generation to generation, sometimes changing along the way, sometimes remaining true to the ancestor’s original.

I always start with the marinara, so that it can simmer a bit while I’m forming meatballs. The herbs in my sauce often depend on what’s growing in my garden at the time. Here I have Italian parsley, thyme, oregano, and basil. Combine the herbs, onion and garlic, tomatoes, and wine. Season with some freshly ground black pepper and a little garlic salt, then let it simmer. This marinara sauce is so flavorful!

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

ingredients to make Spaghetti & Meatballs in Marinara

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

MEATBALLS – I love to mix ground pork, ground beef, and breadcrumbs for my meatballs. This combination is flavorful and creates juicy, tender meatballs. You can substitute the ground pork for Italian sausage if you’d like and it’ll still taste amazing.

SAUCE – A mixture of diced tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, onion, red wine, and fresh herbs. You can certainly use a flavored can of diced tomatoes like the garlic, basil, and oregano or the fire-roasted kind. If doing so, you can cut back a bit on the herbs you add or omit some altogether. Port wine works great for this sauce, but so does a simple Shiraz. If you have a favorite, by all means, use it!

How to Make Spaghetti & Meatballs in Marinara

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

In a medium saucepan, combine all sauce ingredients and mix well. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
In a large bowl using a fork, combine all of the meatball ingredients. Gently mix with your fork so as not to smash the ingredients together. Too much working of the mixture can cause your meatballs to turn out tough.
Once everything is mixed, use your hands to be sure everything is combined well. Work with hands for no longer than one minute. Just long enough for everything to come together.
Use a cookie scoop to create meatballs. I don’t roll mine, just place them straight from the cookie scoop into the pan. You can roll them in your palms first, but again, only for a moment, don’t overwork the meat!
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large saute pan or skillet. Brown meatballs on both sides, creating a nice crust. Remove meatballs and drain fat. Don’t scrape out any bits of meat from the pan!
Deglaze the pan with 2 tablespoons of wine. Return meatballs to the pan, pour marinara over the meatballs and bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for a minimum of 30 minutes.

EXPERT TIP: You can simmer the meatballs for up to 2 hours if you like, but you may need to add a little water throughout the process to keep the marinara from thickening too much.
Serve over cooked spaghetti noodles.

This marinara sauce can be made ahead of time and kept in a jar in the refrigerator. I like to serve the marinara over the top of the individually plated noodles to keep it separate in case there are leftovers.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Can I freeze the meatballs?

Absolutely! The meatball recipe makes 65 meatballs. I usually make the meatballs then split them into 3 batches. I freeze 2 batches for another day and cook the third. Place the meatballs in a large Ziploc bag. They will last in the freezer for around 4 months. You can also split the meatballs recipe in half if you don’t want that large of a batch.

How do I store spaghetti and meatballs?

Store your spaghetti and meatballs in an air-tight container or large Ziploc bag kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

fork in a bowl of Spaghetti & Meatballs in Marinara

Serving Suggestions

Spaghetti and meatballs go hand in hand with homemade Italian bread, but we also love serving it with homemade pull apart dinner rolls, garlic cheese rolls, and garlic parmesan rolls. For a lighter side option, serve with a tossed salad. I’ve even made a batch of these meatballs to eat on their own before, they can easily be paired with some sauteed veggies to make a complete meal. Last but not least, top your spaghetti with grated parmesan and fresh basil.

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This post originally appeared here on June 15, 2012 and has since been updated with new photos and expert tips.

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Amanda Formaro

President at Amanda's Creative Studio, Inc.

Amanda Formaro is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four grown children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years. She is also a craft book author five times over and product developer as well as the owner of FunFamilyCrafts.com. You can find her on social media by using the buttons to the left!