Homemade Meatballs Recipe with Sauce, is one of my favorite dish, made with aromatic spices and minced pork meat. Succulent meatballs are soaked in a rich tomato sauce made with vegetables.
This homemade meatballs recipe has diverse cultural roots, with variations like Italian polpette, Swedish köttbullar, and Middle Eastern kofta.
I love the simplicity of shaping seasoned meat into round pieces, knowing that the final dish will be incredibly tasty. This anticipation adds to the satisfaction of making these meatballs.
I make this meatballs recipe with sauce all year round as it is one of my family's favorite dish, you can enjoy it with rice, bread or on it's own. I also make Spanish Meatballs that you will like.
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⭐Why You'll Love This Homemade Meatballs Recipe with Sauce
- Healthier Ingredients: You have complete control over the quality of ingredients.
- Customized to Your Taste: One of the best things about making meatballs from scratch is the ability to customize them to your taste.
- Great for Batch Cooking: I make meatballs in large batches as it saves time and is great for meal prep. I freeze them after cooking, so later I have a quick, tasty meal ready on busy days.
- Family-Friendly: Homemade meatballs are loved by both kids and adults. Their comforting flavors and familiar taste make them a family favorite.
If you want more comfort food you should check out Chicken Pot Pie and French Onion Soup.
🧾Ingredients
The ingredients for the Homemade Meatballs Recipe with Sauce are similar to my Spanish meatballs.
- Minced Meat: I have used minced pork meat, however, you can use your favorite ground meat.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I like to use extra virgin olive oil for all my dishes as it provides a nutty and fruity flavor.
- Vegetables: Onions, carrots, runner beans, green peas, tomatoes, and potatoes provide volume and balance the fiber with the protein in the dish.
- Seasoning: Salt, pepper, nutmeg, cumin powder, paprika, parsley, and garlic.
- Chicken Broth: It is liquid for the sauce and is better than water.
- Wine: Wine enhances the sharpness of an otherwise salty dish, adding remarkable depth and dimension to the flavor profile.
- Egg: Acts as a binding agent, helping to hold the meatballs together.
- Breadcrumbs: Contribute texture, absorb moisture, and prevent the meatballs from becoming too dense.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Homemade Meatballs Recipe in Sauce
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Warm some extra virgin olive oil in a big saucepan on medium heat.
2. Dice the onions and add to the oil, sprinkle some salt and pepper, and cook until they're nice and soft.
3. Chop the garlic into tiny bits, toss them in with the onions, and cook for 2 minutes until they smell delicious.
4. Cut the pepper into small pieces, mix it with the onion, and cook until it gets nice and soft.
5. Slice the runner beans, then toss them into the mix along with nutmeg, cumin powder, and paprika. Cook for a few minutes.
6. Chop the tomatoes, throw them in a blender, and blend until they become smooth.
7. Mix in the tomato puree and let it cook for 5 minutes.
8. Add wine and let it simmer for a few minutes.
9. Chop the carrots, throw them into the sauce, and cook for a few minutes.
10. In a big bowl, mix minced meat, salt, pepper, cumin, nutmeg powder, minced garlic, chopped parsley, egg, and breadcrumbs.
11. Stir the ingredients well until they are thoroughly mixed.
12. Form the mixture into meatballs of your preferred size.
13. Warm up some extra virgin olive oil and fry the meatballs.
14. Carefully add the meatballs to the sauce.
15. Pour in chicken broth, toss in some green peas, and let it all simmer.
16. Dice the potatoes, mix them into the sauce, and simmer until the meatballs are fully cooked and the veggies are soft.
17. Plate the meatballs with the tasty sauce.
📖Variations
- Italian-Inspired Meatballs: Use pork, then add grated Parmesan cheese. Season with oregano, basil, and thyme. Serve with marinara sauce and spaghetti.
- Asian-Style Meatballs: For a lighter option, use ground chicken or turkey. Add minced ginger and garlic, then season with soy sauce, sesame oil, and green onions for an Asian twist. Serve with a sweet and savory soy glaze.
- Mediterranean Meatballs: Use ground lamb and mix in feta cheese and chopped Kalamata olives. Season with rosemary and mint. Serve with tzatziki sauce and couscous or flatbread.
- Swedish Meatballs: Use pork and season with nutmeg and allspice. Serve with a creamy gravy and sour cream. Pair with lingonberry sauce and mashed potatoes.
🍽 How to Serve
This homemade meatballs can be the main course alongside fried potato and salads like pasta salad or Waldorf salad.
As well you can serve them as appetizers or tapas with toothpicks for dipping, alongside other tapas dishes like Spanish tortilla, Paella or Tuna croquettes.
The homemade meatballs eating experience is incomplete without a bread for mopping up the delicious sauce.
💭Tips for Recipe Success
Binding Agents: Use breadcrumbs and eggs as binding agents to hold the meatballs together.
Uniform Size: Keep the meatballs a consistent size to ensure even cooking.
Prevent Overcooking: Be cautious not to overcook the meatballs. Overcooking can result in a dry texture.
🍛More Main Dish Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite main dish recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Homemade Meatballs Recipe with Sauce
Ingredients
For the sauce:
- 3 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Onions
- 1&½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 3 Garlic Cloves
- 1 Pepper
- 200 g Runner Beans
- ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon Cumin Powder
- 1 tablespoon Paprika
- 3 Tomatoes
- 50 ml Wine
- 2 Carrots
- 500 ml Chicken Broth
- 150 g Green Peas
- 200 g Potatoes
For MeatBalls:
- 500 g Minced Meat
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- ½ teaspoon Nutmeg Powder
- 3 Garlic Cloves
- Parsley
- 1 Egg
- 50 g Breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Heat extra virgin olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Chop the onions, add salt and pepper and sauté until softened.
- Cut the garlic into small pieces, add to the onion and sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Dice the pepper, add to the onion and sauté until softened.
- Cut the runner beans into pieces, and add runner beans, nutmeg, cumin powder, and paprika. Cook for a few minutes.
- Cut the tomatoes, place in a mixer, and blend until smooth.
- Stir in tomato puree and cook for 5 minutes.
- Pour in the wine and let it simmer for a couple of minutes.
- Cut the carrots in pieces, add to the sauce and cook for a few minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine minced meat, salt, pepper, cumin, nutmeg powder, minced garlic, chopped parsley, egg, and breadcrumbs.
- Mix the ingredients thoroughly until well combined.
- Shape the mixture into meatballs of your desired size.
- Heat extra virgin olive oil and fry the meatballs.
- Gently place the meatballs into the sauce.
- Add chicken broth and green peas, and simmer.
- Cut the potatoes into pieces, add to the sauce and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through and vegetables are tender.
- Serve the meatballs with the flavorful sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
sandra says
A total hit in my house! Even my picky eaters devoured these. So moist and flavorful, thanks for the great recipe!