Spaghetti and Meatballs

This has been a family favorite for years. It is modified from the children’s book, Spaghetti and Meatballs, All Covered with Cheese. It is so easy and the meatballs can be made ahead. They even freeze well before or after cooking. If freezing, you can freeze raw or brown on skillet and turn heat to low for a few minutes and then let cool and freeze. Either way you freeze them, be sure to let them thaw entirely so the water doesn’t pop in the pan and then start cooking where you left off. Another thing I’ve learned for cooking pasta… put a little splash of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt in the pot of water with the noodles to prevent sticking and boiling over. And… PS… I have tried to take pretty picture of spaghetti and meatballs and I just can’t get it right… I’ll keep trying so you have something pretty to look at, lol.

*I recently tried these with 1 pound Shady Grove Ranch sausage and 1 pound Shady Grove ground beef and it’s our new favorite way to eat these! The recipe is the same except I doubled it, but used 1 1/2 teaspoon salt. I used the same amount of sauce and it worked great!*

*This is DAIRY FREE and the meatballs are GLUTEN FREE and can be served with mashed potatoes*

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef or 1 pound sausage (or double the recipe and use 1 pound of each, which is our new preference!)
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup oats
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon sea salt (use 1/2 teaspoon sea salt if using sausage; or if doubling and using 1 pound ground beef and 1 pound sausage, use 1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt)
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 package whole wheat spaghetti (lately, I prefer the Bionaturea sourough pasta, but any pasta will do)
• 25-30 ounce Whole Foods organic creamy vodka jar marinara sauce (this sauce is delicious, only about $3, and has only real, whole food ingredients – I always keep a few jars on hand for quick meals) or about 25-30 ounces homemade marinara sauce
• Optional: Parmesan for serving

Directions

Mix all ingredients except oil, spaghetti and sauce. Form into golf ball size balls.

Heat oil in frying pan and brown meatballs over medium heat.

Add marinara to meatballs and let simmer for 20 minutes, covered.

Prepare spaghetti noodles per package directions.

Serve over spaghetti noodles and top with parmesan.

Enjoy!