If you have ever had a heaping plate of freshly cooked spaghetti and meatballs, you would know how tempting it is to keep coming back for more. Tender beef and pork meatballs simmered in a rich, flavorful tomato sauce and served with spaghetti – there is perhaps no pasta dish as comforting and scrumptious as this.

Contrary to common belief, this comforting “Italian” marinara sauce recipe does not, in fact, come from Italy.

Most Italians love their spaghetti. They enjoy meatballs, too. But spaghetti and meatballs together? Not really.
Other than those catering to foreign tourists, you won’t even find any restaurants in Italy serving spaghetti and meatballs.

It was the Italian immigrants who came to America in the late 19th century that created this dish when they found that meat in America was more plentiful and less expensive than back home.

Now spaghetti and meatballs is one of the most popular meals not just in the US but around the world.

If you want to enjoy this delicious dish at home, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Season Your Meat When You Blend the Mixture
Always season your meat when you mix it in. If you don’t, the flavors will not blend and will remain flat. If you are unsure if the mixture is properly seasoned, you can always make a tiny meatball or patty (as a test) and cook it. This will allow you to taste the meat and adjust the seasoning if required. A rule of thumb is to use 1 teaspoon of salt per pound of meat.

2. Don’t Forget Your Herbs
Unless you want your meatballs to taste like a hamburger, add the herbs. You can go beyond the regular parsley and basil and experiment with flavors by adding mint, oregano, thyme, and so on. Nutmeg is a great way to add another layer of flavor to the meat.

3. Use Your Hands to Mix
Once you have all your ingredients in a bowl, mix them using your hand. This will help you control the texture of the meatballs and also incorporate all the ingredients without crushing the meat. Make sure, however, that you don’t overmix if you want the meatballs to be loosely packed and tender.

4. Use an Authentic Marinara Sauce
The sauce is, undoubtedly, one of the most important elements in spaghetti and meatballs. This is why you need to ensure that you use the best quality marinara that lends a vibrant flavor to the dish. Dell’Amore Marinara offers a rich, concentrated tomato flavor with the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

5. Cook Your Spaghetti Till It Is Al Dente
You could have the most flavorsome meatballs and marinara sauce at the ready but undercooked or overcooked spaghetti can be your undoing. Pasta should only be boiled till it is al dente. It should then be allowed to cook in the sauce so that it can soak up all the tomato-y and meaty goodness.

If you love digging into a hearty bowl of spaghetti and meatballs on the weekends or even the weekdays, make sure you use Dell’Amore Marinara for a burst of flavor and richness.

Check out our online store to discover our assortment of marinara sauces in addition to other products like pasta. We also have some of the best marinara sauce recipes for you to try.