I couldn’t resist sharing this meatball recipe with you. They are easy to make, tasty and the best part is that they are simmered into a Homemade Tomato Basil Sauce that will enhance any pasta. These meatballs are so easy that you will feel like a winner after making them, even if you are not a confident cook!
This meatball recipe is so versatile that you can use a combination of different ground meats. You can use turkey, veal, or Italian sausages. Just note when choosing the ground meats—the more fat in the meat, the more tender and moist. I like the combination of ground beef and pork.
These meatballs are so easy that you will feel like a winner after making them, even if you are not a confident cook!
How to make Meatballs in a Tomato Basil Sauce:
First, combine the ground beef and pork and season with garlic, salt, and black pepper.
Next, combine the breadcrumbs and the milk and then set aside
Then, combine the beaten eggs, fresh parsley, parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper. (A pinch or two). Mix until well combined.
The following step is to add the breadcrumbs and the milk mixture to the meat.
Lastly, using a tablespoon or a small cookie scoop (depending on the desired size), scoop some of the meat mixtures and rolled them between your hands to make them a uniform size, just like the image below!
This recipe makes 30 meatballs.
How to make this Tomato Basil Sauce:
This part is Optional: Oven-roast some tomatoes and a few garlic cloves to add extra flavor to the sauce. I added olive oil, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Then, please place them in the oven for about 15 minutes over a 475-degree temperature.
In a large saucepot, pour olive oil. Then, saute some onions over medium-low heat. Add garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and stir. Proceed to add the can of crushed tomatoes. Then, add roasted tomatoes and garlic.
Add some black pepper and sugar (adding the sugar is very important to balance and reduce the acidity from the tomatoes). Continue cooking for about 20 minutes, and then let the mixture cool off.
Blend the mixture using an immersion blender or a regular blender. Then, transfer that smooth sauce back into the pot. Add some butter and let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
Now let’s combine the Meatballs with the Tomato Basil Sauce.
Place the meatballs into the sauce and continue cooking for about 10 minutes over medium-low heat. 
Let it cool for a few minutes before serving! I decided to pair these delicious meatballs with spaghetti.
Please see below for a printable recipe card, and do not forget to leave your comments and suggestions; I will be happy to hear from you.
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Enjoy!
EASY HOMEMADE MEATBALLS WITH TOMATO BASIL SAUCE
Ingredients
Meatballs
- ½ pound ground beef
- ½ pound ground pork
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoon salt (divided)
- 2 teaspoon black pepper (divided)
- ¾ cup breadcrumbs (I use Italian style without cheese)
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 eggs (large, lightly beaten)
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup fresh parsley (minced)
Tomato Sauce
- 4 vine tomatoes (cut into fours)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 (28oz) can chopped tomatoes (I use San Marzano)
- 1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon sugar (I use light brown)
- ½ large white onion (diced)
- 4 garlic cloves (roasted)
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- fresh basil (I use about 1 cup)
Instructions
- Season the ground meat of your choice. In this recipe, I combine ground beef and pork. I season the meat with garlic, salt, and black pepper
- Combine the breadcrumbs and the milk and then set aside.
- Next, combine the beaten eggs, fresh parsley, parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper. (A pinch or two). Mix with a spatula until well combined.
- Add the breadcrumbs and the milk mixture into the meat. Then using a tablespoon or a small cookie scoop (depending on the desired size) scoop some of the meat mixtures and rolled them between your hands to make them a uniform size. set aside until you make the sauce.
How to make Tomato Basil Sauce
- Place tomatoes and garlic into a roasting sheet. Add olive oil, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Then, roast in the oven for about 15 minutes over a 475-degree temperature.
- Next, in a large sauce pot, pour olive oil. Then, saute some onions, add some extra garlic, add oregano, basil, and salt. Finally, stir over medium-low heat.
- Proceed to add the can of crushed tomatoes with the already roasted tomatoes and then add the extra peeled garlic.
- Add some black pepper and sugar (adding the sugar is very important to balance and reduce the acidity from the tomatoes). Continue cooking for about 20 minutes and then let the mixture cool off. Blend the mixture using an immersion blender or a regular blender.
- Transfer the sauce back into the pot. Add some butter and let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Add the meatballs to the sauce and cook for about 10 minutes over medium-low heat and let it cool for a few minutes before serving!
Notes
- You can make them in batches and freeze them.
- To store them, place them in a cookie sheet within a distance from each other, put them in the fridge first for about 15 to 20 minutes, and place them in a freezer bag until time to cook.
- Make sure to label the bags with the date if you are not using the same week. For me, it doesn’t last long!
Nutrition
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate).
That looks so delicious. A perfect meal that I would enjoy on this beautiful fall Sunday. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Marjie!
Looks great!!!
Thanks, Katty!