Meatballs with spaghetti is the classic pasta dinner to reach for when you want something extra comforting, but still doable on a weeknight. Juicy beef and pork meatballs, a bright skillet red sauce, and spaghetti come together with layers of flavor built at every step.
Make the panade: In a small bowl, tear the slices of bread (with the crust removed) into small pieces. Add the milk and mash into a paste. Then set aside.
2 slices bread, ⅓ cup whole milk
Form the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the beef, pork, prepared bread paste, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, basil, oregano, thyme, egg, onion, garlic, and Parmesan. Using your hands, combine and work together until the mixture is very evenly mixed. Do not worry about overmixing. Make sure it is evenly combined. Portion the mixture into 20 equal meatballs and set on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
1 lb ground beef, 1 lb ground pork, 1 ½ tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, 1 tsp dried basil, ½ tsp dried oregano, 1 large egg, 3 tbsp grated onion, 2 oz Parmesan cheese, 3 cloves garlic
Cook the meatballs: In a 12-inch skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium. Add half of the meatballs and brown on all sides, about 1-2 minutes per side. Repeat with the second half of the meatballs. Once all the meatballs are browned, return to the parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven. Bake until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F, about 15-18 minutes.
Prepare the sauce: Heat the same skillet the meatballs were browned in over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, basil, oregano, thyme, fennel seeds, salt, and stir until fragrant, 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a low simmer for 20 minutes.
1 small onion, 2 cloves garlic, ½ tsp red pepper flakes, 1 tsp dried basil, ½ tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried thyme, ½ tsp fennel seeds, 1 tsp kosher salt, 2 28-oz cans diced tomatoes (with juice)
Assemble: When the sauce is finished, dress the spaghetti to personal preference and use the remaining sauce with the meatballs.