Meatballs and Pasta in Creamy Marinara Sauce

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Meatballs and Pasta are a quick and easy meal that’s luxurious enough for a date night, but easy enough for a weeknight dinner. After browning your meatballs, all you have to do is add the pasta and creamy marinara sauce ingredients to the very same pot. This one-pot dinner is easy to clean up and it’ll thrill your tastebuds!

a bowl of pasta and meatballs beside crusty bread and with a full pot of the dish partially seen in the background

Why You’ll Love Meatballs and Pasta in this Creamy Marinara Sauce

Spaghetti (or any pasta) and meatballs is such a classic dish, but I avoided it for so long because of all the pots and pans I’d have to clean up. Once my eldest daughter started requesting it, I knew I had to find a way to make this delicious meal easier to make and clean up.

I realized I could brown the meatballs in a large pot (or Dutch oven), remove them briefly to add in the other ingredients, and then nestle the meatballs back into the pasta mixture and cook everything in the same pot. Just cover and simmer to perfection!

This meal turned out full of flavor with perfectly juicy meatballs, al dente penne, and a creamy marinara sauce. Enjoy making this dish on a cozy weeknight in, or when you’re trying to wine and dine your special someone!

More Meatball Recipes

Ingredients

The grocery list below may look a little longer than you’d like, but the ingredients are all simple and easy to find. I’ve broken it down into two separate parts to make things less overwhelming, but be sure to check out the full recipe card for measurements.

Homemade Meatball Ingredients

Ground beef
Garlic – minced
Dry fine bread crumbs
Egg – slightly beaten
Dried parsley
Milk
Salt and Pepper

Penne and Marinara Ingredients

Penne
Can of crushed tomatoes
Jar of marinara sauce
Cheese – grated parmesan and shredded mozzarella
Heavy cream
Water
Wine – white or red
Dried basil

a close up photo of penne pasta and juicy meatballs in a bowl covered in melted cheese and marinara

How To Make Meatballs and Pasta

Step 1: Make Meatballs

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, garlic, bread crumbs, egg, parsley, milk, salt, and pepper. Shape the mixture into 14 balls, and then fry them in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium to medium-low heat with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil. They’ll be done in about 5-7 minutes when they’re lightly browned.

Step 2: Make Pasta

Remove the meatballs from the pan and set them aside. Add in the remaining ingredients except for shredded mozzarella. Stir to combine and nestle the meatballs back into the pot. Cover and simmer on low for 15-17 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and the meatballs are cooked through.

You may need to gently stir on occasion to make sure everything is cooked evenly.

Step 3: Add Cheese

Finally, sprinkle the dish with shredded mozzarella and cover the pot until the cheese has melted. Portion it out into individual bowls and enjoy!

a bowl full of meatballs and penne pasta beside a couple chunks of crusty bread

FAQs

Is it better to fry or bake meatballs for spaghetti?

This is really up to personal preferences, but I think frying is superior for a dish like this. I absolutely love to bake meatballs as part of a sheet pan dish, but this one-pot meal makes frying and simmering everything so easy and delicious!

Should you cook meatballs before putting them in sauce?

In this case, yes! Frying them a little bit until they’re browned allows the meatballs to hold their shape a lot better once you nestle them in the sauce. They’re still undercooked so they absorb some of the sauce’s flavors and the sauce absorbs the goodness of the meatballs, but this way you know they won’t crumble and fall apart as your pasta sauce cooks.

Is it better to use milk or water in meatballs?

I say it’s always better to use milk! It adds so much moisture to the meatballs and it helps tenderize the meat so it’s nice and juicy when cooked.

Serving Suggestions

This penne meatball dish is so delicious paired with a fresh and crisp salad! Try a Simple Caesar Salad or a Pear Salad with Apricots for something with a brighter flavor. Don’t forget to grab a loaf of crusty bread and some full-bodied red wine to round out your meal.

Finally, serve your guests some Chocolate Turtle Cake to end the evening with a decadent treat.

Storage

Store your meatballs and pasta in an airtight container. Keep the dish in the fridge for up to 5 days, and refrigerate to warm it through.

a large pot full of meatballs and pasta with melted cheese on top and a wooden spoon resting inside the pot

More Italian Pasta Dishes to Try

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