Pasta with Meatballs

Pasta with meatballs, or 'pasta al ragù con polpette' in Italian, is a beloved comfort food featuring pasta topped with savory meatballs simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce. The dish typically combines ground meat (like beef, pork, or a blend) with breadcrumbs, herbs, and garlic, served over spaghetti or similar pasta shapes. While its roots are Italian, the version most popular globally, especially in the United States, evolved from Italian-American culinary traditions.

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🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This dish is a balanced but hearty meal, offering a good mix of carbohydrates from the pasta, protein from the meatballs, and fats from the meat and sauce. A typical serving provides key nutrients like iron, B vitamins, and lycopene from the tomatoes, with a calorie range generally between 500 to 800 calories, depending on portion size and recipe specifics.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	400 kcal
Protein	22 g
Carbs	40 g
Fat	18 g
Fiber	3 g
Sugar	5 g
Sodium	800 mg
Iron	3 mg
Calcium	150 mg
Potassium	450 mg
Vitamin A	150 mcg
Vitamin C	8 mg
Vitamin B12	1.5 mcg
Zinc	4 mg
Phosphorus	250 mg

Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, the dish represents a classic example of immigrant cuisine adaptation, where Italian recipes were transformed in America with larger portions and richer ingredients. Nutritionally, the combination of tomato sauce with meat can enhance the absorption of certain nutrients, like iron from the meat, due to the vitamin C in tomatoes.