mama's spaghetti and meatballs

(1 rating)
Recipe by
Cathy Smith
Cooper now in Columbus Ga., TX

My mother was NOT Italian but she made a heck of a spaghetti and meatballs. Sometimes I just saute 1 pound hamburger and 1 pound Sweet Italian sausage and just make meat sauce as is pictured but I have included the meatball recipe. Growing up I loved her 'sketti' so much, I used to spoon some on bread and slice up a couple of meatballs to make a 'sammich' for lunch till they were all gone. She did not make them often cause it had to simmer for so long and that was before crock pots so I never let it go to waste.

(1 rating)
yield 6 serving(s)
prep time 20 Min
cook time 6 Hr
method Stove Top

Ingredients For mama's spaghetti and meatballs

  • 1 can
    (12 ounce) tomato paste
  • 1 can
    (3 ounce) tomato paste
  • 1 can
    tomato soup
  • 1-2 c
    water (see note)
  • 4 clove
    garlic or 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1
    bay leaf
  • 1 tsp
    oregano or 1 tablespoon fresh
  • 1 tsp
    basil or 1 tablespoon fresh
  • 1 Tbsp
    parsley or small handful of chopped fresh
  • 1 tsp
    kosher salt or 3/4 teaspoon table salt
  • 1/2 tsp
    pepper
  • 1-2 Tbsp
    extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp
    dried minced onion or 1/2 small fresh onion diced
  • 1 bunch
    sliced mushrooms, optional
  • 1 lb
    spaghetti cooked al dente or as desired
  • MEATBALLS
  • 1 lb
    ground beef
  • 1 lb
    ground italian sausage, i use sweet but can use hot if preferred
  • 1/2 c
    bread crumbs
  • 2
    eggs, slightly beaten
  • 3 clove
    garlic, crushed
  • 1/2
    small onion diced
  • 1 tsp
    kosher salt or 3/4 teaspoon table salt
  • 1/2 tsp
    pepper
  • 1/2 tsp
    basil
  • 1/2 tsp
    oregano
  • 1 Tbsp
    parsley dried
  • 3 Tbsp
    grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 oz
    finely chopped prosciutto

How To Make mama's spaghetti and meatballs

  • 1
    Saute onions in olive oil for maybe 5 minutes till translucent. Add mushrooms and saute just a couple of minutes. Add these and all ingredients except pasta to crock pot. Add sauteed ground meat or meatballs and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve over pasta with plenty of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
  • 2
    Meatballs: Mix all ingredients together and shape into 1-2 inch meatballs. Add them to sauce.
  • 3
    Notes: Crock-pots were not around until after my mama passed away. She did not make spaghetti often because it needed to be simmered for 4-5 hours and she had to keep a watchful eye and add water as needed. Today I use a crock-pot and cook it on low all day. I use as much water as I need to make it the right consistency. So the amount of water will vary greatly between stove top and crock-pot. The above pictured was made with just browned ground beef but the meatballs that go with it is fantastic.

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