Meatballs In Tomato Sauce: A Great Recipe On A Budget

The other night when I gave my niece a choice between this dish and another for what I should cook that night, he chose this Meatballs In Tomato Sauce, hands down! Who can pass up meatballs in homemade tomato sauce? This is a great comfort food recipe, and it is also kid-friendly.

As a variation, instead of the usual ground beef, I sometimes use ground bison and ground pork. I really like bison. I find it has a slightly sweeter taste to the meat than beef, and getting variety in your diet is always a good thing. Also, to the best of my knowledge, you’ll never find bison in a CAFO, so bison is a naturally grass-fed option. 

How do you make great meatballs in tomato sauce? Here’s how.

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Meatballs In Tomato Sauce: A Great Recipe On A Budget

Eleanor Craig

Meatballs In Tomato Sauce: A Great Recipe On A Budget

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4 people

Calories 382 kcal

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

TO MAKE THE SAUCE:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil - (ghee/butter/lard)
• 1 medium yellow onion - finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic - minced
• 14- ounce tomato - 1 can
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
•  
  ½ teaspoon Sucanat - (optional, if the sauce needs a little mellowing)
• 1 splash olive oil

TO MAKE THE MEATBALLS:

• 1 pound ground beef (minced beef) - or bison
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon parsley - finely chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 medium egg

Instructions

 

• Heat oil in a pot. Add onion and garlic, sauté until golden.
• Add canned tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, salt, pepper, Sucanat and a splash of olive oil. Gently simmer while preparing the meatballs.
• To make the meatballs, add all ingredients to a medium-size mixing bowl and mix well (or use a food processor).
• Form the meat mixture into small balls (no more than 1-inch diameter).
• Drop each meatball into the sauce and simmer, lid partially on, for 10-15 minutes (depending on the size of the meatball) until meatballs are cooked through. Stir periodically to ensure all meatballs are evenly cooked.
• Eat and enjoy!

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Nutrition

Calories: 382kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 23gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 921mgPotassium: 745mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1160IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 4mg

How did this recipe turn out for you?We’re eager to hear your thoughts!