Spaghetti & Meatballs: The Cook Like a Dad Way

I’m sure every parent out there has fussy eaters in their family like I do. Over the years, I have learned how to change my favorite recipes to be more “kid-friendly,” which generally means taking the core ingredients, tweaking the recipe in order to have everyone eating the same meal, and enjoying a healthy portion.

In this recipe, I am going to show you how I make the kid-friendly version of classic spaghetti & meatballs. By mixing the right ingredients together, you really can get the fussiest eaters in your family to enjoy a great pasta dish. The recipe is condensed into three easy steps with approximate time allotment which will help you get the meal on the table in 30 minutes or less. Use the video below as a guide, in addition to the “play-by-play” recipe.

Cook Like a Dad Spaghetti and Meatballs (feeds family of 4)

Grocery List:

I Pkg. Dry Pasta

1 Pkg. Pork Sausage

3 Tbsp Olive Oil

3 Tbsp Italian Seasoning

3 Tbsp Minced Garlic

1 Red Onion

1 Lemon

1 Red, Orange or Yellow Bell Pepper

1 Pkg.Fresh Basil

1 Bushel of Italian Parsley 

1 Can Crushed Tomatoes

1 Can Tomato Paste

1 Can Stewed Tomatoes (Optional)

Prep Time & Meatballs (0–9 Minute Mark)

Like any "Cook Like a Dad" recipe, I like to tell my viewers to feel comfortable making changes to it. If you are not a pork sausage fan, no problem. Use any type of sausage for your meatballs (turkey sausage, beef sausage, tofu sausage, etc.); the important part of the recipe is in the “prep time” with the ingredients. I like to prepare my sausage with fresh chopped basil, Italian parsley, red onion, and bell pepper. The combination of these ingredients makes the taste of the sausage come alive, so I strongly recommend for you to take this step in my recipe.

The Sauce: Chunky vs. Non-Chunky (10–15 Minute Mark)

When it comes to sauce, the lines are drawn in my family between chunky pasta sauce and non-chunky sauce. Personally, I prefer chunks, but the goal is to make every member of the family eat healthy and enjoy a healthy portion. In this recipe, I am using crushed tomatoes as my base sauce.

For other parents reading this recipe, it is perfectly fine to use an all-purpose, pre-made pasta sauce from the jar. These are readily available in any grocery store in the pasta section. Just make sure you follow the video recipe and ADD the fresh basil, parsley, garlic and lemon into the base sauce to capture the intended flavor of the recipe.

Bringing the Flavors Together (16–30 Minute Mark)

Place a pot of water on to boil while the meatballs are cooking.  Now it is time to form the meatballs. Set a medium-heat pan with a little olive oil and minced garlic. Remember, the pan has got to be large enough to hold the meatballs and the pasta sauce that will be combined. Next, place ping-pong ball sized meatballs into the pan and allow them to brown for 12-15 minutes.

I recommend using a lid when browning the meatballs, as the lid captures the heat to maximize cooking time. When browning time is reached, lower the heat of the pan and drop the pasta sauce into the pan. At this point, the pot of boiling water should be ready for the pasta. Set the table and the family should be ready to serve before reaching the 30-minute mark.

Watching the video a couple times will help you get more comfortable and confident making this recipe. My approach to this recipe is to help busy parents take the time to make an easy, affordable meal to enjoy with their family.

See how “Spaghetti Thursdays” can be part of your weekly meal plan, and tell me how this recipe worked out for your family...

Richard “RJ” Jaramillo is a single parent expert, entrepreneur, and founder of SingleDad.com, a website and social media resource dedicated to single parenting, the newly-divorced, re-married, widowed and single dad with children. RJ lives in San Diego with his three kids.