Easy to Prepare Spaghetti and Meatballs Dinner
Skip the Work & Serve a Great Meal for Father's Day or Any Occasion
Jun 16, 2009
Give the gift of a delicious Father's Day dinner by serving spaghetti and meatballs, or select this popular dish for most any family gathering. Inexperienced cooks can prepare this simple pasta dinner with confidence because there are no complicated ingredients or steps involved.
Be sure to read the instructions from start to finish, ensuring all equipment and ingredients are in order. Note that adding garlic bread and a green salad are optional, and that those items have not been added to the ingredient list shown below. Allow an additional 10-15 minutes to the preparation time if the bread and salad are added to the menu. Vegetables added as a side item, or plain bread sticks, are also perfectly acceptable choices.
Spaghetti and Meatballs Dinner for 4-6 People
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
The instructions here refer to dried spaghetti that's purchased on the grocery store shelf, but either fresh or dried can be used.
What is the difference between fresh and dried spaghetti? Fresh spaghetti is usually made with egg and can be found in the refrigerated foods section of the grocery store. Dried spaghetti can last for months in the pantry; dried pasta is made without egg and is little more than semolina flour, water, and salt.
Equipment needed:
- Large pot to hold at least six quarts of water
- Colander to drain the pasta (See photo at the bottom of the page)
- Medium-size pot to heat the sauce
- Microwave-safe plate or oven cookie sheet to heat the meatballs
- Large serving dish
List of ingredients:
- 1 lb. Spaghetti
- 1/4 cup Salt
- Precooked Frozen Meatballs (Choose a favorite brand in an original flavor so the meat flavor will blend with the sauce.)
- 26 oz. Jar Spaghetti Sauce (Use a favorite brand and style, but with no meat added, unless the meatballs are to be omitted from the dinner. Jar sizes may vary slightly among brands.)
- Grated Parmesan Cheese (optional)
Directions for cooking:
- In the large pot, bring 6 quarts of water and 1/4 cup salt to a rolling boil. Add spaghetti. (If the strands stick out of the pot, then carefully push them down as the pasta softens in the water.)
- Arrange frozen meatballs on the microwave plate or oven cookie sheet and begin heating per package instructions.
- While spaghetti cooks and meatballs heat, pour sauce into the medium pan and cover. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until the sauce begins to bubble and is thoroughly heated according to label instructions.
- Cook spaghetti 10 to 15 minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente. Al dente is simply removing a strand of the spaghetti and taking a bite to see if it's done. The bite should be firm, but not chewy. Keep testing every few minutes until the pasta is done.
- In the kitchen sink, carefully pour spaghetti into the colander and drain. Place spaghetti in the serving dish.
- Spoon sauce over spaghetti. Top with heated meatballs.
- Serve spaghetti, allowing each guest to add his own Parmesan cheese.
Additional Menu Suggestions for Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner
Expand the spaghetti dinner menu by adding a green salad and garlic bread. These items are not listed in the grocery list above, so be sure to include them if desired.
Green salads can be made with a variety of ingredients – baby spinach, romaine lettuce, etc. – or assembled with iceberg lettuce only. The simplest solution is to buy a prepackaged salad mix and one or two bottled dressings for variety.
Garlic bread (or plain dinner rolls) adds a complimenting touch to a spaghetti dinner. Frozen garlic bread can be purchased whole or already sliced, and takes just a few minutes to heat in the oven.
Assembling a spaghetti dinner with precooked meatballs and prepared ingredients is an ideal menu solution for novice cooks. A teenager can make dinner as a gift for Father's Day or Mother's Day, without having to make everything from scratch. Experienced cooks with busy schedules often save time and energy by taking advantage of quick and easy cooking shortcuts. Spaghetti and meatballs is a low-cost popular meal that can turn any day into a special occasion.
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