Description
Italian Meatballs with Marinara is a hearty and comforting dish combining juicy, tender meatballs made from a blend of beef and pork with a rich, homemade marinara sauce. This family-friendly recipe uses simple pantry staples to create a flavorful meal perfect for weeknights or special dinners. Versatile and satisfying, it pairs beautifully with pasta, garlic bread, or as a meatball sub.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Ingredients
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (or gluten-free breadcrumbs for gluten-free option)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Marinara Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatball Mixture: Combine ground beef and pork in a large bowl with breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, finely chopped onion, fresh parsley, egg, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix gently until just combined, taking care not to overwork the meat for tender meatballs.
- Shape the Meatballs: Form the mixture into evenly sized balls about 1.5 inches in diameter using your hands or a cookie scoop, ensuring they cook evenly and hold their shape.
- Brown the Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs carefully and brown on all sides for about 5 minutes total to seal in juices and build flavor. Transfer browned meatballs to a plate.
- Prepare the Marinara Sauce: In the same skillet, add more olive oil if needed. Sauté minced garlic and chopped onion until fragrant and golden. Pour in crushed canned tomatoes, season with salt, pepper, and fresh basil, then simmer gently to develop rich flavors.
- Simmer Meatballs in Marinara: Return the browned meatballs to the sauce, nestling them gently. Cover and simmer on low heat for 20-25 minutes until meatballs are cooked through and the sauce thickens beautifully.
Notes
- Don’t overmix the meat to avoid tough meatballs; mix just until combined.
- Use fresh parsley and basil to add bright, authentic Italian flavor.
- Brown the meatballs before simmering to lock in moisture and add a flavorful crust.
- Simmer sauce and meatballs gently to meld flavors without drying out the meat.
- Let meatballs rest a few minutes after cooking for juicier results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-frying and Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (4-5 meatballs with sauce)
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg