Spaghetti and Giant Meatballs ~ kids of all ages love this easy pasta dinner idea, proving once and for all that size DOES matter!
Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Miniature foods never fail to charm me, but super-sized versions of my favorites…they’re the stuff of dreams. Why not? Why not top a plate of pasta with one gargantuan soft-ball sized meatball? Surprise your family, significant other, or just entertain yourself with a fun twist on spaghetti and meatballs.
I couldn’t finish my gigantic meatball, but it made great leftovers the next day. And I’ll admit it, I did chop up that second half into bite-sized pieces. Either way, it was a memorable meal.
Also try ~
Spaghetti and Meatball
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or a mix of 1/2 beef and 1/2 pork sausage
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 tsp onion salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 egg well beaten
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for garnish
- 1/3 cup finely chopped parsley
- olive oil for browning
- a jar of your favorite marinara sauce
- cooked spaghetti
Instructions
- Set oven to 350F
- Put all the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Break up the meat and mix everything together with your fingertips, making sure to distribute everything evenly, without compacting the meat too much.
- Form the mixture into two large meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet until hot, and brown the meatballs on all sides.
- To finish cooking the meatballs, I put them in a small oven safe pot and cover with the marinara sauce. Cover loosely with foil and bake for about 30-40 minutes until the meat is cooked through. A thermometer inserted i the center of a meatball should read 160F.
- Serve over spaghetti, garnished with Parmesan cheese.
7 Comments
Bill Hamilton
August 28, 2020 at 6:25 pmI need a giant meatball recipe that is different than the norm. It needs to be a little spicy, perhaps a hot sausage inside, and makes one want to devour it. Perhaps charing on a gas grill first to brown it, idk. It should be restaurant quality and bursting with flavour. I doubt want to stuff with spaghetti rather than make it a piëce-de-résistance on top of pasta. I need unique and yet simple. Can you help me make a spicy meatball yet enjoyable?
Monica
January 5, 2014 at 4:58 amThis made me chuckle because I’m thinking about my 8-year old’s reaction should I serve this. He would be surprised…and thrilled! It looks amazing! You’ve captured why we love spaghetti & meatballs.
Jenn Every
January 4, 2014 at 7:45 pmYou had me at meatball!!!!! It looks incredible! Pinned! 🙂
Joanne T Ferguson
January 3, 2014 at 5:27 pmG’day! HOW fun, true!
Wish I could come through the screen and try it right now too!
Cheers
[email protected]
January 3, 2014 at 1:52 pmGiant – why not!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
January 3, 2014 at 1:05 pmWhat a fun idea, I love the presentation!
Sarah Toasty
January 3, 2014 at 9:25 amHow fun! Looks incredible, pinned!