Spaghetti with Meatballs for Large Group

The Spaghetti with Meatballs for Large Group calculator computes the amount of ingredients needed to prepare spaghetti with meatballs for a group.

INSTRUCTIONS: Enter the following:

• (n) Number of People to be Served

Spaghetti with Meatballs Ingredients (SMI): The calculator returns the amounts of the following ingredients:

The amounts of ingredients above are given in common kitchen units such as pounds of ground beef and sausage, cups of cheese, ounces of tomatoes, and teaspoons of seasoning. These can all be automatically converted to compatible units via the pull-down menu beside each ingredient.

Cooking Instructions

Preparing the Meatballs

1. In a large bowl, mix ground beef, Italian sausage, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, minced garlic, salt, pepper, milk, and eggs.
2. Shape mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs.
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet and brown the meatballs on all sides, or bake at 400°F (204°C) for 20–25 minutes.

Making the Sauce

1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add chopped onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in minced garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
4. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce. Stir well.
5. Pour in red wine (if using), and add basil, oregano, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes.
6. Simmer for 30–45 minutes. Add the meatballs and continue simmering for another 20–30 minutes.

Cooking the Pasta

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Add dry spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
3. Drain and toss lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking.

Serving

• Plate spaghetti, top with sauce and meatballs, and garnish with Parmesan and parsley if desired.

The Math / Science

The recipe used is for a serving of 9 people as follows:

The calculator will use these amounts, dividing by 9 and multiplying by the number of servings to determine the correct ingredient quantities.

Group Meal Planning Calculator

Serving food to larger groups often requires dishes that are easy to prepare in bulk, can be kept warm or cold for extended periods, and are generally well-received by a diverse audience. 

Imagine you’re hosting a party for 50 people. You want to serve lasagna, a garden salad, garlic bread, and brownies for dessert. Here's how the calculator helps:

• Step 1: Select lasagna, garden salad, garlic bread, and brownies from the menu.
• Step 2: Enter "50" as your guest count.
• Step 3: Instantly receive ingredient lists for each dish, scaled to serve 50 people.
• Step 4: Generate and print your complete shopping list.

No more guessing or manual calculations—our Group Meal Planning Calculator does it all for you. Say goodbye to the hassle of meal planning and enjoy your event stress-free!

Here are some popular options:

Main Courses

Pasta Dishes

• Lasagna
• Baked Ziti
• Spaghetti with meatballs or marinara sauce

Casseroles

• Chicken and rice casserole
• Shepherd's pie
• Macaroni and Cheese

Barbecue and Grill

• Hotdogs: Computes the number of hotdogs (sausages etc.) for a group including buns and fixings.
• Hamburgers
• Pulled pork or pulled chicken: Compute the amount of pulled pork needed for a group.
• Ribs
• Grilled chicken or sausages

Tacos/Burritos

• Taco bars with various fillings (beef, chicken, beans)
• Burrito bowls

Pizza

• Various toppings to cater to different preferences

Sandwiches/Subs

• Assorted cold cuts
• Meatball subs
• Pulled pork sandwiches

Sides

Salads

• Garden salad
• Caesar salad
• Pasta salad
• Potato salad: Computes the pounds of potatoes and amount of ingredients to make potato salad for a group.
• Coleslaw

Vegetables

• Roasted vegetables
• Green beans almondine
• Baked Beans: Computes the amount of baked beans (ounces and cans) for a group including additions to enhance the baked beans (e.g., bacon, onions etc)
• Corn on the cob

Potatoes

• Mashed potatoes
• Baked potatoes
• Potato wedges or fries

Bread/Rolls

• Garlic bread
• Dinner rolls
• Cornbread