BAKED SPAGHETTI AND MEAT BA

BAKED SPAGHETTI AND MEAT BA

Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs is a hearty, comforting dish that combines tender spaghetti, flavorful meatballs

and gooey cheese, all baked to perfection. This recipe is perfect for a family dinner or when you want to impress

guests with a delicious home-cooked meal. Follow these steps to create a dish that’s sure to be a hit.

Ingredients:

FOR THE MEATBALLS:

• 1 pound ground beef

• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs

• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 1 egg

• 2 minced garlic cloves

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

TO ASSEMBLY:

• 12 ounces spaghetti

• 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce

• 1 cup water

• 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• Fresh Basil leaves to decorate (optional)

Instructions:

STEP 1: PREPARE THE MEATBALLS

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Mix meatball ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced

garlic, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Mix until well combined.3. Form meatballs: Form 2.5 cm balls from the

mixture and place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper.

4. Bake the meatballs for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.

STEP 2: COOKING SPAGHETTI

1.Cook the spaghetti: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the spaghetti until al dente according to the

package instructions. Drain and reserve.

STEP 3: ASSEMBLY THE DISH

1. Mix the spaghetti and sauce: In a large bowl, combine the cooked spaghetti with the marinara sauce and water.

The extra water prevents the spaghetti from drying out while baking.2. Layer the ingredients: In a greased 23 x 33

cm baking dish, cover half of the spaghetti with sauce. Top with half the baked meatballs, half the mozzarella and

half the Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers with remaining spaghetti, meatballs, and cheese.

3.Baking: Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and

bake the cheese for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

STEP 4: SERVE

1. Garnish and serve: Allow the baked spaghetti and meatballs to cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish

with fresh basil leaves if desired.Serve hot and enjoy!

Visual Guide:

• Image 1: Ingredients for the meatballs prepared and ready to mix.

• Image 2: Meatballs formed and placed on the baking tray, ready for the oven.

• Image 3: Fried spaghetti with marinara sauce in a large bowl.

• Image 4: Layer spaghetti, meatballs and cheese in the baking dish.• Photo 5: The final dish, baked to perfection,

with a golden cheese topping.

Tips for Success:

• Do not overmix the meatball mixture; This can make the meatballs tough. Mix until ingredients are combined.

• Using a cookie scoop, form evenly sized meatballs. This ensures they cook at the same speed.• Cook the

spaghetti lightly; It continues to cook in the oven so it doesn’t get mushy when cooked just below al dente.

• After baking, let the dish rest for a few minutes. This allows the layers to become a little firmer, making serving

easier.

For more recipes click here

Thank you for follow me on facebook