Perfect Meatballs and Spaghetti

1. Preheat Oven and Boil Water

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil with a teaspoon of kosher salt.

2. Prepare Meatballs

In a mixing bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, milk, chopped parsley, grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano, kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, eggs, and a third of the minced garlic. Mix thoroughly and roll into meatballs. Place them on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for about 12 minutes until browned and cooked.

3. Cook Spaghetti

Add dried spaghetti to the boiling water and cook until al dente, about one minute less than the package instructions. Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining.

4. Prepare Tomato Sauce

Heat olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat, add the remaining garlic, and let it sizzle. Add red-pepper flakes, crushed tomatoes, whole or diced tomatoes, and kosher salt. Simmer for about five minutes.

5. Combine Meatballs with Sauce

Add the roasted meatballs to the sauce, cover, and let them simmer together for ten minutes.

6. Combine Spaghetti with Sauce and Meatballs

Add the cooked spaghetti to the sauce along with the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together over heat for about a minute until the spaghetti is well-coated in the sauce.