The weather is cooler in New York and I have that yearning for heartier meals. Quick and Easy Meatballs with Tomato Sauce is a hearty dish full of flavor, and as the name states, they’re quick and easy.
The meatballs are a mixture of ground chuck, sweet Italian pork sausage and parmesan molded into bite-size balls. The zesty sauce is a combination of tomatoes, garlic and oregano.
I like to serve this dish on a weekend for brunch, as it satisfies the need for something more substantial. Keep it simple and serve with toasted bread, and if you like, a side of eggs.
Alternatively, Quick and Easy Meatballs with Tomato Sauce makes for a great dinner for the kids. They’ll love it with spaghetti. Have them help with the prep work, you might find you have a budding chef in your midst.
I used to help my mother in the kitchen a lot when I was a kid. Many times not by choice, it was a requirement in my home. My mother thought it was important that all of her children were able to fend for themselves. So I started cooking very early in life, I was eight! My siblings and I truly enjoy cooking, it can be a bit of a fight to the kitchen at times when we get together.
What I like about Quick and Easy Meatballs with Tomato Sauce is that you don’t have to have years of experience in a kitchen to be able to make this dish. All you need to do is follow the recipe and you’ll have a very tasty dish in no time.
I served my Quick and Easy Meatballs with Tomato Sauce in small individual skillets, because I have a variety of skillets in different sizes. I love those things.
Now, don’t rush out and purchase small skillets. Well, not unless you want to. A large ovenproof skillet or dish will work fine.
Quick and Easy Meatballs with Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chuck
- 12 oz sweet Italian pork sausage removed from casings
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese shredded
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 28 oz canned diced tomatoes
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp fine salt
- Extra shredded parmesan for garnish
- 1/4 cup fresh basil cut into ribbons for garnish
Equipment & Utensils
- Large skillet preferably ovenproof
- Ovenproof dish if needed
- Saucepan with cover
- Aluminum foil
Instructions
- Tip ground chuck, Italian sausage and parmesan into a large bowl.
- Using your hands, mix ingredients together.
- Form mixed meat into bite-size meatballs by taking a large pinch of the meat and rolling into a ball.
- Heat oil in a large skillet on high heat, and carefully drop meatballs in.
- Brown all sides, just a little.
- You will likely have to brown meatballs in two batches, which might require additional oil.
- If you have an ovenproof skillet, discard oil and wipe skillet clean, then place meatballs in skillet and set aside.
- If you do not have an ovenproof skillet, place meatballs in an ovenproof dish and set aside.
- Drop butter in a saucepan and place on a high heat.
- Just before the butter completely melts add garlic and saute until flavor releases.
- Add tomatoes, oregano and salt and lightly stir to combine.
- Lower heat to medium and cover saucepan and allow to cook for 7-10 mins until the flavors are combined.
- Watch the sauce as it bubbles and lower heat if it appears to be bubbling too vigorously.
- Taste sauce to make sure you have the right balance of flavors, if necessary add a little extra of what your tastebuds feels it needs.
- Pour sauce over meatballs and cover with foil, then place in a preheated oven at 380.
- Allow to cook for 10-15 mins.
- When ready to serve, sprinkle with some parmesan and basil.
