Italian Tomato Sauce with Meatballs and Sausage
Dive into the comforting flavors of Italy with this hearty recipe for Italian Tomato Sauce with Meatballs and Sausage. This dish features tender, homemade meatballs crafted from ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley, simmered to perfection in a rich, aromatic tomato sauce infused with garlic, onions, and classic Italian herbs like oregano and basil. Juicy Italian sausage links add an extra layer of robust flavor, while a hint of red pepper flakes brings a subtle kick. Slow-simmered for ultimate depth, this sauce pairs beautifully with pasta or crusty bread, making it the perfect choice for a crowd-pleasing family dinner or a cozy weekend meal. Garnish generously with Parmesan and parsley for the ultimate Italian dining experience.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 56 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 Italian sausage links
- 1 pound ground beef (for meatballs)
- 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
- 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- cooked pasta or crusty bread (optional, for serving)
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until softened.
Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Mix well and bring the sauce to a simmer.
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, milk, egg, and parsley. Mix with your hands until well combined, then form into 12-15 meatballs.
Add the meatballs directly into the simmering tomato sauce. Cover and let them cook for 15 minutes.
In a separate skillet, brown the Italian sausage links over medium heat until golden on all sides (about 6-8 minutes). Transfer the sausages to the sauce.
Continue to simmer the sauce on low heat for 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Serve over cooked pasta or with crusty bread. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
557 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 34.3 g | 44% | |
| Saturated Fat | 11.9 g | 60% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 114 mg | 38% | |
| Sodium | 1240 mg | 54% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 34.3 g | 12% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 4.8 g | 17% | |
| Total Sugars | 13.8 g | ||
| Protein | 28.6 g | 57% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.4 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 140 mg | 11% | |
| Iron | 4.8 mg | 26% | |
| Potassium | 1041 mg | 22% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
