Classic Italian Meatballs
Delicious classic Italian meatballs simmered in rich tomato sauce, perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup olive oil
- 0.5 cup minced yellow onions
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 7 cups crushed canned tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 pounds ground beef, 80% to 85% lean
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs or Italian-style
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 0.5 cup finely minced yellow onion
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 0.25 cup sliced basil
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium-low heat, sauté the olive oil, minced onions, and garlic until the onions are translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Simmer covered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Preheat your oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly grease it with olive oil.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, minced onion, salt, pepper, Italian seasonings, and garlic. Mix thoroughly with your hands.
- Roll 1/3 cup of the mixture into a ball and place it on the prepared baking sheet. You should get around 14 to 15 meatballs.
- Cook the meatballs in the oven's lower-middle position until browned, about 10-12 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Add the meatballs to the tomato sauce. Simmer on low heat for at least 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Adjust the sauce consistency with water if needed. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the meatballs with sauce, sliced basil, and Parmesan cheese.
Notes
For a twist, consider adding a dash of red pepper flakes to the tomato sauce for a spicy kick.