Ingredients
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating a dish that will have your family asking for seconds. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
If you’re short on ingredients, don’t worry. You can substitute ground turkey for the beef or use Italian seasoning in place of the oregano. The beauty of home cooking lies in its flexibility—feel free to make this recipe your own!
Instructions
Ready to dive into making these delicious meatballs? Follow these steps, and you’ll have a winning dish in no time:
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, milk, egg, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
- Shape the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs, placing them on a baking sheet as you go. You should have about 20 meatballs.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs in batches and brown them on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove the browned meatballs and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the crushed tomatoes and sugar. Stir well and bring to a simmer.
- Return the meatballs to the skillet, nestling them into the tomato sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
- Stir in the fresh basil just before serving for a burst of flavor.
Remember, cooking is about making it work for you. If you’re juggling kids and dinner prep, this is the time to let those little hands help roll the meatballs. It’s messy, sure, but it’s also chaos with a side of bonding.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: Italian Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, recipe, cooking, food