Vern's Southern Style Spaghetti and Meatballs

Makes: 8 servings Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 3 hours, 0 minutes Ready In: 3 hours, 30 minutes This recipe is down from my mother to me many years ago. It has been my favorite for many years. Editors Note: For a flavor variety on the meatballs use a combination beef and pork meat. As I typed this recipe, I wondered which people preferred - combine the pasta with the sauce or spoon the sauce over the pasta, thick sauce or thin sauce. What's your favorite way?

Category: Main Dish

Cuisine: Southern

12 reviews 
Ready in 1 hour
by lavernsmith

Ingredients

Meatball

3 lbs Ground beef

----- or 3 pounds Pork chops (optional)

----- or 3 pounds Ballpark Franks (optional)

----- or 3 pounds Pig tails (optional)

1 medium Onion chopped

Parmesan or Romano cheese for topping

2 tbs Garlic powder

2 tbs Oil for browning meatballs

Natures seasonings to taste

2 cans stewed tomatoes 15oz.

1 clove Garlic crushed

2 cans 6 oz tomato paste

2 bay leaves

1 medium bell pepper chopped

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon Oregano


Directions

As I have said before, it is all about taste. Taste as you cook and it will turn out the way you want it. Directions Meatballs: Combine thoroughly the ground meat, onion, cheese, and seasonings. Form golf ball size meatballs and brown in oiled skillet. Set aside when done. Meat choices:: Instead of meatball, break up the ground beef in skillet. Instead of ground beef, try pork chops, or ballpark franks or my Favorite of all time is Pig Tails, this one has a favor that is out of this world GOOD. Sauce: In a thick bottom large pot with oil added, simmer on low heat the stewed tomatoes and tomato paste with 1/2 cup of water for 1 or 2 hours without the seasonings. Add more water, 1/4 cup at a time if sauce gets too thick. You do want a thick sauce. My opinion the thicker the better. Stir to prevent sticking. Add the remaining ingredients, stir and then add the meatballs. Cook on low heat for one more hour or as this old Southerner says - "Use your own judgment if it is enough (on the cooking time)" and maybe add a li'l more water if needed. I perfer the sauce to be thick. It just don't taste near as good when the sauce is thin like water. Optional - Add a tablespoon at a time (15 minutes) of flour mixed with 1 tablespoon of hot oil from cooked meat to thicken, stiring. until disired thickness has been reached. Serve over your favorite pasta. Serve with Vern's Southern Style Fryed Potatos with onion. Serve with Vern's Southern Style Buttermilk Biscuits.

Reviews


Very easy to make! Added more bell pepper, carrots and mushrooms- tasted great!

Valerie411

This recipe has the basics for a really fabulous sauce. Adapt it to your own tastes and you're in business!

ZenaUBugn

Made only the sauce. It' s easy and delicious, but I did have to add more water as it suggested or it would have burned up in the first hour.

Decar48

[I made edits to this recipe.]

lavernsmith

[I made edits to this recipe.]

lavernsmith

See all 12 reviews »

Review this recipe »

Related Recipes

Get the BigOven app!

Find any recipe, add your own, make grocery lists easily from recipes. Enter any 3 ingredients and BigOven will tell you what you can make. It's free! (4.5/5 stars)