Best 4 Italian Meat Sauce With Meatballs Recipes

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When the desire to prepare an Italian meal strikes, cooking up a mouthwatering spaghetti with meat sauce and meatballs is the perfect solution. The distinct flavors of herbs and spices blend seamlessly with the rich and savory beef, creating a dish that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. Perfectly cooked meatballs immersed in a luscious tomato-based sauce elevate this classic dish to a level of pure culinary bliss. Whether it's for a cozy family dinner or an authentic Italian feast, this guide will provide you with all the necessary steps and insights to craft the most delectable version of this beloved Italian- American delicacy.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

ITALIAN MEATBALLS IN TOMATO SAUCE



Italian Meatballs in Tomato Sauce image

Make and share this Italian Meatballs in Tomato Sauce recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Julesong

Categories     Meat

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 23

3/4 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
1 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled (or 3 tablespoons minced fresh basil)
28 ounces tomatoes, crushed
6 ounces tomato paste
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup dry red wine
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons romano cheese, freshly grated
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
2 slices bread, soaked in broth or milk (with liquid squeezed from it)
1 lb chuck, ground
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup romano cheese, freshly grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground ( to taste)
1/4 cup olive oil

Steps:

  • Make the sauce: in a heavy saucepan cook the onion and the garlic in the oil over low heat, stirring, for 2 minutes; add parsley, basil, tomatoes, tomato paste, stock, wine, sugar, romano, salt, and oregano, and simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
  • While sauce is cooking, prepare the meatballs: in a large bowl combine bread (with liquid squeezed from it), chuck (it's really good if you grind your own!), eggs, romano, parsley, garlic, the oregano, salt, and pepper; mix well and form into 8 meatballs.
  • In a large skillet brown the meatballs in the oil over high heat, turning them often; make sure to not crowd them in the pan, otherwise they won't brown properly.
  • Transfer the browned meatballs to the sauce with a slotted spoon and simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
  • You can serve them with your favorite pasta right away, but these improve in flavor if they're cooled and chilled, covered, and refrigerated overnight or up to 2 days before serving.

ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITH MEATBALLS



Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs image

This is a recipe I got from my mother years ago -- it's great.

Provided by Jeremy

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

Time 2h20m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg, beaten
¾ cup chopped onion
5 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup olive oil
2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 bay leaf
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
¾ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder and beaten egg. Mix well and form into 12 balls. Store, covered, in refrigerator until needed.
  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until onion is translucent. Stir in tomatoes, salt, sugar and bay leaf. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 90 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, basil, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and meatballs and simmer 30 minutes more. Serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 346.6 calories, Carbohydrate 23 g, Cholesterol 77.4 mg, Fat 21.2 g, Fiber 4.5 g, Protein 18.9 g, SaturatedFat 5.9 g, Sodium 1492.5 mg, Sugar 11.1 g

ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITH MEATBALLS



Italian Spaghetti Sauce With Meatballs image

Make and share this Italian Spaghetti Sauce With Meatballs recipe from Food.com.

Provided by CHEF GRPA

Categories     Meatballs

Time 2h20m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 lb lean ground beef
1 cup fresh breadcrumb
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup chopped onion
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
2 (28 ounce) cans whole canned tomatoes
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 bay leaf
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
3/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder and beaten egg. Mix well and form into 12 balls. Store, covered, in refrigerator until needed.
  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until onion is translucent. Stir in tomatoes, salt, sugar and bay leaf. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 90 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, basil, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and meatballs and simmer 30 minutes more. Serve.
  • My update Note: I was leary of making this without first pre-cooking the meatballs, but this is by far the best spaghetti and meatballs I have ever made. The meatballs ended up a nice brown color, they were not over cooked and I think putting them in before browning allowed some of the meat flavor to seep into the sauce.
  • #2 Instead of using all ground beef, I opted to use a combination of ground pork and ground beef (12 oz ground beef, 4 oz ground pork) -instead of plain bread crumbs, I used pre-seasoned breadcrumbs, I increased the parmesan cheese to 4 oz. With the sauce, instead of using 2 (28 oz) cans of whole tomatoes, I used 1 (28 oz can) of whole tomatoes, and then two smaller cans (14 oz) of crushed tomatoes. After simmering the sauce, I ran half of it through the blender to make it smoother. I also added a small can of tomato sauce in addition to the tomato paste, plus for added flavour I added 1 tsp italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp basil, and 1 tsp garlic powder.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 384.4, Fat 19.1, SaturatedFat 5, Cholesterol 80.9, Sodium 1591.2, Carbohydrate 32.9, Fiber 5.2, Sugar 12.6, Protein 22.7

ITALIAN MEAT SAUCE WITH MEATBALLS



Italian Meat Sauce with Meatballs image

This chunky, meaty sauce has a bit of heat from the sausage and red pepper. It's delicious served over pasta.-Jane McMillan, Dania Beach

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 4h40m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 pound bulk hot Italian sausage
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
12 frozen fully cooked Italian meatballs (1/2 ounce each), thawed and halved
2 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1/3 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup grated Parmesan and Romano cheese blend
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Hot cooked pasta

Steps:

  • In a large skillet, cook the sausage, onion and pepper over medium heat until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a 4-qt. slow cooker. Add the meatballs, tomato sauce, tomatoes, tomato paste, Parmesan cheese blend, garlic and seasonings. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until hot and bubbly., Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Cook 15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Serve with pasta.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 326 calories, Fat 21g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 55mg cholesterol, Sodium 1287mg sodium, Carbohydrate 16g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 21g protein.

Tips:

  • Use a combination of ground beef and pork for the meatballs to achieve a juicy and flavorful texture.
  • Make sure to brown the meatballs thoroughly before adding them to the sauce. This will help lock in their flavor and prevent them from becoming dry.
  • Use a variety of herbs and spices in the sauce to create a rich and complex flavor. Some good options include basil, oregano, thyme, garlic, and onion.
  • Simmer the sauce for at least 30 minutes, or longer if possible. This will allow the flavors to meld and develop.
  • Serve the sauce with your favorite pasta, such as spaghetti, penne, or macaroni.

Conclusion:

This Italian meat sauce with meatballs is a hearty and flavorful dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. The combination of tender meatballs and rich, flavorful sauce is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a delicious and easy-to-make Italian dish, give this recipe a try.

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