Spaghetti & Meatballs
A family classic, made easy
You'll Need
- 300g spaghetti
- 400g meatballs — homemade from 400g mince, 1 garlic clove (crushed), 1 tsp mixed herbs, breadcrumbs, egg and a pinch of salt, OR a packet/bag of shop-bought meatballs
- 500g passata
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, crushed (for the sauce)
- Pinch of sugar
- Salt & black pepper
Optional Extras
ParmesanMixed herbsMushroomsFresh basil
Make It Your Own
Homemade meatballs let you sneak in grated veg; shop-bought frozen meatballs are a quick, budget-friendly swap.
Serve With
Garlic bread and a corn on the cob (frozen cobettes are a great value swap)
Let's Cook
- If making your own, mix mince with the garlic, herbs, breadcrumbs, egg and a pinch of salt, then roll into balls.
- Fry or bake the meatballs until browned and cooked through.
- Meanwhile, soften the onion for 5 minutes, then add the garlic for 1 minute — this is the base of a proper sauce, not just tinned tomatoes.
- Stir in the passata, a pinch of sugar and salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 10–15 minutes so they take on the flavour.
- Cook spaghetti to packet instructions and serve together, finished with fresh basil and parmesan if you have them.
🎯 Family Challenge: How many meatballs can you roll in one minute?
Little Helpers
3–5: Help roll the meatballs.
6–9: Measure the spaghetti.
10+: Help fry the meatballs, supervised.
Top Tips
💙 Grate carrot or courgette into homemade meatballs for extra veg.💰 Frozen shop-bought meatballs are a handy cheaper shortcut.♻️ Freezes well before or after cooking.
Healthy Highlights
- Protein-rich
- Tomato = vitamin C
- Easy to add hidden veg