Description
A classic comfort food dish featuring tender, juicy meatballs simmered in a rich tomato sauce packed with vegetables, served over perfectly cooked pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 12 ounces pasta
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Roll the mixture into meatballs, about 1.5 inches in diameter.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add meatballs and brown on all sides. Remove meatballs from the pot and set aside.
- Add chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, oregano, and basil. Bring to a simmer.
- Return the meatballs to the pot. Cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions.
- Serve meatballs and sauce over cooked pasta.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- You can substitute half of the ground beef with ground pork or veal for a richer flavor.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
Keywords: pasta, meatballs, tomato sauce, vegetables, comfort food, Italian