Spaghetti and Meatballs
This Homemade Spaghetti and Chicken Meatballs recipe brings together tender chicken meatballs, fragrant basil, and rich marinara sauce, all lovingly embraced by a tangle of perfectly cooked spaghetti.
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
For Chicken Meatballs
- 1 pound ground chicken
- ½ cup breadcrumbs preferably Panko
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil finely chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Pasta
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- Salt for pasta water
For Marinara Sauce
- 1 can 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Assembly
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
For Chicken Meatballs
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Mix ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, milk, egg, minced garlic, chopped basil, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Shape mixture into meatballs and place on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until cooked and golden.
For Pasta
- Boil salted water in a large pot.
- Cook spaghetti as per package instructions until al dente.
For Marinara Sauce
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté chopped onion until translucent.
- Add minced garlic, dried oregano, and dried basil. Cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes, season with salt and pepper.
- Simmer sauce for 15-20 minutes.
Bringing It All Together
- Toss cooked spaghetti in marinara sauce.
- Plate spaghetti, top with chicken meatballs.
- Garnish with fresh basil and grated Parmesan.
Notes
- Gently mix the meatball mixture for tender meatballs.
- Wet hands or use an ice cream scoop to shape meatballs.
- Don’t hold back on the basil – it brings amazing flavor.