Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs

Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs is a delicious and cheesy twist on a classic. This comforting dish is a favorite!

We served up this easy to assemble baked spaghetti and meatballs with a big salad and a side of dutch oven garlic parmesan artisan bread. This is one meal we could eat every night of the week and the entire family would be happy!!

Baked spaghetti and meatball in a skillet garnished with fresh basil. | lifemadesimplebakes.com

A must-make skillet meal

I recently shared a quick and easy skillet dinner with you and now I’m sharing a slightly more time-consuming but equally delicious skillet meal today! Something about fall makes me want to make casseroles and soup every night of the week. 

Lately I’ve been making meals that are easy to separate (like the skillet meal I linked to above). It was a huge hit with all of the kids! They twirled the pasta, carefully cut their meatballs and oohed over how stretchy the cheese was. 

The kids even enjoyed making it with me. I think that’s a huge part of getting kids to eat, allowing them to learn hands-on how food is made and what goes into it. Speaking of what goes in it. Let’s talk about these meatballs. This is my go-to recipe. We make them all of the time!

A serving of baked spaghetti and meatballs. | lifemadesimplebakes.com

Meatball tips

Just a few ingredients are needed for these tasty meatballs:

  • Breadcrumbs (regular, Italian, or panko)
  • Milk (whole or buttermilk)
  • Egg
  • Beef or pork (or a combo)
  • Dried seasonings and herbs

The great thing about this yummy recipe is that you can totally make it your own!  Have some fun and add mushrooms, sauteed onions, diced green bell peppers or olives to your baked spaghetti and meatballs.  You could also add some crushed red pepper either before or after baking to give it a little extra kick.

The key to this recipe is letting the breadcrumbs soak in the milk, then whisking the egg into it. To get soft, tender meatballs you don’t want to overwork the mixture. You’d be surprised what a difference a gentle hand makes! 

Brown the meatballs on all sides in a large skillet. You want the to be fully cooked before you bake them.

Homemade beef meatballs braised and ready to be put into the baked spaghetti and meatball dish. | lifemadesimplebakes.com

How to make baked spaghetti and meatballs

PREP. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

MEATBALLS. In a medium bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Let sit for 4 minutes, then whisk in the egg. Add the beef, pork, cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, onion powder, and black pepper. Mix gently until combined. Do not overmix. In a large skillet set over medium heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, form the mixture into meatballs and place into the skillet to cook. Brown on all sides. The meatballs should be fully cooked.

PASTA. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package’s directions. Drain and set aside.

SAUCE. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and transfer to a lined plate. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant. Pour in marinara, return the meatballs to the skillet. Simmer on medium low heat for 15 minutes.

BAKE. Stir in cooked spaghetti, along with ½ cup of the mozzarella and ¼ cup of the parmesan cheese. Sprinkle remaining cheeses over top. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to set for 10 minutes before serving.

Simple baked spaghetti and meatballs using jarred marinara. | lifemadesimplebakes.com

Storing Info

STORE leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. 

FREEZE in a Ziploc freezer bag or freezer safe container for up to 3 months.  Just pop them in the microwave to reheat and you will be enjoying this delicious meal again in no time.  

A spoonful of baked spaghetti and meatballs. | lifemadesimplebakes.com

other wonderful Italian dishes add to your menu:


Did you try this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ rating below and share it on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest!

Baked spaghetti and meatball in a skillet garnished with fresh basil. | lifemadesimplebakes.com

Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

Baked spaghetti and meatballs is a delicious and cheesy twist on a classic. This comforting dish is a favorite!
4.64 from 11 votes
Pin Rate
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6
Calories: 1159kcal
Author: Andrea
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Ingredients

For the meatballs:

  • 3/4 c. breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 c. milk or buttermilk
  • 1 egg - lightly beaten
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1/2 lb. ground pork
  • 1/3 c. parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil

Remaining ingredients:

  • 1 lb. spaghetti
  • 3 cloves garlic - minced
  • 24 oz. marinara sauce
  • 2 c. mozzarella cheese - grated, divided
  • 1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese - divided

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Let sit for 4 minutes, then whisk in the egg. Add the beef, pork, cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, onion powder, and black pepper. Mix gently until combined. Do not overmix.
  • In a large skillet set over medium heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, form the mixture into meatballs and place into the skillet to cook. Brown on all sides. The meatballs should be fully cooked.
  • Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package's directions. Drain and set aside.
  • Remove the meatballs from the skillet and transfer to a lined plate. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant. Pour in marinara, return the meatballs to the skillet. Simmer on medium low heat for 15 minutes.
  • Stir in cooked spaghetti, along with ½ cup of the mozzarella and ¼ cup of the parmesan cheese.
  • Sprinkle remaining cheeses over top. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to set for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 1159kcal | Carbohydrates: 90g | Protein: 66g | Fat: 59g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 198mg | Sodium: 2228mg | Potassium: 1070mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1372IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 912mg | Iron: 7mg

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About the Author

Andrea

Hi I'm Andrea!

Hotelier turned Food Blogger to help make your life simple, one recipe at a time.

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Comments:

  1. 5 stars
    This is so flavorful and really easy to make! Thank you so much for this amazing recipe, will make this again!

  2. 5 stars
    This is a simple recipe that is so hearty. My family prefers this dish than the classic spaghetti and meatballs.