Meatballs That Make Their Own Sauce

Transform dinnertime with "Meatballs That Make Their Own Sauce," a hearty one-dish meal that practically cooks itself! Juicy, tender meatballs made from a flavorful blend of ground beef, ground pork, Parmesan, and aromatic seasonings bake directly in a rich tomato sauce that thickens in the oven, eliminating the need for pre-cooking or separate simmering. This recipe shines with its effortless preparation—simply mix, shape, pour, and bake—making it perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings. Serve these savory meatballs with pasta, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the velvety sauce, and garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color. With just 20 minutes of prep time and no stovetop hassle, this dish is a love letter to comfort food at its finest.

Nutriscore Rating: 70/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ground beef
• 0.5 pound Ground pork
• 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs
• 0.25 cup Milk
• 1 large Egg
• 0.25 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 28 ounces Crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 cup Water
• 1 teaspoon Granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2

In a small mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow the breadcrumbs to absorb the milk.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, soaked breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined. Do not overmix as this can make the meatballs tough.

Step 4

Shape the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and set them aside.

Step 5

In a large oven-safe skillet or baking dish, pour the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, olive oil, water, and sugar. Stir to combine, and spread the sauce out evenly in the dish.

Step 6

Place the meatballs into the sauce in a single layer, spacing them slightly apart.

Step 7

Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly.

Step 8

Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.

Step 9

Serve the meatballs and their sauce over cooked pasta, rice, or alongside crusty bread for dipping. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1983.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2578.0

Total Fat 175.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 61.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.6g
Cholesterol 750.2mg	0%
Sodium 4218.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 97.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 14.4g	0%
Total Sugars 38.3g
Protein 167.7g	0%

Vitamin D 80.6IU	0%
Calcium 641.2mg	0%
Iron 19.6mg	0%
Potassium 3315.3mg	0%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 59.8%

Protein: 25.4%

Carbs: 14.7%