Description
A one-pot spaghetti and meatballs recipe featuring tender, pork-free meatballs in a rich dairy-free tomato sauce. Perfect for quick family dinners, this Italian dish combines al dente pasta with herb-infused, juicy meatballs made from textured soy or pea protein, all cooked to perfection in 40 minutes without any pork, dairy, or alcohol.
Ingredients
Ground pork substitute (1 lb)
Italian breadcrumbs (1/2 cup)
Cold tap water (1/4 cup)
Minced fresh garlic (3 cloves)
Olive oil (2 tablespoons)
Carrots (1 medium, sliced into matchsticks)
Vegetable stock (4 cups)
Crushed tomatoes (4 cups, unsweetened)
Dried thyme (1 teaspoon)
Dried oregano (1 teaspoon)
Salt (to taste)
Black pepper (to taste)
Spaghetti (12 oz) (check for all-natural, no alcohol in processing)
Instructions
Combine ground pork substitute in a large bowl
Add cold tap water and stir until fully incorporated
Stir in minced garlic, dried thyme, oregano, and Italian breadcrumbs gently using a wooden spoon
Chill meatball mixture in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm the texture
Using 2 tablespoons per meatball, carefully form 1.5-inch meatballs
Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high flame until shimmering
Add carrot matchsticks and sauté until they begin to brown
Pour in vegetable stock and deglaze the pan by scraping up browned bits, cooking for 2 minutes
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer
Arrange formed meatballs in the pot, ensuring space between them
Reduce heat to medium and pan-fry meatballs for 2-3 minutes per side until browned
Add crushed tomatoes to the pot and return meatballs to liquid
Bring to a gentle simmer again, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes
Add spaghetti to the pot, stirring gently to coat
Cook until pasta is al dente (about 8-10 minutes for most dried pasta)
Adjust salt and season with additional pepper before serving
Notes
Chilling the meatball mixture for 30 minutes improves browning and texture
Simmering the sauce uncovered concentrates flavors
Reserve pasta cooking water for thinning the sauce
To make gluten-free, substitute regular breadcrumbs with gluten-free variety
Meatballs can be frozen raw before browning or fully cooked for later use
Cooking time may vary slightly depending on spaghetti type and thickness
- Prep Time: 25
- Cook Time: 40
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 5000mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 68g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 0mg