Italian Homemade Meatball Pasta

Ingredients: - 400g ground beef - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley - 1/4 cup milk - 1 egg - 1 teaspoon garlic powder - 1 teaspoon dried oregano - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper - 2 tablespoons olive oil - 1 onion, finely chopped - 3 cloves garlic, minced - 1 can (400g) crushed tomatoes - 1 teaspoon sugar - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) - 300g spaghetti - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

Step by Step Process: 1. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, milk, egg, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated. 2. Shape the mixture into meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter. You should get approximately 20 meatballs. 3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides, about 8-10 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and set aside. 4. In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and the garlic is fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. 5. Add the crushed tomatoes, sugar, dried basil, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the skillet. Stir well to combine. Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it cook for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. 6. While the sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the cooked spaghetti and set aside. 7. Return the meatballs to the skillet with the tomato sauce. Gently stir to coat the meatballs with the sauce. Let them simmer in the sauce for an additional 5 minutes. 8. Serve the meatballs and sauce over the cooked spaghetti. Garnish with fresh basil leaves. Nutritional Information (per serving): - Calories: Approximately 290 - Protein: 32g - Fat: 5g