Polpette alla Napoletana are Italian meatballs in a simple tomato sauce, and they’re the closest recipe you’ll find to “spaghetti with meatballs” in traditional Italian cuisine.
Is Spaghetti and Meatballs Italian?
Is Spaghetti and Meatballs Italian?Every Italian restaurant in the States serves up seaming plate upon steaming plate of spaghetti and meatballs.
We even have a song about spaghetti and meatballs:
“On top of spaghetti..”
Ok, I digress.
Simply said, when most Americans think about Italian food, spaghetti and meatballs is the first dish that comes to mind.
But, much like Fettuccine Alfredo, if you travel to Italy, this is another dish that you are only going to find in restaurants catering to American tourists.
Sad. But true.
Italian Meal Structure
In Italy, pasta is typically eaten as a first course, or primo. The primo is typically a non-meat course that is heavier than an appetizer, but not quite as heavy as the next course.
After the pasta (or other primo) comes the second course, or secondo. This is your meat (or fish) course, and it may or may not be served with a side dish of vegetables.
So, now we see that th emeatballs would come out as a secondo, on their own, and not with the pasta that was served as a primo.
Seriously, doesn’t it feel like we’ve been lied to our whole lives?
In a way, I’m sorry to have to crust that magical idea that Italians go around eating spaghetti and meatballs every day.
Why Do Americans Think Spaghetti And Meatballs Is Italian?
This is the real question. And, no one really seems to know the answer.
It could be that poor Italian immigrants started eating meatballs more often because it was an economical way to stretch cheaper ground meat.
It could also be that these immigrants started eating pasta as a main meal because as poor immigrants, multi-course meals we a luxury and not a daily occurrence. These mothers and grandmothers would have known how to make pasta from scratch, and it would have been an economical way to give their families a taste of home.
It could also be that as restaurants started opening up to cater to these immigrant communities they found that pasta was an economical item to have on their menu, and combining it with a meat made it more widely appealing as a main dish.
Or, it could be a little bit of all of these.
For whatever reason, spaghetti with meatballs stuck with the Italian American community and shaped our American impression of Italian cuisine.
Polpette: Italian Meatballs
The good thing is, Italians do eat meatballs. They’re called polpette and are typically either made small enough to use in soup or large enough to act as a main dish.
This is where you can get happy again, because, if you’re a meatball lover like us, don’t you just love the idea of diving into one large meatball as a meal?
We sure do!
Polpette alla Napoletana: Meatballs In Tomato Sauce
In different regions in Italy, you will find meatballs served with different sauces, broth gravies, and even plain.
It is is Naples, in the south of Italy, that it is most common to find meatballs served with a tomato sauce, in a fashion that looks most similar to the “Italian meatballs” that Americans are used to.
Our Italian Meatball Recipe
Many cultures around the world have a form of meatballs in their native cuisine. But, there are a few things that make Italian meatballs stand out.
First, it is most common for Italian meatballs to be made with stale bread. The bread is essential in creating the tender texture of Italian meatballs.
The other unique element to Italian meatballs is Parmesan cheese. If you’ve never put Parmesan cheese in meatballs, you need to start now. It’s a game changer!
How To Make Homemade Meatballs
If you can mix ground beef and seasonings, then you can make meatballs.
Traditionally, meatballs are either pan fried or broiled. We find that broiling the meatballs gives you a rounder meatball. And it’s quicker because you can cook more at once.
Either way you choose to cook our meatball, after cooking you can use them immediately or freeze them to use later.
Whenever we make meatballs, we like to make a big batch. Then, we stash some away in our freezer to be used the next time we get a craving!
Polpette (Italian Meatballs)
Yield: 1 lb of meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 c bread cubes
- 1/4 c milk
- 1 lb ground beef, 85% lean
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 c Parmesan cheese, fresh grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp parsley, dry (or 1/2 bunch fresh chopped)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place the bread cubes in a small bowl. Pour the milk over the cubes and let them set for a few minutes, so that the bread absorbs the milk.
- In a large bowl, combine the meat, eggs, cheese, garlic, parsley, salt,pepper, and soaked bread cubes (along with any milk that hasn't absorbed). Mix, using your hands, until everything is evenly distributed.
- Shape the mixture into balls of your desired size. (We like to use a rounded Tablespoon for smaller meatballs or two rounded Tablespoons for larger meatballs.)
- To cook the meatballs, pre-heat your broiler to high. Place the rolled meatballs 1 inch apart on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet. Broil the meatballs for 5-7 min, checking often, until lightly golden.
- Remove the meatballs from the oven and use immediately or let cool and store in the refrigerator until using.*
Notes
Polpettes Napoletane (Naples Style Meatballs In Tomato Sauce)
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1/4 ts ground black pepper
- 1 lb meatballs (see recipe above)
Instructions
- In a large skillet with high sides, heat the olive oil. Add the onions and garlic and saute over medium high heat until the onions are lightly golden, 2-3 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes and seasonings to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a simmer and reduce the heat to medium low. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the meatballs to the sauce. Simmer, covered for 10 minutes, until the meatballs are heated through.
- Serve as you desire, with crusty bread to mop up the sauce (Italian-style) or with pasta (American-style).
Notes
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Sarah founded Curious in 2010 as a way to save her recipe creations and share culinary experiences. Her love for cultural cuisines was instilled early by her French Canadian Grandmother. Her experience in the kitchen and in recipe development comes from over 10 years working in professional kitchens. She has traveled extensively and enjoys bringing the flavors of her travels back to create easy-to-make recipes.
Barbara
Friday 12th of September 2025
Thank you for telling the truth about spaghetti with meatballs! (The Swiss Missdrink isn't Swiss either, it's unknown here.) You might like like to add grated zucchetti if you prepare polpette. It adds volume and makes them more juicy. Same works well with cake. Best regards from Switzerland 🙋🏻♀️🇨🇭
Sarah - Curious Cuisiniere
Wednesday 17th of September 2025
Thank you! And thanks for your tip!
Jeff Hentschel
Sunday 17th of January 2016
We made these to go with your ziti recipe, and I'll admit I hadn't used milk in a meatball before, but I loved the texture it added—much better than breadcrumbs alone. To make them quickly, I created a long log and used a pastry cutter to divide the meat. Then all they needed was a little shaping.
Sarah Ozimek
Friday 22nd of January 2016
Thanks Jeff! So glad you liked them. That's a great tip for shaping the meatballs. We'll have to give that a try next time!
Anyonita
Monday 24th of June 2013
I love spaghetti with meat sauce. My husband loves spaghetti with meatballs. To compromise, we don't have spaghetti very much :) But I think this might just work for both of us! :)
Julie Corbisiero
Saturday 22nd of June 2013
My family loves meatballs & your recipe looks like a winner! I saw it on tasty Tuesday! Julie from julieslifestyle.blogspot.com
Jen @JuanitasCocina
Saturday 22nd of June 2013
I can always use a new recipe for meatballs! YUM!