The Real History of Spaghetti and Meatballs (Not Actually Italian!)

Are spaghetti and meatballs a true Italian dish? 

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably enjoyed plenty of plates of spaghetti and sometimes you’ve even seen it served with meatballs. And why not? It’s one of the most popular pasta dishes in the world. It’s a crowd pleaser, it’s hearty, and found on almost every Italian restaurant menu outside of Italy. But what if I told you the the real history of spaghetti and meatballs might shock you?

Spaghetti and meatballs is not an Italian dish. Surprised? You’re not alone. Around the world, people think of it as the ultimate Italian comfort food. It’s delicious, yes. It’s comforting, yes. But it did not begin in Italy.

Watch: The True Story of Spaghetti and Meatballs (It’s Not Italian!)

So Where Did Spaghetti and Meatballs Come From?

The real history of spaghetti and meatballs begins with Italian immigrants who left Italy for America. In Italy, especially after World War II, meat was a luxury. Families like my Nonna’s often ate pasta with beans (pasta e fagioli), or pasta with lentils. Meat was rare and saved for special occasions.

In America, things were different. Meat was cheap and easy to find. Immigrants adapted, creating large, juicy meatballs and serving them over big plates of spaghetti. A dish that never existed in Italy suddenly became a worldwide symbol of “Italian food.”

Do Italians Ever Eat Spaghetti and Meatballs?

Yes, but not the way you think. In my region of Abruzzo, especially in Teramo where my Nonna is from, there’s a traditional dish called Spaghetti alla Teramana. It’s made with pasta alla chitarra, fresh egg spaghetti cut using a special tool called the chitarra — it looks like a guitar and gives the pasta its unique square shape. (You can even watch my Nonna’s video to see how she makes it from scratch.)

This pasta is then served with a rich, slow-cooked sauce and tiny meatballs known as pallottine. They’re made from a mix of veal, lamb, or pork, and while they take time to roll by hand, that’s exactly what makes them so special. Every forkful give you the perfect balance of pasta, sauce, and little meatballs — a harmony of flavors you simply cannot get with the giant versions.

Is Pasta with Meatballs Common in Italy?

Here is the truth: spaghetti with meatballs is not something you will find all over Italy. It exists, yes, but only as a very specific regional tradition. It is not a national staple.

And here’s another fact. Italian cuisine is all about regional identity. Each region takes pride in its own dishes, and that is what makes traveling through Italy so delicious. In Rome, you go for Carbonara, not Milan. Naples is where you find the best pizza, not Florence. And if you want real cannoli, head to Sicily, not Lake Como. Of course, you can find those dishes everywhere today, but outside their birthplace they aren’t truly part of the local tradition. That’s also the case with pasta and meatballs. In Abruzzo, the special version is called Spaghetti alla Teramana, and it’s rarely found elsewhere.

Why Don’t Italians Put Big Meatballs on Spaghetti?

Simple. You can’t twirl spaghetti and get a giant meatball in the same bite. It just doesn’t work. In Italy, pasta and meatballs live happily side by side but not stacked on top of each other in giant proportions.

Is the American Version Wrong?

Absolutely not. The Italian-American version is part of the real history of spaghetti and meatballs too, because it tells the the story of immigrants making the most of what they had. For many families, it brings back warm memories of Sunday dinners, laughter around the table, and the smell of tomato sauce simmering for hours. That deserves respect too.

In my family, though, spaghetti and meatballs has always meant something different. Every Sunday my Nonna in Abruzzo prepared Spaghetti alla Teramana with love and care. This is the version I grew up with, and it is the one I continue to cook for my children today.

For me, it is not about rejecting the American style. It is about honoring the tradition that belongs to my family and my region. The big meatballs might be iconic in America, but in Abruzzo, the tiny ones are part of who we are. And that is the version that feels like home. 

What Should You Try at Home?

If you love the Italian-American Spaghetti and Meatballs, keep enjoying it. But promise me you’ll also try Abruzzo’s Spaghetti alla Teramana at least once. It’s an unforgettable dish that shows the heart of Italian regional cooking. And once you taste it, you might not go back to the big meatballs again.