Spaghetti and Meatball Pizza: The Ultimate Comfort Food Fusion for Family Dinner
Transform your ordinary pizza night into an extraordinary culinary adventure by topping it with everyone’s favorite spaghetti and meatballs!
Do you often find yourself stuck in a monotonous dinner routine? It’s a common scenario: tacos on Tuesday, spaghetti on Wednesday, pizza on Friday, and the cycle repeats. We all have those go-to meals that our families love and that fit into our busy schedules. However, this predictability can sometimes lead to culinary fatigue. If you’re looking to inject some excitement back into your weeknight meals, it’s time to shake things up!
We were recently inspired to put an incredible twist on a classic comfort food by combining two beloved dishes into one: Spaghetti and Meatball Pizza. This innovative creation promises to be a “saucesome” delight that your entire family will absolutely adore. Imagine the rich flavors of a hearty pasta dish meeting the comforting familiarity of a cheesy pizza. It’s truly mealtime magic!
Bringing Families Together Over a Delicious Meal
At our house, dinner, even on the busiest weeknights, holds significant importance. We make a conscious effort to gather around the table together as often as possible. It’s a cherished time when we can all unwind, connect, and share stories about our day. My son eagerly recounts his school adventures, always full of questions about what we did. This shared mealtime fosters connection and creates lasting memories.
When I first proposed the idea of a pizza topped with our favorite spaghetti and meatballs, my family, especially my son, looked at me as if I’d gone mad! The concept seemed so unconventional, yet intriguing. But by involving them in the preparation process, they quickly became believers. Together, we transformed what could have been a skeptical meal into a fun, interactive cooking experience. Everyone pitched in, from preparing the ingredients to assembling the pizza, and before we knew it, a delicious, unique dinner was ready. My husband perfectly summed it up, saying it was “kind of like having spaghetti and meatballs and your breadsticks all together” – a truly all-in-one comfort meal.
Crafting Your Perfect Spaghetti and Meatball Pizza
Choosing Your Pizza Crust
The foundation of any great pizza is its crust. For this recipe, you have the flexibility to use either your favorite homemade pizza dough or a convenient store-bought crust. If you’re short on time, a quality pre-made crust works wonderfully. However, for those who enjoy the process, a homemade crust offers an unparalleled depth of flavor and texture. A little secret I’ve learned for making homemade pizza extra crispy is to pre-bake the crust for a few minutes before adding any toppings. This simple step helps prevent a soggy bottom, ensuring a perfectly crisp base for your unique toppings.
Flavorful Meatballs
For the meatballs, I opted for Italian sausage as the base. This choice imparts a tremendous amount of savory flavor, naturally seasoning the meatballs and making them a little closer to classic pizza toppings. You can use mild or hot Italian sausage depending on your preference for spice. If you prefer, ground beef or a mixture of beef and pork would also work, just remember to season generously. Mixing the meat with Italian bread crumbs helps bind them and adds to their texture. Form them into small, bite-sized balls so they distribute well over the pizza and cook evenly.
The Essential Sauce
The pasta sauce is crucial for tying the “spaghetti and meatballs” concept seamlessly into a pizza. I used Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce for its classic, robust flavor. You’ll use this versatile sauce in two ways: first, to toss with the cooked spaghetti, ensuring every strand is coated in deliciousness, and second, as the base sauce spread directly onto the pizza crust. This dual application guarantees a consistent, rich flavor throughout every bite of your pizza.
Assembling Your Unique Topping
After pre-baking your crust, spread a generous layer of pasta sauce, followed by a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese. Then comes the star of the show: the saucy spaghetti, spread evenly over the cheese. Nestling the spaghetti between two layers of cheese ensures it stays in place and gets beautifully melty. Finally, dot your baked meatballs over the spaghetti and finish with another sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for an extra layer of sharp, salty flavor. This spaghetti and meatball pizza is undoubtedly a fantastic weeknight meal that will have your family excitedly rushing to the table!
Spaghetti and Meatball Pizza
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Ingredients
- 3/4 pound Italian sausage
- 1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs
- 1 pound pizza dough
- 2 cups spaghetti cooked
- 1 1/2 cup Pasta Sauce
- 1 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese
- 2 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (about 200°C). This ensures your pizza cooks quickly and evenly, giving you a perfectly crispy crust and melted cheese.
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In a medium bowl, combine the Italian sausage and Italian bread crumbs. Use your hands to thoroughly mix the ingredients until well incorporated. Form the mixture into small, bite-sized meatballs, about 1-inch in diameter. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Bake in the preheated oven for 6-10 minutes, or until they are fully cooked through and lightly browned. Remove from oven and set aside.
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While the meatballs are cooking, spread your pizza crust onto a separate baking sheet or pizza stone. Bake the crust for 4 minutes. This crucial step helps to pre-bake the crust, ensuring it gets deliciously crispy and prevents it from becoming soggy under the weight of the spaghetti and meatballs.
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In a large bowl, combine the cooked spaghetti with 1 cup of your chosen pasta sauce. Toss until the spaghetti is evenly coated. This step infuses flavor directly into the pasta, making it a truly integral part of the pizza topping.
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Remove the partially baked crust from the oven. Evenly spread the remaining 1/2 cup of pasta sauce over the crust, leaving a small border for the crust. Sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Next, spread the saucy spaghetti mixture evenly over the mozzarella cheese. Finally, distribute your cooked meatballs over the spaghetti and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
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Return the pizza to the oven and bake for another 12 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling, melted, and slightly golden, and the crust is perfectly browned. Keep an eye on it to prevent over-browning.
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Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a minute or two before slicing. Serve immediately and enjoy your unique, “saucesome” Spaghetti and Meatball Pizza!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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Tips for Success and Delicious Variations
This Spaghetti and Meatball Pizza is wonderfully customizable. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your favorite ingredients to make it truly your own. Consider adding a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to the sauce for a bit of a kick, or incorporating finely diced bell peppers and onions for extra vegetables and crunch. Different cheeses can also elevate the flavor profile; try a blend of provolone and mozzarella, or a sharp cheddar for a bolder taste. For an even heartier meal, you could even add some cooked mushrooms or olives.
Serving and Leftovers
While this pizza is a meal in itself, serving it with a simple side salad can provide a refreshing counterpoint to its rich flavors. A light vinaigrette dressing would pair perfectly. If you have any leftovers, they store beautifully in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat slices in the oven or a toaster oven for the best results, ensuring the crust regains its crispiness and the cheese melts perfectly once more. It’s almost as good the second day!
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Ragú. The opinions and text are all mine.
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