Best 8 Grandmas Old Fashioned Meatballs Recipes

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In the realm of culinary delights, few dishes evoke the comfort and nostalgia of grandma's old-fashioned meatballs. These tender, flavorful spheres of meat have been passed down through generations, embodying the essence of family traditions and heartfelt cooking. Whether simmering in a rich tomato sauce or gracing a hearty spaghetti and meatballs dish, these meatballs are a testament to the enduring power of simple, yet exceptional cuisine. As you embark on this culinary journey, let us explore the secrets behind creating the perfect grandma's old-fashioned meatballs, ensuring that each bite is a delightful homage to the culinary wisdom of generations past.

Let's cook with our recipes!

GREAT-GRANDMA'S ITALIAN MEATBALLS



Great-Grandma's Italian Meatballs image

My great-grandmother started this easy meatball recipe with our family. We use ground beef and turkey for these meatballs, and the flavor's so good, you won't miss the extra calories. -Audrey Colantino, Winchester, Massachusetts

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 50m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon each dried basil, oregano and parsley flakes
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
Optional: Hot cooked pasta and pasta sauce

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375°. In a small skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Cool slightly., In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, cheese, eggs, seasonings and onion mixture. Add turkey and beef; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls., Place meatballs on a rack coated with cooking spray in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake until lightly browned and cooked through, 18-22 minutes. If desired, serve with pasta and pasta sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 271 calories, Fat 13g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 125mg cholesterol, Sodium 569mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 27g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

GRANDMA'S ITALIAN MEATBALL RECIPE



Grandma's Italian Meatball Recipe image

Grandma's tender and juicy meatball recipe simmered in a delicious tomato sauce and served with spaghetti noodles, classic Italian food.

Provided by Jessica Gavin

Categories     Entree

Time 2h30m

Number Of Ingredients 17

¼ cup olive oil
½ cup yellow onions (minced)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
6 ounces tomato paste
7 cups crushed canned tomatoes (Cento or San Marzano)
2 teaspoons kosher salt (plus more for seasoning)
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 pounds ground beef (80% to 90% lean meat)
2 large eggs
1 cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian-style)
½ cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated, plus more for garnish)
½ cup yellow onion (finely minced)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasonings (omit if using Italian-style breadcrumbs)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
¼ cup sliced basil (for garnish)

Steps:

  • In a large pot or dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the onion and garlic, sauté until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes.
  • Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Simmer covered, with lid slightly ajar to prevent splattering for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Set the oven rack to the lower-middle position and set it to broil. Line a large baking sheet with foil and lightly grease it with olive oil. Set aside.In a large bowl, add the ground beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, minced onion, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and minced garlic. Use hands to mix thoroughly until combined.
  • Measure and roll the ground beef mixture into ⅓ cup (3 ounces) rounds, about the size of an egg. Evenly space the pieces on the baking sheet, there should be about 14 to 15 meatballs.
  • Broil the meatballs until the surface is browned, about 10 to 12 minutes. Turn over and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to lightly brown the other side.
  • Transfer the meatballs to the tomato sauce. Cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar, simmer on low heat for at least 1 ½ hours, checking and stirring every 20 minutes, or as needed. The meatballs should be fork tender when sliced.
  • At the end of cooking, adjust the consistency of the sauce with water if needed, about 1 tablespoon at a time. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Serve meatballs with spaghetti topped with sauce, sliced basil, and Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 216 kcal, Carbohydrate 9 g, Protein 19 g, Fat 11 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Cholesterol 44 mg, Sodium 810 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 2 g, UnsaturatedFat 5 g, ServingSize 1 serving

GRANDMA MARONIS MEATBALLS 100 YEAR OLD RECIPE



Grandma Maronis Meatballs 100 Year Old Recipe image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 50m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 pound ground chuck
4 ounces dried bread crumbs
4 large eggs
4 ounces whole milk
6 ounces grated Romano
3 ounces grated Spanish onion
2 ounces finely diced fresh garlic
2 ounces finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
2 ounces finely chopped fresh basil leaves

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray.
  • Mix all ingredients thoroughly in large bowl. If mixture seems a little loose add more bread crumbs.
  • Roll meatballs loosely about the size of a golf ball and place on baking sheet. Place into preheated oven for approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Enjoy!

