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Soft Italian Meatballs

Ultra-soft Italian meatballs simmered in rich tomato sauce, perfect for pasta or subs.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Comfort Food, Italian
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

Meatballs
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 0.5 lb ground pork
  • 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
  • 0.5 cup whole milk
  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 eggs large
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley finely chopped
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 0.5 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes optional
Tomato Sauce
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion medium, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 0.5 tsp dried basil
  • 0.5 tsp dried oregano

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Baking sheet
  • Large skillet
  • Large pot

Method
 

  1. Soak breadcrumbs in milk for 5–10 minutes.
  2. Combine all meatball ingredients in a large bowl and mix gently.
  3. Form meatballs into 1 1/2-inch balls and place on a baking sheet.
  4. Optional: Brown meatballs in a skillet for 2–3 minutes per side.
  5. Prepare tomato sauce by sautéing onion and garlic in olive oil, then adding crushed tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper, basil, and oregano. Simmer.
  6. Add meatballs to sauce and simmer 25–30 minutes on low heat.
  7. Garnish with fresh basil and serve with pasta, polenta, or bread.

Notes

For extra tender meatballs, mix ingredients by hand and do not overwork the meat.