marinara sauce meatballs | Jenn's Kitchen Diary https://jennskitchendiary.com Feasting Fancy on a Budget Mon, 29 May 2023 05:59:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://jennskitchendiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/cropped-2-1-32x32.png marinara sauce meatballs | Jenn's Kitchen Diary https://jennskitchendiary.com 32 32 Meatballs in Tomato Sauce https://jennskitchendiary.com/meatballs-in-tomato-sauce/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meatballs-in-tomato-sauce https://jennskitchendiary.com/meatballs-in-tomato-sauce/#respond Mon, 29 May 2023 07:00:00 +0000 https://jennskitchendiary.com/?p=3919 The classic meatballs in tomato sauce is an Italian-American go-to for most American families. The […]

The post Meatballs in Tomato Sauce appeared first on Jenn's Kitchen Diary.]]> The classic meatballs in tomato sauce is an Italian-American go-to for most American families. The juiciness and richness of the meat find a nice contrast in a bright and sweet tomato sauce aka marinara sauce, perfumed with garlic and basil.

How to Make Tender Meatballs

  • Add enough breadcrumbs or binder
  • Add milk
  • Do not overmix
  • Use ground beef with at least 20% fat. Or add ground pork to increase the fat content. The higher the fat content, the more tender and juicy the meatballs

Can I use Store-Bought Marinara Sauce?

Yes, by all means do! But you might want to brighten it up with some fresh garlic and basil to liven it up. As a busy working mom, I really value time savings, and jarred sauces are a great way to save time as they are usually already packed with flavor. I used to be a purist, but the demands of being a working mom make it hard to make everything from scratch. So semi home-made it is! Thanks for the inspo, Sandra Lee!

meatballs in tomato sauce
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Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

A classic meatballs in tomato sauce. Perfect with crusty bread to sop up all the sauce.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Italian
Keyword meatballs in tomato sauce
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 people

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 handful parsley finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano
  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp oil

Tomato Sauce

  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 pinch red pepper flake
  • 1/2 onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 8 oz unsalted canned crushed tomatoes
  • 5 leaves basil finely chopped
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar

Toppings

  • 1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano grated

Instructions

  • Combine ingredients for meatball mixture: ground beef, milk, breadcrumbs, parsley, grated Parmigiano Reggiano, garlic salt, and egg. Mix until just incorporated. Do not overmix. Then set aside.
  • Heat a large saucepan on medium heat. Add in oil and onion. Saute onion for 5-7 minutes until slightly softened. Then add red pepper flake, and garlic. Saute another 2 minutes. Then add in crushed tomatoes, basil, salt, and sugar. Simmer for at least 20 minutes. Add salt and sugar to taste.
  • Meanwhile, shape meatballs into balls about 2 inches in diameter. Line a baking sheet and spread evenly with oil. Place meatballs on baking tray. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes, or until just cooked through.
  • Then add meatballs into the tomato sauce and allow to simmer at least 10 minutes. Top with grated Parmigiano Reggiano and serve with crusty bread.
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