GRANDMA'S OLD ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITH MEATBALLS



Grandma's Old Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs image

Grandma's sauce is an old recipe that she brought over from Italy. It is a long process with strange ingredients, but they all come together to make the best sauce I have ever had. The long process is worth your trouble the minute you take your first bite.

Provided by cherbear

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes     Pasta Sauce Recipes     Tomato

Time 8h

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 21

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 whole garlic cloves, peeled
2 pig's feet
1 pound pork neck bones
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
1 ½ cups water
2 (28 ounce) cans tomato puree
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper
¾ teaspoon baking soda
1 (16 ounce) loaf fresh Italian bread, torn into 2-inch pieces
1 cup water
6 eggs, beaten
1 pound ground pork
1 pound ground veal
1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled

Steps:

  • Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in the bottom of a large saucepan, and fry the garlic cloves 5 to 8 minutes, until brown and fragrant. Remove the garlic cloves and set aside. Place the pig's feet and pork neck bones in the saucepan and fry, turning occasionally, until the meat and bones have browned, about 15 minutes.
  • Return the garlic cloves to the saucepan, and stir in the tomato paste and 1 1/2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, and pour in the tomato puree. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 3 hours, stirring from the bottom often to prevent burning, until the pig's feet are tender and the mixture begins to thicken. Stir in the sugar, pepper, and baking soda. Continue to simmer while you prepare the meatballs.
  • Soak the torn bread with 1 cup of water in a bowl. Squeeze excess water out of the bread, and place the bread in a large bowl with the 6 beaten eggs, ground pork, ground veal, and ground beef. Mix thoroughly and form into 24 meatballs about 2 1/2 inches in diameter.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, stir in the minced garlic and chopped fresh basil, let them cook for about 1 minute, and then add the meatballs. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and fry them on all sides until brown, about 15 minutes, working in batches, if necessary.
  • Place the browned meatballs, along with the oil, garlic, and basil from the skillet into the sauce, stirring lightly to avoid breaking them. Add the whole hard-boiled eggs, and simmer for about 1 1/2 more hours, until the meatballs are cooked, the sauce is thick, and all the flavors have blended.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 599.1 calories, Carbohydrate 38 g, Cholesterol 319.1 mg, Fat 29.4 g, Fiber 4.7 g, Protein 46.2 g, SaturatedFat 9.4 g, Sodium 1437.4 mg, Sugar 11.6 g

GRANDMA'S SWEET AND SOUR MEATBALLS



Grandma's Sweet and Sour Meatballs image

Grandma's Sweet and Sour Meatballs are baked to perfection while simmering in an amazing sauce made with pineapple chunks and green pepper. This family-friendly dinner is one you can turn to on busy weeknights. Super simple, super delicious!

Provided by Trish - Mom On Timeout

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h10m

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 lbs lean ground beef
2 cups plain bread crumbs
1 cup milk
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
20 oz pineapple chunks in juice ((including the juice))
1 cup chopped onion
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 cup ketchup
1 cup water
4 tbsp vinegar
4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 360 kcal, Carbohydrate 49 g, Protein 24 g, Fat 7 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Cholesterol 75 mg, Sodium 525 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 31 g, ServingSize 1 serving

GRANDMA'S ITALIAN MEATBALLS



Grandma's Italian Meatballs image

This recipe is from my Italian grandmother. The one change she made to get with the times was to use Ragu sauce instead of homemade, and she declared that it still tasted just as good. It's never failed to impress the people I make it for. My husband says these meatballs have forever ruined him to other people's, or even restaurant meatballs. The real secret is in the time you take to slowly cook the meatballs in the sauce. Don't skimp and just toss the sauce on and eat it. It will still taste good, but not anything like it should be. The raisins are meant to absorb the acidity and impart a little sweetness to the sauce. This recipe can easily be multiplied to feed more people.

