Sbarro Mama’s Meatball Recipe with Spaghetti & Sauce

This Sbarro Mama’s meatball recipe with spaghetti and sauce is a keeper! Tender beef meatballs packed with ricotta, parmesan cheese, and seasonings served over spaghetti and marinara sauce! These meatballs are so easy to make at home, you could also use spicy Italian sausage in the mix. We like larger meatballs but you can make them to be any size, these are also freezer friendly so make an extra batch!

This simple recipe is great for family dinners or a great comfort food! Meatballs only take 10-15 minutes to prepare and bake up super quick. These can also be pan fried, cooked in the slow cooker, or cooked in the air fryer!

Highlights of this simple recipe:

• Quick recipe, perfect for weeknights
• Good way to stretch ground beef
• Versatile, serve with pasta, polenta, mashed potatoes, or with roasted veggies
• Family favorite, kids love beef meatballs
• Budget friendly, simple ingredients
• Pasta and store-bought marinara sauce come together quickly for an easy meal
• Meatballs are loaded with ricotta cheese and parmesan for extra flavor
• Simple and flavorful
• Meatballs are baked for easy clean up

Serve your Sbarro beef meatballs over a big bowl of your favorite pasta and marinara. These are also good with mashed potatoes, orzo, or any kind of veggie! These meatballs also make great meatball subs, top with extra sauce and some mozzarella or provolone cheese!

Grocery Store List & Substitutions:

• Ground beef, could substitute ground chicken, ground Italian sausage, or ground lamb
• Panko bread crumbs, or use Italian bread crumbs
• Romano cheese, could use parmesan cheese or whole milk mozzarella cheese
• Ricotta cheese, could use blended cottage cheese as a substitute
• Whole large eggs
• Kosher salt
• Fresh cracked black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Fresh garlic cloves
• Dried basil
• Dried parsley
• Pasta of choice
• Fresh basil or fresh parsley for garnish

Variations & Serving Ideas:

• Add in fresh cherry tomatoes to your pasta for a burst of freshness
• Turn into meatball subs
• Use meatball on top of pizza along with dollops of creamy ricotta cheese

Quick steps for the beef meatballs:

• Firstly combine meatball mixture
• Then portion and roll into even sized balls
• Bake meatballs until cooked through
• Secondly cook pasta according to package directions
• Toss with warm marinara
• Lastly, serve meatballs over top of spaghetti

If you like these Sbarro Mama’s Meatball Recipe with Spaghetti & Sauce, try these other delicious meatball recipes…

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Turkey Meatballs

Easy Instant Pot Teriyaki Meatballs Recipe

One-Pot Chicken Piccata Meatballs

Quick and Easy Instant Pot Cocktail Meatballs Recipe

Easy Instant Pot BBQ and Grape Jelly Meatballs

Easy Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Perfect for meatball lovers! These juicy meatballs are full of flavor and so simple to make, they are freezer friendly so make a double batch to store for later! Serve with a homemade or store-bought savory tomato sauce and some pasta and you have a quick and hearty meal!

Tools I used for these easy meatballs:

• Glasslock Glass Food Storage Containers – the square containers are the perfect size for lunches or leftovers, stain proof, and they are dishwasher safe
• Tongs – a must have kitchen tool!
• USA Pan Half Sheet Pan – my go-to sheet pans, these are truly non-stick and clean up nicely
• Portion Scoops – perfect for getting even sized meatballs.

Recipe FAQs:

Do Sbarro meatballs contain pork?

The answer is no, they are 100% beef. This recipe also calls for 100% beef but can be substituted as desired.

What do you put in meatballs so they don’t fall apart?

Binding agents like eggs and breadcrumbs help keep the meatballs together. This recipe also uses ricotta cheese and Romano cheese which keep the meatballs in tact!

Tips for perfect meatballs:

• Don’t overmix the beef mixture
• Pan fry a small piece to double check the taste is as desired
• Use portion scoops to get even sized meatballs
• Start with less baking time and add more as needed
• Serve immediately

Instructions for the Sbarro Mama’s Meatball Recipe with Spaghetti & Sauce:

• In a large mixing bowl combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, ricotta cheese, Romano cheese, salt, pepper, garlic, garlic powder, parsley and basil. Gently mix with your hands until evenly combined. Use a portion scoop to scoop 1 oz. meatballs*. Roll into balls and place evenly on a sheet pan, you will get about 25 meatballs.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for 18-22 minutes until meatballs are cooked through. Serve meatballs over spaghetti and marinara sauce. Leftover meatballs can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

Notes:

*Meatballs can be formed into any size, if you prefer larger meatballs, adjust baking time as needed.

*Cooking time may need to be adjusted by the size of the meatballs, they should reach an internal temperature of 155 degrees F. before serving. 

*Meatballs can be stored uncooked in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

*If you want crispier meatballs, pan fry in a little olive oil before baking

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