Molly Yeh’s Spaghetti and Meatballs Get a Cheese-Stuffed Twist

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They say it’s hard to reinvent the wheel, but what about spaghetti and meatballs? It’s a meal that most of us have probably eaten literally hundreds of times over the years, and it’s a favorite for a reason. But is there a way to make this family classic even better? You bet. Take it from A girl meets a farm star and Home is where the eggs are author Molly Yeh: Everything is better when stuffed with cheese, from her Spicy Juicy Lucy Burgers to, you guessed it, her meatballs. Next time you want to liven up a pasta night, try her Juicy Lucy Meatball Spaghetti.

Making Molly Yeh’s Spaghetti with Juicy Lucy Meatballs isn’t much harder than making the traditional recipe. First, she makes a simple homemade marinara, then she cooks her meatballs, tossing it all in with spaghetti to serve. But meatballs are the star of the show for two reasons.

First, instead of relying solely on ground beef to make his meatballs, Yeh adds an equal amount of hot Italian sausage. The sausage’s seasonings and spices help give the meatballs tons of flavor, and the blend of beef and pork leads to ultra-juicy meat. But she also stuffs each meatball with a ball of fresh mozzarella, so that when cooked, they resemble tasty lava cakes. Dig in with your fork and watch the freshly melted mozzarella ooze out. It’s like a restaurant meal, but surprisingly easy to prepare. No fresh mozzarella on hand? You can also use small cubes of low-moisture mozzarella, or even string cheese cut into small pieces.

You can also substitute your favorite jarred marinara for the homemade sauce, which will give you more time to focus on the meatballs. And we can’t be the only ones who think a Juicy Lucy meatball sub would be another winner.

This isn’t the first time Molly Yeh has made us drool over a family classic with a twist, but her Juicy Lucy Spaghetti with Meatballs might just be one of the best.

Before you go, check out Ina Garten’s easy weeknight dinner recipes below:

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