Easy Cheesy Meatballs with Spaghetti
Cheesy meatballs with spaghetti can be the perfect meal that is delicious, budget-friendly, quick and easy, and will feed a large family.
Spaghetti bolognese was always that budget meal in our household. But upon my husband looking for a change, I decided to add meatballs instead of just the minced meat cooking into the sauce.
But, I didn’t just want plain meatballs, I wanted something different and had some flavor to it.
The cheesy meatballs and spaghetti is an excellent alternative to this weekly meal that my whole family loves.
Origin of Meatballs with Spaghetti.
It may come as a surprise, but did you know that the origin of meatballs and spaghetti is America.
According to Wikipedia Meatballs and spaghetti was created by Italian migrants living in New York back in the early 20th-century.
In my book, it’s both an American and Italian Cuisine. If you would like to know more info on the origin, click HERE for the Wikipedia link.
What kind of cheese can I use in the meatballs?
Any kind of grated cheese that you like eating will be ok to use. Tasty cheese is great for taste, but others such as Cheddar, Gouda and Mozzarella are suitable for this recipe also.
You can even get a bit more creative and add a mixture of cheeses to the meatballs.
Why do you roll the meatballs in flour?
Rolling the meatballs in flour before searing them is to create a better brown look. And if you are planning to make your sauce from scratch, then the flour bits that get left in the pan will help with adding flavour and make the sauce thicker.
This technique is dredging, and even though a recipe may not ask you to do it, I advise that you do as I have also found that the flour helps the balls to not stick to the pan, especially with this one as the cheese will stick.
Does the basil have to be fresh?
Fresh basil in this recipe is best to use, not just for the flavor, but for the look also. The bright green through the meatballs does make it more appealing.
But if you find yourself in a pickle and you do not have fresh basil, you can always use dried basil instead. You will need less of the dried though approximately one teaspoon of dried basil to every two teaspoons of fresh.
What is an alternative to basil?
If you are not a fan of basil or you want to change things up a bit, there are some alternative herbs you can use instead of the basil.
Mint, oregano, and marjoram are excellent substitutes. And if you ever find yourself in the supermarket and they have run out, keep those three in mind to use instead.
Can you freeze cheesy meatballs with spaghetti?
If you have leftovers or are making this meal for future dinners, then you can freeze this in airtight containers. But only the meatballs and the sauce part if you want to leave it on the kitchen bench to thaw out during the day.
Otherwise, if you freeze it with the spaghetti, you need to thaw it out on the stove over low heat.
If you do not want to freeze it, it can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple of days, but keep the spaghetti out and cook this fresh as needed.
What can I substitute for eggs when making meatballs?
If you can not eat eggs, you can use a combined mixture of breadcrumbs and milk known as panade.
Panade acts as a binder in your meatballs and will help to provide moisture to the meatballs and prevent them from drying out.
You need to use 1/2 a cup of panade for every 450 grams or per pound of minced (ground) meat.
What kind of mincemeat (ground meat) can I use?
It’s great to use a different kind of minced or ground meat every so often.
The best part about this recipe if you can use minced chicken, pork, or lamb instead of beef. And all these meats go well with basil.
What to try something different, why not combine equal amounts of minced beef and pork to get the taste buds flowing.
What kind of wine goes with spaghetti meatballs?
White wines are my favorite to have with this meal. Some of the best white wines to have are Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Prosecco, and Arneis.
But if you are more partial to a glass of red wine, something light such as Pinot Noir is a great one to have.
Best way to serve Cheesy Meatballs with Spaghetti?
There is no right or wrong way to serve this meal. It comes down to you and your family. My family likes it with the spaghetti at the bottom of the plate and then the meatballs and sauce served on top.
Another way is the spaghetti mixed through the sauce and meatballs on top.
Serve with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top along with some extra sprinkles of basil or parsley. You can even serve this with a side of salad if you are looking for something to have with it.
Easy Cheesy Meatballs with Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 kg Minced Beef
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1 cup Grated Tasty Cheese
- 1 Large Onion
- ¼ cup Fresh Chopped Basil
- 5 Garlic Cloves
- Salt and Pepper
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- Plain Flour
- 2 500g Jars of Bolognese Sauce
- 1 pkt Spaghetti
Instructions
- Finely chop the onion and chop the grated cheese into small pieces. Lightly beat the two eggs and mince or blend the garlic cloves.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the mince, eggs, onion, cheese, basil, garlic and lightly season with salt and pepper. Combine until all the ingredients are all mixed through.
- Roll into 24 palm-sized balls and dredge in flour.
- In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and lightly brown the meatballs in batches. Do this in batches and until all sides of the meatballs are brown, approximately 5 minutes per batch.
- While the first batch of meatballs in browning spray the bottom of a large saucepan or a stockpot with non-stick spray. Pour a small amount of the bolognese sauce into the bottom of the pot (just enough to cover the bottom).
- Drain each batch on some paper towel, then add to the pot. Add some sauce in between each layer of meatballs and top with the final amount of sauce. Cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Cook your spaghetti according to the directions on the packet.
