Italian Spaghetti with Meatballs

By Addie

My mother got this recipe from our Italian neighbors in the 1950s. It's been a big hit at our church community dinners, where we sometimes make three or four batches of this wonderful sauce.—Monica Crouch, Trotwood, Ohio

Ingredients

• SAUCE:
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cans (28 ounces each) tomato puree
• 2 cans (28 ounces each) tomato sauce
• 2 cans (12 ounces each) tomato paste
• 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
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• MEATBALLS:
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cups soft bread crumbs
• 2 cups grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, divided
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 3 pounds lean ground beef

Preparation

Step 1

In two or three large soup kettles or Dutch ovens, saute garlic and parsley in oil for 1 minute. Add tomato puree, sauce, paste and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 2-1/2 hours.

For meatballs, in a large bowl, combine the eggs, water, onion, bread crumbs, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, garlic and seasonings; mix well. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls. Place meatballs on greased racks in shallow baking pans. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until no longer pink.

Stir in the remaining Parmesan into spaghetti sauce; simmer 30 minutes longer. Drain meatballs on paper towels; add to sauce. Yield: 20-24 servings.
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REVIEWS:

This recipe is AWSOME! I have used this recipe for the last few years when I make sauce to can from my tomatoes. My entire family LOVES it and won't eat store bought sauce anymore.

I just made the meatballs, they were VERY good and easy to make. The family loved them. This is is a keeper.

Whether cooking for a crowd or wanting a great freeze it for later recipe, this spaghetti and meatballs recipe is the best I have ever tried. It does make a lot, but like I said, if it's too much, freeze it for a busy night along with a batch of buttery bubble bread!