Ingredients Meat & Poultry Beef Recipes Ground Beef Recipes Test Kitchen's Best Spaghetti and Meatballs 3.7 (3) It's a recipe you'll make all the time. Prep Time: 30 mins Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Servings: 6 Jump to recipe The test kitchen developed our best spaghetti and meatballs recipe to maximize all the delicious flavors and textures you love in this favorite dish. They swapped out some of the ground beef for chopped mushrooms for the complex flavor of these meatballs—that also makes them a little healthier and more budget-friendly, too. Adding some Pecorino Romano or Parmesan amps up the umami flavor. We use an ice cream scoop to form the meatballs and ensure they are all the same size. They get a quick blast under the broiler for a nice crust, then they soak up the red sauce when they simmer right before serving. Our 30 Most Popular Pasta Recipes Ever Credit: Alpha Smoot Directions Cook onions: Heat a straight-sided skillet over medium, swirl in oil; add onion and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft and translucent, 7 to 9 minutes. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes; cook 30 seconds. Transfer one-third of onion mixture to a bowl and reserve for meatballs. Add tomatoes and simmer sauce: Add tomatoes to skillet; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced and thickened slightly, about 20 minutes. Cook mushrooms: While sauce simmers, heat a large skillet over medium-high and swirl in oil. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and most of moisture has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl with reserved onion mixture; let cool slightly. Preheat broiler; mix meatballs: Preheat broiler with rack 4 inches below heating element. Stir breadcrumbs and milk into mushroom mixture until milk is absorbed. Add cheese, parsley, oregano, egg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add beef and gently fold with your hands until evenly combined Don't overwork the mixture or meatballs will be tough. Form meatballs and broil: Use an ice cream scoop, or roll heaping tablespoons between dampened palms, to form thirty 1 1/2-inch balls. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet brushed with oil. Broil, undisturbed, until browned on top, about 5 minutes. Simmer meatballs in sauce: Transfer meatballs to skillet with red sauce. Simmer, stirring gently, until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Boil and drain pasta: Meanwhile, boil pasta in a large pot of generously salted water until al dente, about 2 minutes less than per package instructions. Drain pasta and return to pot. Toss pasta with sauce and serve: Toss pasta with 1 1/2 cups sauce. Serve, topped with meatballs, more sauce, cheese, red-pepper flakes, and parsley. 5 More Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipes to Try 30-Minute Sausage Meatballs With Spaghetti Turkey Meatballs With Spaghetti Chicken Parmesan Meatballs Spaghetti and Shrimp Meatballs Spaghetti and Eggplant Meatballs