This week we took our shot at Meat-ghetti and Spag-balls from American Dad and honestly, here’s the thing, it would be boring if we nailed it every time… right? Well, that’s what we’re going with.

Ingredients

Basic Meat-ghetti Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ oz breadcrumbs

  • 1 ½ oz milk

  • ¾ tsp garlic powder

  • ½ tsp onion powder

  • ¾ tsp dried basil

  • 1 tsp dried oregano

  • ¾ tsp freshly ground black pepper

  • ¾ tsp kosher salt

  • 1 lb ground beef

  • 1 large egg

Basic Spag-balls Ingredients:

  • 8 oz fresh spaghetti pasta

Fried Spag-balls Ingredients:

  • Peanut oil

  • 8 oz dried spaghetti, fully cooked and cooled

  • 2 large eggs

  • 3 oz all-purpose flour

  • 2 oz parmesan, grated

  • 1 ¾ oz ricotta

  • 2 oz sour cream

  • to  taste kosher salt

  • To taste freshly ground black pepper

Method

Serves: 2

Basic Meat-ghetti Method:

  1. Combine the breadcrumbs, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, oregano, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Let the mixture sit for 3-4 minutes to hydrate the breadcrumbs. 

  2. Add the beef and egg to the breadcrumb mixture. Mix everything by hand until all the ingredients are well distributed.

  3. Chill the mixture for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Meanwhile, place all the meat grinding equipment into the freezer.

  4. Grind the meat on the largest setting of a meat grinder. Once again, chill the meat for 30 minutes. Clean and return the meat grinding equipment to the freezer.

  5. Grind the meat on the medium setting or to your desired “pasta” thickness. As the meat is being extruded, catching the meat-ghetti on a sheet tray. Try to arrange the meat into a pasta-like nest.

  6. Bake at 350 °F for 10 minutes, then increase the temperature to 400 °F and bake for an additional 5-8 minutes.

Basic Spag-balls Method:

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. 

  2. Prepare large (3-inch diameter) round tea infusers with non-stick spray. 

  3. Fill the infusers with some of the fresh pasta. Close and secure the infusers.

  4. Cook the spag-balls in the boiling water for 2 minutes. 

  5. Remove the infusers from the boiling water and let them cool for 4-5 minutes before handing.

  6. Unmold the spag-balls and serve with the cooked meat-ghetti.

Fried Spag-balls Method:

  1. Add 3.5-4 inches of oil to a large, high-sided pot. Heat the oil to 350 °F.

  2. Combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. 

  3. Using an ice cream scoop, form the spagballs. You may need to cut away excess noodles.

  4. Fry until browned on the edges and crisp, about 3-4 minutes. Make sure to only fry two or three spag-balls at a time.