Spaghetti & Meatballs

  • Minutes to Prepare:
  • Minutes to Cook:
  • Number of Servings: 16
Ingredients
Olive oil, as needed1 onion, chopped2 garlic cloves, smashed2 tablespoons roughly chopped parsley leaves1 cup fat-free milk4 slices white bread, crust removed1 1/2 pounds ground beef1 1/2 pounds ground chicken breast1 large egg1/2 cup grated ParmesanMorton salt substitute & black pepper, to taste4 cups heated Pomodoro Sauce, recipe follows1/2 cup Kraft 2% Mozzarella cheese3 sprigs fresh basil, leaves only32 ounces Muller's Whole Grain SpaghettiSAUCE:1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil1 medium onion, chopped2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes, drained and crushed, liquid reservedMorton salt substitute & black pepper, to taste1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces
Directions
Start by making sauce. Heat 1/2 cup olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-low. Add the onion and garlic and cook until vegetables are soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and about 1/2 cup of the reserved liquid and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the sauce is thick, about 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. Bring to a boil, stirring for a few minutes with a wooden spoon to further break up tomatoes. Reduce heat and let simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in the fresh basil and season again.

Meanwhile, bring a big pot of water to a boil for the spaghetti. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in an ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and parsley and cook until vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and let cool.

In a bowl, pour enough milk over the bread to moisten and let it soak while the onions are cooling. Combine the meats in a large bowl. Add the egg and Parmesan and season generously with salt substitute and pepper. Use your hands to squeeze the excess milk out of the bread and add that to the bowl with the cooled onion mixture. Gently combine all bread-onion mixture and meat mixture with your hands. Don't overwork or the meatballs will be tough. Divide and make into large meatballs.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

Heat a 3-count of oil in the frying pan over medium heat and brown the meatballs on all sides, about 10 minutes. Put them into a baking dish and spoon about half of the Pomodoro sauce over. Shower with Mozzarella and drizzle with olive oil. Put the meatballs in the oven and bake until the meatballs are cooked through, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in the boiling water until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and put it onto a large serving platter. Pour on the rest of the sauce and mix well. Spoon the meatballs on top of the spaghetti and garnish with basil leaves. Serve immediately.

Serving Size = 3 ounces meatballs, 2 ounces pasta

Number of Servings: 16

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user TELLNOTALE.

Servings Per Recipe: 16
Nutritional Info Amount Per Serving
  • Calories: 466.7
  • Total Fat: 16.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 82.8 mg
  • Sodium: 331.4 mg
  • Total Carbs: 46.3 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 6.3 g
  • Protein: 35.3 g

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