Grilled Spaghetti with Sausage Meatballs

Patti and I have set one night a week just for us. It’s our date night. We usually put something special on our Louisiana Wood Pellet Grill/Smoker but sometimes we cook inside. We always eat outside on our patio where it is very comfortable with a rainforest theme.  Wood burning stove, little lights, candles, lanterns and surround sound. We enjoy a little wine, or strawberry margaritas using frozen strawberries for ice, good food, music and sometimes a dance or two…

We made lots of spaghetti for a crowd of friends and had a big pot of leftovers. But, this is super easy to make from scratch. Happily, we had a gallon of Patti’s tomato sauce in the freezer which made the recipe quick and easy. She always makes lots and lots in the summer with the sugar sweet tomatoes and assorted fresh veggies we get from the Murrieta Farmer’s Market. But, you can use your favorite sauce, too.

Grilled Spaghetti with Sausage Meatballs
A Pellet Grill Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes at 325 degrees (163c)
Grill: Louisiana Wood Pellet Grill
Pellets: Lumberjack Oak

Ingredients: Grilled Spaghetti with Sausage Meatballs

• 1 lb. cooked and drained spaghetti, we like Barilla brand because it cooks up firm
• 8 cups Patti’s Bolognese Sauce or your personal favorite
• 1 lb. fresh spinach, chopped
• ½ lb. bacon, chopped
• 1 ½ lbs. bulk Italian sausage, hot and/or mild formed into 1” balls
• 8 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 large sweet onion, chopped
• ¼ cup fresh garlic, minced
• 1 cup fresh basil, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons oregano, dried
• Parmesan cheese, to garnish

Grilled Spaghetti with Sausage Meatballs
A Pellet Grill Recipe

Directions: Grilled Spaghetti with Sausage Meatballs

In large saucepot on medium heat cook bacon and sausage balls until no longer pink. Remove meat to paper towels, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings. Sauté onions, garlic, spinach and basil until soft. Mix in tomato sauce, meats and oregano.
Add spaghetti mixing well.

In large greased cast iron Dutch oven add half of sauced spaghetti. Top with half of cheese. Repeat and garnish with Parmesan. Place uncovered on grill and cook until hot and bubbly.

Place uncovered on grill
And cook until hot and bubbly

Grilled Spaghetti with Sausage Meatballs
A Pellet Grill Recipe

Cooking Directions: Louisiana Wood Pellet Grill

To prepare the grill for cooking, check your pellet supply – top off or change flavors as needed. Scrape grill grates off. Set the temperature to 450 degrees and press the “Start” button. Give the grill about 15 minutes to reach temperature and the grates to burn clean.

Note: You can set the start temperature anywhere you want. I do 450 (230c) for a quick clean burn.

So after the grill comes up to temp and burns clean turn it to 325 degrees (163c). Place your  Dutch oven uncovered directly onto the grill and just let it hang out in the smoke and get happy for 45 minutes or so until hot and bubbly.

Note: I get a lot of questions about the kind of pellets you can use with a recipe. Keep in mind that a recipe is just an outline. Some you need to follow closely like when you are making bread, but most you can do anything you can dream, our favorite way to cook. Feel free to mix and match the pellets until you find a combination you really like. Also you are only smoking at temps less than 250 degrees (122c), anything higher is cooking and there will not be much if any smoke so it does not matter what kind of pellet you are using.

Grilled Spaghetti with Sausage Meatballs
A Pellet Grill Recipe

Directions: Gas Grill
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes at 325 degrees (163c)
Grill: Any

Preparing Grill: Medium Indirect Heat

Preheat your grill to medium heat 45 minutes at 325 degrees (163c) and turn off one side so you will be cooking with indirect heat. So after the grill comes up to temp and burns clean turn it to 325 degrees (163c). Place your  Dutch oven uncovered directly onto the grill and just let it hang out in the smoke and get happy for 45 minutes or so until hot and bubbly.

Grilled Spaghetti with Sausage Meatballs
A Pellet Grill Recipe

Cooking In the Oven:

We have been getting requests for recipe conversions for the oven. I tell folks all the time that cooking on a Louisiana Fire Pellet Grill/Smoker is just as easy as cooking in your oven. Just about anyone can do it and do it well. Think about it. You set your control knob to the temp you want, put your meat in and leave it for a set time.

It is the same thing, time and temperature is what it is all about. The Louisiana Grill is just like your oven except it uses wood pellets and has wheels.

Let’s Eat

Grilled Spaghetti with Sausage Meatballs
A Pellet Grill Recipe

About our Recipes

We do our recipes on our patio where we have a lineup of grills, including Louisiana, Royall, Memphis, Traeger pellet grills, Char Griller side box smoker, Saber, Charmglow, Char-Broil, The Big Easy, Lodge Sportsman’s, Brinkman and Weber. I call it our “Wall of Grill”. Our grilling styles are healthy and low fat and will fit pelletheads, gas, natural wood and even charcoal purists. Almost any of our recipes can be done on any kind of good BBQ.

The important thing to keep in mind is TIME & TEMPERATURE. You can even do some of them in the oven or crock pot, but, then you lose all the flavors you get from cooking outdoors. But sometimes it does rain.

Remember that a recipe is simply an outline; it is not written in stone. Don’t be afraid to make changes to suit your taste. Take it and run with it….

Live your Passion,
Ken & Patti

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