Meatballs [My Spaghetti and Meatballs Date Idea]
It’s been years since I’ve watched Lady and the Tramp but this Valentines Day, I couldn’t get the spaghetti and meatballs scene out of my head.
They were two dogs living two different lives coming together over a bowl of pasta and meatballs. Sharing a meal with someone (you’re involved with) can be so romantic, especially if it ends with an accidental kiss by slurping (how else can I describe this part of the scene) on the same spaghetti strand. I mean, come on, how can you not swoon?
From a young age, this 1955 classic solidified to me that pasta forms relationships. How else would Lady be so entranced with Tramp that they form an unlikely bond that one can only interpret as true love by the end of the movie? That’s because of pasta. But seriously, it was honestly such a sweet story, it was imperative I make this Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe for Love Day…especially with the world being what it is today in the midst of a seemingly never ending pandemic.
This Spaghetti and Meatball recipe is a great fit with not much time to prep if you’re one of the countries struggling with another lockdown or store closures. So if you’re wanting to fix something fancy for your loved one for a late Love Day, Valentine’s Day, Gal Day, or Just Cause I Love You Tuesday (seriously guys, random appreciation days are our favourites), this recipe can come together with staples you have on hand, and seasonings you can adjust to your preference. Of course, complete with streaming the Lady and the Tramp, original or live action.
So you’re thinking about your next date night indoors? This Spaghetti and Meatballs dish is made all the more decadent with soft crumbly meatballs tossed in a chunky tomato sauce of your choosing. Recipe below!
Preheat the oven to 350°. Egg - I try to avoid egg in a meatball recipe that does not require toothpicks or skewers because though it is lovely binding agent, it can also mean a heavier meatball, that can be a bit dry.
Ingredients
Instructions
Place water to boil in a medium pot to cook your pasta.
In a medium bowl, place the minced beef.
Separately, mix all of the seasonings, and oats until well combined. Mixing them separately means less time mixing the ground beef - the more you mix, the tougher and chewier it can get.
Add the oat seasoning mix to the beef evenly over the top and add the ketchup and milk (and egg if you're going to).
Mix by hand until just combined. Be careful to be light touched with the mixture, don't press or squeeze the juices out of it.
Pinch the mixture, I use a rule of thumb of the palm of my hand, and gently roll the meat into a ball. Continue until all of the mixture is used up. You should have about 10 - 12 balls. The balls are pretty large so should be able to feed 3 - 4 people.
Place on a tray that is sprayed with cooking spray and place in the oven for 20 minutes.
While the meatballs are cooking, chop up the aromatics (onion, garlic, bell pepper, thyme) for the tomato sauce edit (let's call it)
Heat a medium pan on the stove with a tsp of olive oil at medium high heat.
Once heated, place the aromatics into the pan and cook until soft and cooked through.
Add a can of your favourite tomato sauce, the other spices and stir until combined.
Drop the spaghetti into the boiling water (it should be boiled by this time) and cook for around 10 minutes until al dente.
Turn your sauce on lo, and once the meatball time is up, gently place the meatballs into the sauce to begin absorbing some of that tomato flavour. If you haven't used egg, there's a likelihood that your meatballs are softer and quicker to crumble, so please take great care, but I promise the texture is soooo good.
After two minutes, flip the meatballs to give the other side some time in the juices.
Strain pasta when done.
Remove meatballs from the pan, toss pasta into the sauce and give it a good coating to absorb some of the juice as well. Or if you'd like the look I went for: Go to the below step first:
Scoop some of the excess sauce to the center of the plate.
Plate pasta in the center of the dish.
Place 1 meatball at the top of the formation and the other two at the side.
Garnish with one of the herbs used to make your creation.
Optional: Sprinkle some grated parmesan on top. Notes
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I remember this movie from my childhood and that iconic scene has been cemented as the ideal romantic dinner. You have brought that animated bowl of spaghetti and meatballs into reality, a physical eye candy dish with mouthwatering sauce. I love it!