Split Decision Meal Meatball Sandwiches / Spaghetti

My husband and I like meatball sandwiches but our children will not touch them. They love spaghetti though, so we created this "split decision" meal to please all of us. Give it a try - it's delicious!

Notes

Instead of meatballs, you can also prepare 2 pounds of Italian sausage (boil 10 minutes, then brown in a skillet), then slice into 1-inch thick pieces.

Another option is to buy 2 pounds of frozen prepared meatballs.

This recipe makes a HUGE amount of food if you do all of it; it would be good to cook for the freezer or for casual company, or as potluck.

Cooking MethodSlow Cooker

Ingredients

2 eggs
1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup finely chopped onion or dry minced onion
1/8 cup finely chopped parsley
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1 pound ground beef or turkey
1 pound pork or turkey sausage

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
In a large bowl, beat eggs and stir in bread crumbs until well combined.
Stir in milk, onion, parsley, salt and mustard.
Add meat and knead with wet hands until well blended.
Pat meat into rectangle about 1-inch thick. Cut into 1-inch squares and form each square into ball.
Place meatballs in large shallow baking pan and bake in 400F degree oven for about 25 minutes or until browned. If you opt not to eat right away, the meatballs can be frozen. To do so, transfer them to a cookie sheet and freeze individually before putting in a tightly sealed container or zip-top bag.

Spaghetti Sauce

2 (29-ounce) cans can tomato sauce, or similar size can crushed tomatoes or purée
1 (16-ounce) can tomato paste
2 teaspoons oregano
1/4 cup minced dry onion (or 1/2 onion, chopped finely)
1 tablespoon garlic powder, or 2-3 cloves fresh, crushed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (optional)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Mix all in saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook 1/2 hour.
Add meatballs or sausage. This can also be done in a slow cooker with frozen meatballs on high for 4-6 hours).
Pluck some meatballs out with tongs and place into large hoagie or poorboy rolls.
Add additional sauce if desired; top with mozzarella or jack cheese, arrange in baking dish and bake for 10 minutes at 450F degrees, if desired, to warm bread and melt cheese. Great with pepper flakes (pizza pepper) on top.
Ladle sauce over spaghetti (with meatballs if desired), or pasta of your choice. Top with Parmesan if desired.