Spaghetti and Meatballs - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

This easy Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe has juicy homemade meatballs simmered in a homemade tomato sauce, served over spaghetti for a cozy, comforting meal! See the step by step recipe video down in the recipe card.

Spaghetti is our kids’ favorite meal, and this homemade version is right at the top of the list alongside this Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce and this healthier Instant Pot Spaghetti!

It’s made with the juiciest Homemade Meatballs, which was my 6 Ingredient Staple recipe this February!

That means for the rest of the month I’ll be sharing all kinds of different ways to enjoy those juicy, flavorful meatballs — starting with this classic homemade tomato sauce and spaghetti!

I confess that I have no shame in using store bought tomato sauce for spaghetti any night of the week, but there is something so fabulous about making everything from scratch, using the best ingredients possible.

The sauce for this easy Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe is made with just a few ingredients, so there’s almost no reason to go for the jar.

How to make this Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe ahead:

I almost always have a batch of my homemade meatball recipe tucked away in the freezer, which makes this Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe a breeze.

Simply get the sauce simmering on the stove, and then add in the meatballs right from frozen.

While your meatballs are warming, cook your spaghetti until al dente in a pot of boiling, salted water.

Here are a few more ways to make this recipe ahead:

• Prep the tomato sauce in advance and store in the fridge up to 4 days or freeze up to 6 months.
• Prep the tomato sauce and add the meatballs, then let cool slightly, cover and refrigerate up to 4 days.
• Cook the spaghetti until al dente, drain and refrigerate up to 4 days. To reheat, either add to a pot of boiling water and heat 1 minute, or stir some tomato sauce into the pasta and heat gently over medium-low until heated through.

Variations and Substitutions for this recipe:

• Meatballs: you can use store bought meatballs in a pinch, but I don’t think there’s anything that compares to the flavor of homemade!
• Tomatoes: if you like a chunkier tomato sauce, you can use diced tomatoes instead of crushed
• Seasoning: feel free to add more garlic if you’re a garlic lover, more red pepper flakes if you’re a spice lover, and more herbs or sprinkle in some fresh chopped herbs if you love that herby flavor. This recipe is simple and really easy to customize to your tastes!
• Pasta: obviously, you can cook any style or shape of pasta and it will work in this recipe. I usually choose white spaghetti noodles with added fiber for the best of both worlds.
• If you’re feeling extra: some chopped roasted red peppers (from the jar), basil or roasted red pepper pesto or a good handful of freshly grated Parmesan cheese would add a ton of great flavor!

Can I freeze spaghetti and meatballs?

The short answer is yes!

There are a few ways to freeze spaghetti and meatballs, and it just comes down to your tastes and preferences.

• Freeze the meatballs in the sauce: place the meatballs and sauce in an airtight freezer container or freezer bag and remove as much of the air as possible. Freeze up to 3 months before thawing and serving.
• Stir some of the sauce into the spaghetti and place in a lightly grease baking dish. Spread the meatballs and remaining sauce over top. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and foil (using both helps to eliminate freezer burn), and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerate before warming through in the oven at 350 degrees F (remove the plastic wrap and put the foil back on to keep the moisture in). If the pasta begins to look dry, drizzle on ¼ cup of water and continue baking.

More spaghetti recipes you’ll love!

• Healthy One Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce – with added veggies!
• Healthier Baked Chicken Spaghetti — no canned soups anywhere in sight!
• Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti — perfect for busy days!