My Italian Meatballs and Sauce

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Indulge in the rich, comforting flavors of "My Italian Meatballs and Sauce," a classic homemade dish that combines tender, hand-rolled meatballs with a savory tomato sauce. This recipe features a perfect blend of ground beef and pork, seasoned with garlic, parsley, and Parmesan cheese, and bound together with breadcrumbs and egg for an irresistibly juicy texture. The meatballs are seared for a beautiful golden crust before simmering in a robust sauce made from crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and fragrant herbs like oregano and basil. Adding a touch of sweetness with sugar balances the bold flavors, creating a deliciously hearty sauce. With just 20 minutes of prep time and 40 minutes of cooking, this crowd-pleasing recipe is perfect for serving over pasta, creamy polenta, or alongside crusty bread. Whether for a cozy family dinner or a refined weekend meal, these Italian meatballs are a timeless favorite that will elevate your homemade dining experience.

Recipe Information

• Prep Time: 20 min
• Cook Time: 40 min
• Total Time: 1 hr
• Servings: 4 servings
• Difficulty: Medium

🥘 Ingredients

19 items

• 1 pound Ground beef
• 0.5 pound Ground pork
• 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs
• 0.3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons Parsley, chopped
• 1 large Egg
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 28 ounces Canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
• 1 small Onion, finely diced
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced (for sauce)
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon Dried basil
• 1 teaspoon Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Salt (for sauce)
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper (for sauce)

📝 Instructions

11 steps

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, chopped parsley, egg, salt, and black pepper.

2. Mix with your hands until all ingredients are thoroughly combined but do not overmix.

3. Roll the mixture into golf-ball-sized meatballs and set them on a plate or baking sheet.

4. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove meatballs and set aside.

5. In the same skillet, add the diced onion. Sauté over medium heat until softened, about 3-4 minutes.

6. Add minced garlic to the onions and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.

7. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes to let the flavors deepen.

8. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and add oregano, basil, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine.

9. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then gently add the browned meatballs to the sauce.

10. Cover and let the meatballs simmer in the sauce for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

11. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve the meatballs and sauce over pasta, polenta, or with crusty bread.

Nutrition Facts

1 serving (442.2g)

Calories		661
% Daily Value*
Total Fat		45.1 g	58%
	Saturated Fat	15.9 g	80%
	Polyunsaturated Fat	0.0 g
Cholesterol		169 mg	56%
Sodium		1643 mg	71%
Total Carbohydrate		27.0 g	10%
	Dietary Fiber	4.0 g	14%
	Total Sugars	11.5 g
Protein		37.1 g	74%
Vitamin D		0.5 mcg	2%
Calcium		164 mg	13%
Iron		5.3 mg	29%
Potassium		932 mg	20%

*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: 1625 cal (61.3%%)

Protein: 594 cal (22.4%%)

Carbs: 430 cal (16.2%%)