Provided by Buckdawna

Categories     Meat

Time 4h15m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 lb ground beef
1 large garlic clove, minced (or 2 small cloves)
1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
1 large egg
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 (26 ounce) jar Ragu tomato sauce, Old World Style Mushroom
5 raisins

Steps:

  • Mix ground beef, garlic, bread crumbs, egg, basil, parmesan cheese, and parsley until combined. Do not overwork meatball mixture.
  • Make golfball size meatballs with meatball mixture.
  • Brown meatballs in a frying pan over medium heat, or bake at 375 degrees F for about 10 minutes, until cooked through.
  • Combine browned meatballs in a pot with sauce and raisins.
  • Cook covered, simmering gently over low heat, for at least 3 hours and up to 5 hours, stirring gently occasionaly.
  • If sauce becomes too thick over the course of cooking, a small amount of water can be added to thin it.
  • Serve over spaghetti, on rolls, or however your heart desires.

GRANDMA'S SWEDISH MEATBALLS



Grandma's Swedish Meatballs image

My mother made these hearty meatballs when we were growing up, and now my kids love them, too. My daughter likes to help shake the meatballs in flour. -Karin Ness, Big Lake, Minnesota

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup crushed saltines (about 10 crackers)
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound bulk pork sausage
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
2-1/2 cups reduced-sodium beef broth, divided
Hot mashed potatoes
Minced fresh parsley, optional

Steps:

  • Mix first 4 ingredients. Add beef and sausage; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 1-in. balls; toss with 1/4 cup flour, coating lightly., In a large skillet, brown meatballs over medium-high heat. Add 2 cups broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until meatballs are cooked through, 5-6 minutes., Remove meatballs with a slotted spoon. Mix the remaining flour and broth until smooth; add to pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Return meatballs to pan; heat through. Serve with mashed potatoes. If desired, sprinkle with parsley.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 348 calories, Fat 21g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 115mg cholesterol, Sodium 846mg sodium, Carbohydrate 17g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 21g protein.

GRANDMA'S HOMEMADE ITALIAN SAUCE AND MEATBALLS



Grandma's Homemade Italian Sauce and Meatballs image

This recipe has been handed down for generations and is always a hit. Both the sauce and meatballs freeze well. I freeze in dinner size portions so my husband and I don't have to use the bottled sauce!

Provided by Anna

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes     Pasta Sauce Recipes     Tomato

Time 9h

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 19

48 ounces tomato paste
12 cups water
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon salt
5 pork chops
1 onion, diced
1 (8 ounce) package mushrooms, sliced
1 pound ground beef
¼ pound ground pork
¼ pound ground veal
1 cup grated Romano cheese
1 teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon black pepper
1 ¼ cups dry bread crumbs
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 eggs

Steps:

  • In a large pot combine tomato paste, water, garlic, bay leaves, basil, and salt. Bring to a boil, turn heat down to low and simmer.
  • In a skillet, brown pork chops in olive oil then place in sauce mixture. Saute onions and mushrooms in same pan that you browned the pork chops. Add these to sauce as well. Simmer sauce a minimum of 8 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • To make the meatballs: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Combine beef, pork, veal, Romano cheese, salt, pepper, bread crumbs, garlic, parsley and eggs; mix well. Shape into balls. Place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
  • Bake meatballs for 20 minutes. Place meatballs in a serving bowl when baking is complete and place in refrigerator. About 2 hours prior to dinnertime pop the meatballs into the sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 421.7 calories, Carbohydrate 38.5 g, Cholesterol 110.7 mg, Fat 17.6 g, Fiber 6.9 g, Protein 31.4 g, SaturatedFat 7.2 g, Sodium 1908 mg, Sugar 18.3 g

Tips:

  • Use a combination of ground beef and pork for the meatballs. This will give them a more flavorful and juicy texture.
  • Soak the bread in milk before adding it to the meatball mixture. This will help to bind the ingredients together and make the meatballs more tender.
  • Season the meatball mixture generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. You can also add other herbs and spices to taste.
  • Form the meatballs into small, uniform balls. This will help them to cook evenly.
  • Brown the meatballs in a skillet over medium heat before adding them to the sauce. This will help to seal in the juices and prevent them from drying out.
  • Simmer the meatballs in the sauce for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld and the meatballs to become tender.
  • Serve the meatballs with your favorite pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.

Conclusion:

Grandma's old-fashioned meatballs are a delicious and comforting dish that is perfect for any occasion. They are easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With a few simple tips, you can make the perfect meatballs that your family and friends will love.

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