Pork and Beef Meatballs With Tomato Sauce

Name: Pork and Beef Meatballs With Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 105 min
Ingredients: 1 pound ground pork; 1 pound ground beef; 1 tablespoon onion powder; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 1 large egg; ½ cup parmesan cheese + more for serving (grated ); ¼ heaping cup of gluten-free panko breadcrumbs; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper; 2 cups Beef or vegetable broth; 2 15 oz can high quality tomato puree; 1 tsp dried rosemary; 1 tsp dried basil; 1 tsp dried oregano; ½ tsp salt or more to taste; ¼ tsp cracked black pepper; 1 ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce (gluten free); 2 tbsp dark brown sugar

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Easy oven-baked meatballs made with both ground pork and beef and then left to simmer in homemade Italian tomato sauce. Everyone loves a good saucy meatballs dish for Potlucks!

oven baked meatballs simmering in tomato sauce in a black skillet

If you love beef recipes you should definitely try these readers' favorite recipes: Beef Enchilada Casserole, Hamburger Casserole, Slow Cooker Massaman Curry and Ground Beef And Cabbage.

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Instructions
Serving
Readers Feedback
Tips
Serving suggestions
FAQs
Easy Beef Recipes
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Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 F.

In a large bowl mix together garlic powder, onion powder, egg, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper until combined.

flatlay shot of seasonings, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs and egg mixed in a large transparent glass bowl

flatlay shot of a ground beef and pork mixed along with seasonings in a large glass transparent bowl

Add pork and beef, mix to combine (for better results, try mixing with your hands).

Prepare a small bowl with warm water to dip your hands in. Roll the mixture between your hands into medium-sized balls, dipping your hands in water after each meatball. You should end up with 24 or if rolled into smaller balls, about 28 meatballs.

Transfer to baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil, and bake for 25 minutes.

flatlay shot of 24 raw rolled meatballs on a baking sheet lined with foil

Meanwhile, prepare the marinara sauce by combining all the ingredients in a large pan over low-medium heat. Let simmer for 5-10 minutes.

shot of a simmering homemade tomato sauce in a large black skillet

When meatballs are done, add them to the marinara sauce and let simmer over low-medium heat for 1 hour. Serve over pasta or rice and your favorite side salads.

Serving

The best option is to stick with the classic sides like pasta/spaghetti, baked potato, mashed potatoes or plain rice and a bowl of simple fresh salad.

stacked meatballs in tomato sauce on a pile of spaghetti

If you like pork and beef recipes be sure to check out my other delicious and budget-friendly meals such as Ground Beef and Cabbage, Easy Pork Tenderloin, Beef Enchilada Casserole or simply type the words ''pork'', ''beef'' into the search bar.

Readers Feedback

What The Yummy Bowl fans are saying across different platforms:

Husband and I both devoured them on spaghetti. Estelle, Pinterest

Tips

Onion and garlic powder - for more texture sub with half medium white/brown onion (small dice), and 1 medium-large garlic clove (crushed).
Beef and pork meatballs substitute - use ground chicken or turkey instead (bake for 5-10 minutes less and then let simmer in the pan along with the sauce as instructed). Or you can simply make the meatballs only with ground pork as well.
Don’t overcook - A good rule of thumb here is to undercook the meatballs and let them simmer in tomato sauce for longer than 1 hour. If overcooked, meatballs will lose their texture and tenderness.
Use your hands for shaping – in my opinion, the easiest way and gives far the best results when it comes to perfectly formed round meatballs.
Store - Best consumed immediately but you can also let the meatballs cool and then place in an airtight glass container along with some sauce and pop into the fridge (up to a week) or freezer (2-3 months).
Leftover meatballs? Make a meatball casserole.

stacked meatballs in tomato sauce on a pile of spaghetti, bite shot of a top centered meatball

Serving suggestions

If you like asparagus as much as I do, prepare this roasted Asparagus with Parmesan Cheese to pair with the meatballs. Or try one of these:

Mashed Cauliflower and Potatoes
Cabbage and Cucumber Salad With Dill
Lime Cilantro Rice
Garlic Mashed Potatoes With Cream Cheese
Gluten Free Homemade Tater Tots
Sweet Potato Fries With Truffle Oil
Homemade Parmesan Truffle Fries

FAQs

Can you cook raw meatballs in tomato sauce?

If you don't want to bake them first that's fine, I think it is even easier to cook them in a pan. Roll the meatballs (you'll need to cook them in batches), cook on medium-high heat over the stovetop until golden brown, and then add to the sauce to simmer.

Is it better to bake or fry meatballs?

Baking/roasting food is usually a slightly healthier way of cooking than frying. However, if you fry the meatballs in a pan on medium heat (just until they get a nice golden brown color) and simmer after in sauce for at least 1 hour will still be a healthier option and will result in soft and flavorful meatballs. Be sure to use high-quality vegetable oil (I use grapeseed oil instead of olive or other oils as it has a higher smoke point).

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