Spicy Sriracha Spaghetti and Meatballs is bursting with deep and fresh flavors that will keep you coming back for more. This super hearty and delicious meal is a fantastic choice for a cool night, but it works all year long.
Inspiration
My recipe inspiration comes from all over -- conversations with people, what I see at the Farmers Market, the season, my mood, etc.
This recipe was a bit different, and this is 100% true -- I was inspired to make this because I love the way "Spicy Sriracha Spaghetti" sounds. It has a nice ring to it. Don't you think? 😉
And yes, I also knew all of the flavors that would go into it would be a delicious combination, and that it would a super comforting dish.
This is perfect for a busy weeknight meal and impressive enough for a weekend dinner party.
The Ingredients
The meatballs:
- beef
- Sriracha sauce
- plain yogurt
- eggs
- breadcrumbs
- brown sugar and salt
The sauce:
- grapeseed oil
- onion
- garlic
- tomato purée
- Sriracha sauce
- brown sugar and salt
- cilantro
Spicy Sriracha Spaghetti and Meatballs is fairly quick and easy to whip up, and you likely have most of the ingredients on hand.
Substitutions
- If you'd like to make this dish gluten-free, use brown rice spaghetti and gluten-free bread crumbs -- or, you can even use Spaghetti squash. (Here's how to prepare the squash.)
- While the recipe calls for beef, you can substitute with ground turkey or chicken if you prefer.
- Don't have the yogurt? Use sour cream or half the amount of heavy cream.
- If you don't have breadcrumbs, you can toast whatever bread you have, let it cool and then put it in a food processor with the blade attachment and blend until you have tiny crumbs.
- Of course you can use any shape of pasta you have, too.
Serving Suggestions
Honestly, this would do on its own for a fantastic comfort food meal. However, to make it more of a well rounded meal, I'd add a salad and maybe some crusty bread on the side. Below are a few salads that would be great with it.
And if you want a similar flavor profile in a burger, you'll also love my Spicy Sriracha Burger!
I hope you love this Sriracha spaghetti as much as my family and I do!
More recipes with Sriracha Sauce:
- Spicy Poke Nachos
- Sesame Sriracha Honey Glazed Tofu Broccoli
- Spicy Sriracha Salmon Basil Burger
- Honey Garlic Sriracha Chicken
Spicy Sriracha Spaghetti and Meatballs
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt (low or whole fat)
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup fine breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
For the Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
- 1 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 3 cups tomato purée
- 3 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 pound dry spaghetti
Instructions
For the meatballs
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the beef, Sriracha, yogurt, brown sugar, salt, bread crumbs, and egg. With a spoon, or your hands, mix the ingredients only until they are evenly combined. (Do not over mix!) Use your hands or a cookie scoop to form the mixture into 1 to 2-inch balls and place them on a plate. Cover and set aside.
For the sauce
- Over low-medium heat, in a large sauté pan, cook the onions in the oil until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or so.
- Stir in the tomato purée, Sriracha sauce, brown sugar, and salt.
- Bring to a boil and then immediately reduce heat to low and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about fifteen minutes.
- Then stir in the cilantro.
- Add the prepared meatballs to the sauce, cover, and continue to simmer until the meatballs are cooked through, about 8 minutes. (About half way through the cooking process, remove the lid and gently move the meatballs around a bit.)
- While the meatballs are cooking, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until it's al dente -- just tender but still firm to bite. Drain the pasta and then return it to the pot and drizzle it with olive oil. Cover and set aside.
- When the meatballs are cooked, add them, along with the sauce, to pasta and toss to coat, taking care not to break the meatballs. (If you prefer, you can keep the meatballs and sauce separate and serve it over each portion of pasta.)
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angiesrecipes
Love the hot sauce! This is a perfectly comforting and delicious lunch or dinner. Hellje, I could even enjoy it as the breakfast!! LOL Thanks for sharing, Valetina.
valentina
Thanks, Angie. I love noodles for breakfast. 🙂 ~Valentina
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
I'm loving the spicy twist on this sauce! This is a great way to change up regular old spaghetti and meatballs.
valentina
Thanks, Kathy! Yes, it's a fun twist. 🙂 ~Valentina
Marissa
What a great idea to make a spicy, zippy version of classic spaghetti and meatballs! We love a good pasta dish so this needs to be on the menu!
valentina
Thanks, Marissa. Hope you love it! 🙂 ~Valentina
Kim Lange
My hubby loves sriracha! What a yummy twist on spaghetti! Hope you are staying safe Valentina! Pinned. xo
valentina
Thanks for pinning, Kim. Hope you and your family are staying well and safe, too! 🙂 ~Valentina
Mimi
Mmmmmm I’m all for anything spicy, whether sriracha or cayenne.... so I’m all over this! It looks so good. One question. Why sugar in the meatballs?
valentina
Thanks, Mimi! When I was testing this recipe I tried it with and without the sugar. I liked it much better with it -- it seems to balance out the flavors. And I love the tiny bit of sweetness with the heat from the Sriracha. 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
You had me at Sriracha! I seriously love that stuff. Plus, who doesn't love meatballs? So comforting and just what we all need right now! All I'd need is a big hunk of bread to dip into that delicious sauce! Hope you are doing well, Valentina! Have a great weekend 🙂
valentina
Thanks, Dawn. I'm with you about Sriracha. It's always at the ready in our house. 🙂 ~Valentina
David Scott Allen
Not ever having had Sriracha sauce, I have no idea what all the buzz is about! I wish someday I could try
valentina
Oh sorry, David. You eat such delicious food -- it shouldn't be missed! Thanks for checking it out anyway. 🙂 ~Valentina
priya
Spaghetti and meatballs are the CLASSIC combo ever. looks so good 🙂
valentina
Thank you, Priya. I agree - so classic and so good! 🙂 ~Valentina
Jeff the Chef
I don't know why putting sriracha in a dish like this is so surprising to me. I love a spicy meat-a-balls! I usually use something like hot cherry peppers, or red pepper flakes … but I'm sure sriracha is a great choice. And I've always got it around. Thanks for the recipe!
valentina
Hope you try it, Jeff. I love spicy meatballs and adding the hot cherry peppers is something I'll try now. 🙂 ~Valentina
Jeff the Chef
I got that hot tip from one of Lidia Bastianich's cookbooks.
2pots2cook
The nights are still quite cold over here but sriracha is our four seasons' favourite ! And with spaghetti and some lettuce aside; oh yes ! Thank you and be safe 🙂
valentina
I love food like this on chilly nights! Thanks for visiting, Davorka. Hope you're well! 🙂 ~Valentina
David @ Spiced
What a fun idea! I like to put some red pepper flakes into my meatballs, but the sriracha twist sounds delicious here. I'm glad you got inspired because now I'm inspired to try this recipe out! 🙂
valentina
Yay! Awesome, David. Hope you love it. 🙂 ~Valentina