Introduction:
Welcome!
In this blog, I am sharing an easy recipe for homemade meatballs with canned tomato sauce. Last week, my family let me know that they were craving meatballs. Yes, I was reminded that I haven't made meatballs in a long time.
I get it - meatballs are a popular comfort food. They are filling, they taste good, and they aren't too difficult to make. Normally, when I cook meatballs, I make a traditional Spaghetti and Meatballs dish, but I was out of spaghetti pasta and out of my beloved marinara sauce.
But - no worries - I had a can of tomato sauce, which made me wonder: would canned tomato sauce be good with meatballs? The answer is yes.
Canned Tomato Sauce:
One of the biggest advantages of using canned tomato sauce is it can save money. Tomato sauce is usually less expensive than jarred pasta sauce. Also, many tomato sauces already have seasoning mixed in, which saves time.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 (15oz.) can tomato sauce
- Optional toppings: 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella, 1/4 cup cheddar, and more Parmesan
Meatball Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix ground beef, egg, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Shape the mixture into medium-sized meatballs; each meatball should be the size of a golf ball. Usually, 1lb. of meat yields 18 - 22 meatballs. (I ended up with 21 meatballs this time).
- Place the meatballs on the baking sheet. Bake the meatballs for 20 - 25 minutes. Check the internal temperature of the meatballs to ensure that they reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Allow the meatballs to cool down for a few minutes. Then move the meatballs to a plate lined with paper towels to allow excess grease to drain off if needed.
- If you are preparing these meatballs ahead of time, refrigerate them after they have cooled down. You can reheat the meatballs later when you warm up the tomato sauce.
Combining Meatballs and Tomato Sauce:
Reheating the meatballs in the tomato sauce infuses the flavors of both ingredients. You can use a medium-sized pot or a medium-sized nonstick skillet. Simply pour your sauce in your pan and add your meatballs. Simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes.
If you want cheesy meatballs, add 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
What to serve with meatballs?
For a low carb option, you can serve meatballs over roasted cauliflower florets. If you want something green, add a side of asparagus or a side salad. And if you like bread (to soak up extra tomato sauce), try adding cheesy toast.
Does it make a good work lunch?
Yes.
More Recipes that Include Tomato Sauce:
Comments
Post a Comment