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Comforting Sunday Red Sauce with Meatballs

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A hearty and soulful red sauce with tender meatballs, perfect for meal prep and comforting family dinners. This recipe combines simple ingredients with slow simmering for rich flavor and juicy meatballs.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80% lean)
  • 1/4 pound (115g) ground pork
  • 1/2 cup (60g) breadcrumbs (plain or Italian-seasoned; almond flour for gluten-free)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • Two 28-ounce (800g) cans crushed tomatoes (San Marzano preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • Handful fresh basil, torn
  • Salt to taste (about 2 teaspoons total)
  • Black pepper to taste (about 1 teaspoon total)
  • Red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/4 cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese (for meatballs)
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Meatball Mixture (10 minutes): In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg, 2 cloves minced garlic, salt (1 teaspoon), pepper (1/2 teaspoon), and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan. Mix gently until just combined.
  2. Shape the Meatballs (5 minutes): Roll mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs, about 20 total. Place on a plate or tray.
  3. Brown the Meatballs (10 minutes): Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown meatballs in batches, turning occasionally until browned but not cooked through (3-4 minutes per batch). Transfer to paper towel-lined plate.
  4. Start the Sauce (5 minutes): Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion and remaining 2 cloves minced garlic. Cook until translucent and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
  5. Add Tomato Ingredients (5 minutes): Stir in tomato paste and cook 2 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, salt (1 teaspoon), pepper (1/2 teaspoon), and optional red pepper flakes. Stir well.
  6. Simmer with Meatballs (45 minutes): Nestle browned meatballs into sauce. Lower heat to a gentle simmer, cover partially, and cook 40-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  7. Final Touches (2 minutes): Stir in torn fresh basil leaves. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan if desired.

Notes

Do not overmix meatball mixture to keep meatballs tender. Brown meatballs properly to lock in juices. Simmer sauce gently to avoid breaking meatballs or scorching sauce. For smoother sauce, blend a portion and stir back in. Add a pinch of sugar if sauce is too acidic. Fresh basil added at the end brightens flavor. Can be made in slow cooker by browning meatballs first then cooking on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.

Nutrition

Keywords: red sauce, meatballs, comfort food, meal prep, easy dinner, Italian, homemade sauce, slow simmer, family meal

Find it online: https://eliplate.com/comforting-sunday-red-sauce-with-meatballs-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-meal-prep/