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    Home » Noodles and Pasta

    Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

    Published: Jan 7, 2023 by Nora Rey · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    4 shares
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    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Tender, juicy meatballs simmered in a flavorful marinara sauce. Serve it over spaghetti or tapas-style with some bread.

    You may also like to try Baked Macaroni, a Filipino-style baked pasta dish.

    Meatballs with marinara sauce and garlic bread on a plate
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients you'll need
    • Notes and substitutions
    • How to make this recipe
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Other noodles and pasta recipes you may like
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients you'll need

    Individual ingredients for meatballs
    Meatball ingredients (oil, salt, and pepper are not in the picture)
    Individual ingredients for marinara sauce
    Marinara sauce ingredients (salt and pepper are not in the picture)

    Notes and substitutions

    • Ground meat: Use a blend of ground meats (beef, pork, veal, or chicken) for moisture, flavor, and texture. I recommend 80% to 90% lean meat for the ideal meat-to-fat ratio.
    • Breadcrumbs: They give meatballs a tender, lighter texture. By absorbing the liquid in the mixture, they also make the meatballs moist and juicy. You can use plain, Italian-style, or panko breadcrumbs.
    • Crushed Tomatoes: You can also use a can of whole peeled tomatoes and crush them to your desired consistency. In a pinch, you can use tomato sauce which has a thin, smooth consistency made from puréed tomatoes.

    How to make this recipe

    (1)Combine 2 pounds ground meat, ¾ cup breadcrumbs, ¼ cup milk, 1 cup parmesan cheese, 2 eggs, 1 onion, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ cup chopped parsley, salt (about one teaspoon kosher salt or less for table salt), and ground pepper (to taste) in a large bowl.

    Meatball ingredients in a large bowl

    (2)With your hands, mix until evenly combined. Roll into balls about 2 inches in diameter (or any size, depending on your preference).

    Use a cookie scoop to make meatballs of equal size. Don't overmix or overpack the meatballs, as it will make them tough when cooked.

    Holding a meatball over the bowl of the meatball mixture.

    (3)Set a sauté pan or a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add some oil and sear the meatballs until browned for about 3 minutes. Set them aside.

    Searing the meatballs in a saute pan.

    (4)Set the same pan over medium heat, then add ¼ cup olive oil. Sauté 1 onion, 6 garlic cloves, and a pinch of crushed red pepper for about 2 minutes. Scrape the fond or browned bits off the bottom of the pan.

    Sauteing the aromatics in a saute pan.

    (5)Add 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon sugar, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, 2 bay leaves, some salt, and pepper to taste. Mix it and let it simmer.

    Mixing the marinara sauce in the saute pan.

    (6)Add the meatballs to the sauce. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. Taste and adjust as needed.

    Simmering the meatballs and marinara sauce.

    (7)Add parmesan cheese and fresh basil, as desired.

    Adding parmesan cheese and basil to the meatballs with marinara sauce.

    Serve over spaghetti or tapas-style with bread.

    Meatballs with marinara sauce over spaghetti.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the secret to good meatballs?

    Use a blend of ground meats with enough fat for juicy, flavorful meatballs. Breadcrumbs will keep them moist and tender. To ensure they are well-seasoned, fry a small amount of mixture before forming them into balls, then adjust as needed. Mix the ingredients just until incorporated—overmixing will make the meatballs dense and tough.

    Can you make meatballs without eggs?

    Eggs act as a binder and add moisture to meatballs. You can skip the eggs by using meat with higher fat content, holding the meatballs together. Sometimes breadcrumbs or flour can serve as a binder. Ground chicken is generally so sticky that a binder isn't necessary. Don't overload the meatballs with extra ingredients that may cause them to fall apart.

    What is marinara sauce?

    Marinara sauce is a red sauce that contains tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and olive oil. Other variations may include onions, carrots, celery, wine, or spices. You can use it as a pasta sauce or dipping sauce, on pizza, or add ground meat to make spaghetti sauce.

    Other noodles and pasta recipes you may like

    • baked macaroni in a baking dish
      Baked Macaroni
    • Yaki Udon (Stir-Fried Udon)
    • pancit canton
      Pancit Canton (Filipino Stir-Fried Noodles)
    • anchovy pasta with breadcrumbs served on a plate
      Anchovy Pasta with Breadcrumbs

    Did you make this recipe? I would love to know! Your feedback helps me make better recipes.  Please rate, review, or comment below. Questions about this recipe are welcome, too!

    Let's connect on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter, and Youtube. Be sure to tag me when you try any of my recipes @recipesbynora!

    📖 Recipe

    meatballs with marinara sauce on a plate

    Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

    Tender, juicy meatballs simmered in a flavorful marinara sauce.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 287kcal
    Author: Nora Rey
    Cost: $16-$18

    Equipment

    • Large sauté pan or Dutch oven
    • Cookie scoop (optional)

    Ingredients

    For the meatballs:

    • 2 pounds ground meat blend (beef, pork, veal, or chicken)
    • ¾ cup breadcrumbs
    • ¼ cup milk sub:water
    • 1 cup grated parmesan cheese more for serving
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 yellow onion minced
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
    • Olive oil or neutral oil for searing and sautéing
    • Salt and pepper to taste (I used about 1 teaspoon kosher salt or less for table salt)

    For the marinara sauce:

    • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 yellow onion minced
    • 6 cloves garlic minced
    • Crushed red pepper a pinch
    • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
    • 1 teaspoon sugar or more
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • 2 dried bay leaves
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    For serving:

    • Parmesan cheese
    • Fresh basil leaves optional
    • Spaghetti or bread optional
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, milk, parmesan cheese, eggs, onion, garlic powder, oregano, parsley, salt (about one teaspoon kosher salt or less for table salt), and ground pepper (to taste) in a large bowl.
    • With your hands, mix until evenly combined. Roll into balls about 2 inches in diameter (or any size, depending on your preference). Use a cookie scoop to make meatballs of equal size. Don't overmix or overpack the meatballs, as it will make them tough when cooked.
    • Set a sauté pan or a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add some oil and sear the meatballs until browned for about 3 minutes. Set them aside.
    • Set the same pan over medium heat, then add olive oil. Sauté onions, garlic, and crushed red pepper for about 2 minutes. Scrape the fond or browned bits off the bottom of the pan.
    • Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, sugar, bay leaves, some salt, and pepper to taste. Mix it and let it simmer.
    • Add the meatballs back into the sauce. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. Taste and adjust as needed.
    • Add parmesan cheese and fresh basil, as desired.
    • Serve over spaghetti or tapas-style with bread.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 287kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 9gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 736mgPotassium: 435mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 558IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 197mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @recipesbynora or tag #RecipesByNora!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mayet

      January 08, 2023 at 12:44 am

      5 stars
      I love how good this looks. I’m definitelg making this one. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Nora Rey

        January 08, 2023 at 12:46 am

        Hello Mayet, thank you and I hope you'll give it a try. =)

        Reply

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