Authentic Homemade Italian Meatballs and Tomato Sauce Recipe
Learn how to make authentic homemade Italian meatballs and tomato sauce that are full of flavor and perfect for a comforting meal. These tender meatballs simmered in a rich tomato sauce are sure to become a family favorite.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs:
- 3 lb ground beef, 85% lean
- 1/2 large onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 cup Italian style bread crumbs
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 10 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/3 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Tomato Sauce:
- 145 oz canned tomato sauce or (5) 29 oz cans
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 large onion
- 7 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Tomato Sauce (gravy) – In a large stock pot, simmer olive oil, onions, and garlic. Add tomato sauce and parsley. Cook until it begins to boil, then simmer on low heat.
- Meatballs – Mix all meatball ingredients in a bowl. Shape into balls and add to the sauce. Cook covered on low heat for about 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
- How to Store the Homemade Italian Meatballs and Sauce – Cool sauce before storing in plastic containers. Refrigerate for up to a week or freeze for several months.
Notes
- Allow sauce to cool before storing.
- Do not put hot sauce directly in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Freeze in small batches for convenience.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball with sauce
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: Italian, Meatballs, Tomato Sauce, Homemade, Comfort Food
