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This flavorful one pot pasta with meatballs is a cozy, satisfying meal that comes together with minimal effort and cleanup. Everything cooks in a single pan, from the juicy homemade meatballs to the tender spaghetti and rich tomato sauce. With a handful of simple ingredients and pantry staples, you can create a hearty, Italian-inspired dinner that’s sure to become a favorite. Perfect for busy weeknights or casual family meals, this dish is as easy to make as it is to love.
One pot pasta with meatballs is a hearty, easy dinner made with fresh meatballs, tender spaghetti, juicy cherry tomatoes and briny olives, all cooked in one skillet.
You may also enjoy chicken parm meatballs, Instant Pot mac and cheese, 20-minute chicken flatbread, beef taquitos, and beef and potato bake.
Why You’ll Love It
One pan cleanup: Fewer dishes to wash up afterwards make this a weeknight win.
Full of flavor: Garlic, cherry tomatoes and parmesan pack in rich taste.
Hearty and filling: Meatballs and pasta always make a satisfying combo.
Simple ingredients: Everything in this dish is easy to find and prep.
Family favorite: One pot pasta with meatballs is great for all ages and easy to tweak to your palate.
One Pot Pasta with Meatballs Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Ground beef: Forms juicy, tender meatballs. I don’t recommend using extra-lean beef, as it can become dry.
Onion: Adds sweetness and depth to both the meatballs and sauce.
Garlic cloves: Bring bold, savory flavor.
Egg: Helps bind the meatball mixture.
Cherry tomatoes: Add fresh, bright sweetness to the sauce.
Tomato paste: Deepens the tomato flavor.
Castelvetrano olives: Add a buttery, briny bite.
Parsley: Fresh herbs brighten the final dish.
Olive oil: Used for cooking and adding richness.
Parmesan: Finishes the dish with salty, nutty flavor.
Spaghetti: The pasta base that soaks up all the flavor. Spaghetti is the best pasta for meatballs, according to many, but you can use another kind.
Granulated sugar: Balances the acidity of the tomatoes.
Dried oregano: Brings classic Italian herb flavor.
How to Make Easy One Pot Spaghetti Meatballs
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Mix and form meatballs: Combine beef, onion, garlic, egg and seasoning, then shape into meatballs.
Brown the meatballs: Cook them in olive oil until golden on all sides.
Add aromatics and sauce: Stir in onion, garlic, tomato concentrate, oregano, sugar, cherry tomatoes and a bit of water.
Add pasta and cook: Pour in remaining water, bring to a boil, then add spaghetti.
The finishing touches: Stir in olives, parsley and parmesan before serving.
Substitutions and Variations
Use ground turkey: A leaner option that still holds flavor. You could also mix and match, perhaps half beef and half turkey or half beef and half pork.
Swap pasta: Use penne or linguine if preferred. You could use fresh pasta instead of dried, as long as you adjust the cooking time to match.
Gluten-free: Use your preferred gluten-free pasta to make it.
Add veggies: Stir in spinach or bell peppers for extra nutrition.
Make it spicy: Add red pepper flakes to the sauce for heat.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your meal with farinata (a type of Italian pancake) or arancini (crispy fried risotto balls).
Main dish: Enjoy this one pot pasta and meatballs for your main course. As it’s a one pot meal, you don’t need to serve sides, but if you want to, perhaps Italian white bean salad or homemade mushroom focaccia would be good.
Dessert: Finish off with a delicious chocolate hazelnut semifreddo.
How to Store Mediterranean Spaghetti and Meatballs
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 days.
Freeze: You can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm it back up in a pan on the stove or in the microwave.
Top Tips
Don’t overcrowd the skillet: Brown the meatballs in batches if needed.
Stir pasta occasionally: Prevents sticking and ensures even cooking.
Use ripe cherry tomatoes: For extra sweetness in the sauce.
Grate parmesan fresh: It melts better and adds better flavor.
One Pot Pasta with Meatballs FAQs
Yes, it cooks right in the sauce along with the meatballs.
No, they finish cooking in the sauce as the pasta cooks.
One Pot Pasta with Mediterranean Meatballs Recipe
One Pot Pasta with Meatballs
Equipment
- Skillet Large with Lid
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Cups ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 Cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 1 Cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 Tablespoons tomato concentrate
- ½ Cup olives, I used Castelvetrano
- ½ Cup parsley, freshly chopped
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons Parmesan, freshly grated
- 7 Ounces spaghetti, dried
- 3 ½ Cups water
- 1 Teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 Teaspoons dried oregano
Instructions
- Add the beef, one half of a chopped onion, 2 crushed garlic cloves, an egg, and a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to a large bowl. Mix everything together.
- With your hands, shape the mixture into meatballs.
- Pour 3 tablespoons of olive oil into a skillet and heat it. Add meatballs in one layer and cook on one side for 3 minutes. Flip and cook for 3 more minutes.
- Add the second half of the chopped onion and a minced garlic clove. Cook for 2 to 4 minutes. Then, add tomato concentrate, oregano, sugar, cherry tomatoes, and ½ cup of water. Stir it all well and bring it to the boil. Cook for about 3 minutes.
- Add the rest of the water, bring it to the boil and add spaghetti. Add salt to taste.
- Cook spaghetti under the lid for about 10 to 14 minutes (check the instructions on the package).
- When spaghetti is ready, add the olives, chopped parsley and parmesan. Serve immediately.
Notes
Stir pasta occasionally: Prevents sticking and ensures even cooking.
Use ripe cherry tomatoes: For extra sweetness in the sauce.
Grate parmesan fresh: It melts better and adds better flavor.
Nutrition
One pot pasta with meatballs is a simple, comforting recipe that combines tender homemade meatballs, spaghetti and bold tomato flavor in one easy dish. Everything cooks together, soaking up the garlic, herbs and sweetness of cherry tomatoes for a satisfying, all-in-one meal. Topped with olives, fresh parsley and parmesan, it’s the kind of dinner everyone looks forward to. Quick, hearty and full of flavor, this is a go-to recipe you’ll definitely want to make on repeat.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I am all about the easy, one-pot meals. This did not disappoint!
Such an easy and tasty recipe! There wasn’t a single leftover.
This is one of my go-to pasta recipes of yours. Thank you!!
This is a delicious Mediterranean upgrade to spaghetti & meatballs. I love that you can cook the pasta right in the sauce too.
Yum this sounds delicious I make a homemade Gyro which this reminds me of a bit, so I can not wait to try it.
This looks perfect for summer, I love olives so this is right up my alley
This looks so easy to make. I need to try it!