1-First, gather all your ingredients to make things smooth. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit if you’re baking the meatballs. This step helps ensure everything is set for the Creamy Spaghetti Meatballs recipe, taking about 10-15 minutes.

2-Mix the meatball ingredients in a large bowl by whisking together 1 large egg, 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley, 3 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 5 cloves minced garlic, and 1/4 cup water. Add 1 pound ground beef, 1 pound ground pork, 1 cup dried Italian-style bread crumbs, and 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, then mix gently.

3-Roll the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs and bake on an ungreased tray for 10 minutes, flip, and bake for another 10 minutes until browned and nearly cooked. For more tips, check out this guide to baking desserts for ideas on handling oven times.

4-For the sauce, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat and sauté 1 small yellow onion finely chopped for about 5 minutes until softened. Add the remaining 5 cloves minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, then pour in 3 cups marinara sauce and simmer.

5-Stir in 1/2 teaspoon sugar, salt and pepper to taste, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Mix 1/4 cup water with flour to make a slurry, whisk it in to thicken, and add 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon sweet paprika, and extra seasonings as needed.

6-Finally, add 12 ounces spaghetti broken in half to the sauce and cook for 5 minutes. Toss in the meatballs and serve hot with extra Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. The total prep time is 5 minutes, cook time 30 minutes, and overall 35 minutes, with tips like chilling the mixture before rolling to help meatballs hold shape.