This post may contain affiliate links, which means that, as an Amazon Associate, I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.
Spaghetti and Meatballs, anyone?
Here is a kid-friendly recipe that is simple, yet delicious!
My kiddos love spaghetti and meatballs. My husband and I, however, don’t enjoy it quite as much. Meatballs are great! Marinara sauce, though, is a food that a lot of people don’t make right. It’s either too thin, way too thick, or lacking in flavor.
My kids never get spaghetti, on account of me not wanting to make anything that their dad won’t eat. They always ask me for it, but I feel bad making a food their dad won’t eat. I decided it was time for me to concoct a recipe that even my husband and I could enjoy. That way, the kids get spaghetti again, and my husband and I have a spaghetti recipe we actually enjoy.
Both sides win, right?!
So here it is! A marinara sauce recipe, as well as a delightful meatball recipe, both easy to make, and both absolutely delicious!
Meatball ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Oats
- Dried basil
- Dried oregano
- Garlic powder
- Egg
- Salt
- Seasoning salt
- Worcestershire sauce
- Minced garlic
Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. You may need 2 sheets, depending on the size of your meatballs.
3. Finely chop onion and place in a medium-sized mixing bowl. I’m talking VERY finely chopped, especially if you’re feeding these to kiddos. They don’t typically like onions or knowing that onions are in their food.
4. Add oats, basil, oregano, garlic powder, salt, seasoning salt, Worcestershire, and minced garlic to the bowl.
My daughter got a kick out of using the spices and herbs as maracas. Lol!
5. Add egg and ground beef to the bowl. I add these last, to avoid having them sit out too long.
6. Using your hand, mix/knead the ingredients together really well. You want to make sure the spices and egg get incorporated into the ground beef well.
7. Scoop and shape beef into balls, roughly 1.5tbsp meat per ball. I like to use my cookie dough baller here. My 5-year-old LOVED helping me shape the meatballs! Just make sure to wash your kids hands really well afterward, since we’re dealing with raw meat.
8. Place on prepared baking sheet, about 2″ apart.
9. Bake meatballs at 400 for 20-22 minutes. For extra large sheets, do 25 minutes.
10. Let meatballs cool before serving.
Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 onion finely chopped
- 1/4 cup oats
- 2 tsp dried basil
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp seasoning salt
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. You may need 2 sheets, depending on the size of your meatballs.
- Finely chop onion and place in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Add oats, basil, oregano, garlic powder, salt, seasoning salt, Worcestershire, and minced garlic to the bowl.
- Add egg and ground beef to the bowl. I add these last, to avoid having them sit out too long.
- Using your hand, mix/knead the ingredients together really well. You want to make sure the spices and egg get incorporated into the ground beef well.
- Scoop and shape beef into balls, roughly 1.5tbsp meat per ball. I like to use my cookie dough baller here.
- Place on prepared baking sheet, about 2" apart.
- Bake meatballs at 400 for 20-22 minutes. For extra large sheets, do 25 minutes.
- Let meatballs cool before serving.
Spaghetti sauce ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Minced garlic
- Tomato sauce
- Black pepper
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Coriander
- Dried basil
- Red wine vinegar
- Butter
- Molasses
Steps:
I like to gather all my ingredients before starting, to make things easier.
1. In a saucepan over medium heat, sauté the garlic in the oil until fragrant.
2. Once you can smell the garlic, add the remaining ingredients.
3. Stir it all together well, then reduce heat to a simmer.
4. Stirring constantly, simmer 5 minutes, being careful. The sauce spits a lot.
5. Serve over your favorite noodles( cooked al dente). Add meatballs and grated parmesan, if desired.
This marinara sauce doesn’t only have to be used for spaghetti, either. It was FANTASTIC as a pizza sauce, as well! This spaghetti & meatballs recipe would also be great on a sub sandwich, instead of noodles.
Spaghetti Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 2 8oz. cans tomato sauce
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp butter
- 1/2 tsp molasses
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, sauté the garlic in the oil until fragrant.
- Once you can smell the garlic, add the remaining ingredients.
- Stir it all together well, then reduce heat to a simmer.
- Simmer 5 minutes, being careful. The sauce spits a lot.
- Serve over your favorite noodles( cooked al dente). Add meatballs and grated parmesan, if desired.