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Mama’s Best Ever Linguine & Meatballs Recipe

This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Ragú® and Latina Bloggers Connect. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Variety is the spice of life, so even though we may have favorite meals that are my go-to recipes for my family, the truth is sometimes they want something new. And my family has no problem telling me when something they used to love is gracing the dinner table too many times.

“Tortellini again?”

I aim to please, and I like to change it up too, so when I meal plan now, I’ve been rotating some new dishes onto the weekly menu, and a new family favorite is the classic recipe from Ragú®, Mama’s Best Ever Spaghetti & Meatballs. Ragú® is recognizing and celebrating everything that makes family mealtime Saucesome. From unique recipes to silly moments to crazy weeknights…it’s all Saucesome with the delicious help of Ragú® Sauce.

mama's best ever linguine and meatballs recipe

My boys love spaghetti and any long, slurpable pastas, and my husband loves pasta with meat, so I figured this easy to make recipe with only 7 ingredients would be the new Saucesome crowd pleaser.

Here is our family-made creation of Ragú®’s Mama’s Best Ever Spaghetti & Meatballs, the classic Italian-American dish that can be as simple or fancy as you want it to be, and takes less than 30 minutes to make. Since easy and delicious is the name of the game when it comes to Ragú® classic recipes for families to enjoy, I used what I had in my pantry already (linguine) so we made a cheesy version of the tasty Ragú® classic with linguine.

Mama’s Best Ever Linguine & Meatballs

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 cup Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 jar (24 oz.) Ragú® Chunky Tomato Garlic & Onion Sauce
3 tbs capers
12 ounces linguine, cooked and drained

ragu and linguine
cooking with kids

Directions

1. Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, grated cheese, eggs, and 1/2 cup Sauce in medium bowl and mix together. Shape into 1 inch balls.
2. Bring remaining jar of Sauce to a boil over medium heat in a skillet and add in capers. Gently stir in the meatballs, turning to brown on all sides, then reduce heat to low until sauce is simmering, and cover. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until meatballs are done.
3. Bring a pot of water to boiling, and add in a splash of olive oil (about 1 tablespoon) and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Add linguine and cook to al dente.
4. Serve pasta topped with meatballs and sauce.

marinara sauce with capers
cooking with kids-2

Lately, my sons have wanted to help out in the kitchen, and I love including them. Whether it’s something simple like letting them stir, or more recently, teaching them to make scrambled eggs, it’s a wonderful way for us to spend time together that I hope they always remember. We had fun making this dish together, with my sons cracking eggs (somewhat successfully) and helping me shape the meatballs. I know I’ll always remember these times together. It’s #Saucesome 😉

linguine and meatballs

Ragú® Chunky Tomato Garlic & Onion Sauce has a delicious taste your whole family will love, and will make your meatballs amazing!

eating linguine and meatballs

For more delicious recipes, visit Ragú® on Facebook and Pinterest, and Ragú® on Twitter @RaguSauce (#Saucesome). For a chance to win some of your own #Saucesome prizes, visit www.RaguSweeps.com.




  • That looks so delicious! I make a version of this with Ragu, except that I use store bought meatballs to make it even faster.

  • Linguine is my favorite. It has a nice bite to it!

  • Oh wow I love this recipe! And my family loves Ragu too!

  • Betsy

    I love the idea of adding capers! Why haven’t I thought of that? I bet it tastes amazing.

  • Catherine S

    This looks really yummy. I think I will be making some spaghetti and meatballs this weekend. We always use Traditional Ragu I will have to try the Tomato Garlic and Onion sauce.

  • Pam

    This looks so good! I love using Ragu in my pasta recipes.

  • Rachelle J

    Those meatballs look yummy! I think i’m going to try your recipe and use ground chicken!

  • Kim Croisant

    That dish is a staple in our house. I kid pleaser every time. I’ll have to try your way next time.

  • You have the most adorable meatball maker! I need to try adding these to our weekly rotation. I’m getting the same type of groans at my house with the regularity we’ve been having the same meals.

  • That looks delicious. Guess what’s on the menu tonight? 🙂 I have lots of ground beef!

  • Jeanine

    Oh goodness! I am hungry, shouldn’t have clicked on this yet! This looks soooo good. Will have to try!

  • Penelope

    I was thinking of doing that too, a different meat.