Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs is a comforting pasta dish that may seem quintessentially Italian, but it did not get its start in Italy. In fact, many restaurants in Italy today don’t even serve spaghetti and meatballs.
Table of contents
Ways to Make Spaghetti
Baking your spaghetti is an unusual way of cooking spaghetti but it is so good. The traditional way is to cook the ground beef and add it to the marina sauce then pour that over the cooked spaghetti noodles and serve. Even when it is made with meatballs it is not usually baked.
If you like a lot of liquid sauce on your spaghetti then baking it is probably not the way to go although you can always add more sauce even after baking. The melted mozzarella cheese on top is another unusual way of preparing spaghetti.
How to Store Spaghetti
To maximize the shelf life of cooked spaghetti and for safety and quality, refrigerate the spaghetti in shallow airtight containers or resealable plastic bags. Properly stored, cooked spaghetti will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
History of Spaghetti and Meatballs
The star of this pasta dish is the tender and flavorful meatballs. Meatballs can be found in, but are not exclusive to, Italian cuisine. In fact, a lot of countries and cultures have their own version of meatballs.
Spaghetti and meatballs have always been popular among Italian immigrants in New York City. In the late 1800s, Italian immigrants had more access to meat than they did in Italy. In 1888, Juliet Corson of New York published the first known recipe for pasta with meatballs and tomato sauce.
If you ever travel to Italy, avoid ordering spaghetti and meatballs unless you see it on the menu. But if you visit an Italian restaurant in America, ordering spaghetti and meatballs will likely mean you get a house specialty!
The Metropolitan City of New York, NY, USA
New York City comprises 5 boroughs sitting where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean. At its core is Manhattan, a densely populated borough that’s among the world’s major commercial, financial and cultural centers. Its iconic sites include skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building and sprawling Central Park. Broadway theater is staged in neon-lit Times Square.
New York City is a global hub of business and commerce, as a center for banking and finance, retailing, world trade, transportation, tourism, real estate, new media, traditional media, advertising, legal services, accountancy, insurance, theater, fashion, and the arts in the United States; while Silicon Alley, metonymous for New York’s broad-spectrum high technology sphere, continues to expand.
A Brief History of New York
In the precolonial era, the area of present-day New York City was inhabited by Algonquian Native Americans, including the Lenape. Their homeland, known as Lenapehoking, included Staten Island, Manhattan, the Bronx, the western portion of Long Island (including the areas that would later become the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens), and the Lower Hudson Valley.
A permanent European presence near New York Harbor began in 1624—making New York the 12th oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the continental United States. It was first ruled by the Dutch then the English took control. The Battle of Long Island, the largest battle of the American Revolutionary War, was fought in August 1776 within the modern-day borough of Brooklyn.
Over the course of the nineteenth century, New York City’s population grew from 60,000 to 3.43 million. The city was transformed by both commercial and residential development relating to its status as a national and international trading center, as well as by European immigration.
New York became the most populous urbanized area in the world in the early 1920s, overtaking London. The metropolitan area surpassed the 10 million mark in the early 1930s, becoming the first megacity in human history.
As of the 2020 census, the city has a population of 8,804,190 distributed over 300.46 square miles (778.2 km2) making New York City the most densely populated city in the United States.
Major tourist destinations in Manhattan include:
Times Square
Broadway theater productions
The Empire State Building
The Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island
The United Nations Headquarters
The World Trade Center (including the National September 11 Museum and One World Trade Center)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Central Park and Washington Square Park
The Stonewall Inn
Rockefeller Center
Manhattan Chinatown
Koreatown
Curry Hill
Harlem
Spanish Harlem
Little Italy
Little Australia
luxury shopping along Fifth and Madison Avenues
Events such as the Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village
The Brooklyn Bridge (shared with Brooklyn)
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The St. Patrick’s Day parade
Seasonal activities such as ice skating in Central Park in the wintertime
The Tribeca Film Festival
Free performances in Central Park at Summerstage.
The Cuisine of New York City
The cuisine of New York City comprises many cuisines belonging to various ethnic groups that have entered the United States through the city. Almost all ethnic cuisines are well represented in New York, both within and outside the various ethnic neighborhoods.
– Featured Restaraunt –
Lilia – Italian Restaurant and Café
26 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA
Telephone: +1 (718) 576-3095
Lilia brings the best of Italy to Williamsburg where wood-fired seafood, hand-crafted pasta, classic Italian cocktails, and warm hospitality come together to create a casual dining experience.
How to Make This Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe
Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe is a fun way to serve an old family favorite. This budget-friendly dish is hearty, delicious, and easy to make.
What You Need to Make Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs
Equipment
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Stock Pot
- 1 Cast Iron Skillet
For the Meatballs
- 8 oz ground beef
- 8 oz ground pork
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup Panko
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp bruschetta seasoning mix
- salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley leaves
How to Cook Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs
Time needed: 45 minutes
Cooking Directions for Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9×9 baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.
- Form the Meatballs
In a large bowl, combine beef, pork, egg, Panko, Parmesan, and bruschetta seasoning; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Using a wooden spoon or clean hands, stir until well combined. Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs, forming about 20 meatballs.
- Brown the Meatballs
Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add meatballs, in batches, and cook until all sides are browned about 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside.
- Boil the Pasta
In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well and stir in marinara sauce.
- Bake the Dish
Add pasta to the prepared baking dish and top with meatballs; sprinkle with mozzarella. Place into oven and bake until bubbly and heated through, about 15-20 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve
Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.
Garnish your Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs with some fresh chopped parsley and serve with garlic toast.
If you liked this dish please Rate This Recipe and leave a comment.
Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs
Please Rate this Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 8 oz 80/20 ground beef
- 8 oz ground pork
- 1 large egg beaten
- ¼ cup bread crumbs
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 1 tbsp Italian Bruschetta Seasoning Mix
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 3 cups marinara sauce homemade or store-bought
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine beef, pork, egg, Panko, Parmesan, bruschetta seasoning mix; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Using a wooden spoon or clean hands, stir until well combined. Roll the mixture into 1 1/4-to-1 1/2-inch meatballs, forming about 18-20 meatballs.8 oz 80/20 ground beef, 8 oz ground pork, 1 large egg, ¼ cup bread crumbs, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, 1 tbsp Italian Bruschetta Seasoning Mix, salt
- Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9×9 baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.1 tbsp olive oil
- Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add meatballs, in batches, and cook until all sides are browned, about 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside.
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well and stir in marinara sauce.12 oz spaghetti, 3 cups marinara sauce
- Add pasta to the prepared baking dish and top with meatballs; sprinkle with mozzarella. Place into oven and bake until bubbly and heated through, about 15-20 minutes.2 cups mozzarella cheese
- Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.2 tbsp fresh parsley
Nutrition
Recipes That Go Well With Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs
Photo Credits:
- By Taste The World Cookbook – Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
- By Lilia – Italian Restaurant and Café – By https://www.lilianewyork.com/
- By Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=112382958
- By David Shankbone – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=90026371
- By Jim Griffin – City Building and Unisphere — this morning, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=108719748
- By Jim.henderson – Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8941468
- By Image from Flickr published under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) by user soomness – https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1767/42671359815_5ef8119d53_o.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72365445
- By User:Mcj1800 – User:Mcj1800, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=90026667
- By Steve Cadman – originally posted to Flickr as The United Nations Building, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4478254
- By Kgwo1972 at English Wikipedia – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4172409
I love this recipe.