Partially Homemade Meatballs and Marinara
Satisfy your Italian food cravings with these easy and flavorful Partially Homemade Meatballs and Marinara! Combining the rich, tender goodness of homemade meatballs with the convenience of store-bought marinara sauce, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or casual family dinners. The meatballs are packed with a savory blend of ground beef, Italian sausage, Parmesan cheese, and aromatic seasonings, then seared to golden perfection before simmering in marinara sauce for a boost of flavor. Serve over al dente spaghetti and finish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan for a restaurant-worthy meal in under an hour. Whether you're looking for comfort food or a dinner that impresses, this recipe delivers authentic taste with half the effort. Perfect for pasta lovers and easy Italian recipe enthusiasts alike!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 0.5 lb Italian sausage
- 0.75 cup Breadcrumbs
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 large Egg
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Dried Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp Salt
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 24 oz Store-bought marinara sauce
- 2 tbsp Fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 12 oz Spaghetti, cooked
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, Italian sausage, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix well using your hands until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
Using your hands, roll the mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls. You should end up with about 16-18 meatballs.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the meatballs in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd them.
Cook the meatballs for about 2-3 minutes on each side, until they are browned all over. (They do not need to be fully cooked at this stage.)
Remove the browned meatballs from the skillet and set them aside on a plate.
In the same skillet, pour in the store-bought marinara sauce, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan for added flavor.
Return the meatballs to the skillet, spooning the marinara sauce over them to fully coat.
Lower the heat to a simmer, cover the skillet, and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are fully cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F).
Stir in the chopped fresh basil and remove from heat.
Serve the meatballs and marinara sauce over cooked spaghetti. Optionally, sprinkle more grated Parmesan cheese and garnish with additional fresh basil leaves before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3473 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 208.6 g | 267% | |
| Saturated Fat | 71.3 g | 356% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 15.9 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 762 mg | 254% | |
| Sodium | 9074 mg | 395% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 229.9 g | 84% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 20.7 g | 74% | |
| Total Sugars | 43.7 g | ||
| Protein | 182.7 g | 365% | |
| Vitamin D | 3.6 mcg | 18% | |
| Calcium | 734 mg | 56% | |
| Iron | 24.5 mg | 136% | |
| Potassium | 3697 mg | 79% | |
*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.
