30-Minute Spaghetti and Meatballs

3.3

(65)

Our quick recipe turns this comfort food favorite into an any-night dinner.

Total Time:

30 mins

Servings:

4

For a quick comfort-food dinner it's hard to beat this easy spaghetti and meatballs. Our cozy pasta takes just 30 minutes to make—and doesn't sacrifice any of the flavor.

What's the secret? Using sweet or hot Italian sausage streamlines the meatball process. Just take the sausage out of its casing and form it into meatballs, no extra ingredients or mixing needed. Brown them, then set them aside while you make a speedy tomato sauce with onion and canned tomatoes. The meatballs finish cooking in the sauce and add their seasoned porky flavor. Cook the spaghetti while the meatballs are simmering, and you'll have dinner on the table in half an hour.

close up of spaghetti and meatballs on white plate with fork

Sausage Meatballs

These quick meatballs can be made with sweet or hot Italian sausage. Alternatively, try this recipe using fresh chicken or turkey sausages.

Directions

Boil water and form sausage meatballs:

Set a large pot of salted water to boil. Remove sausage meat from casings and roll into 24 balls.
Heat oil and brown sausage:

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high. Add sausage and cook until browned all over, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer meatballs to a plate.
Cook onions

Add onion to pan and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add tomatoes:

Add tomatoes, breaking them up as you go, and season with salt and pepper; bring sauce to a boil and cook 5 minutes.
Cook pasta:

Add pasta to water and cook according to package instructions.
Add meatballs to sauce and simmer:

Meanwhile, add meatballs to sauce and rapidly simmer until sauce is slightly thickened, about 7 minutes.
Drain pasta, combine, and serve:

Drain pasta, then toss with remaining sauce and meatballs.