Homemade meatballs are a dish that suits every palate, appealing to both the young and the old. It is a simple, convenient recipe you can make at home with just a few ingredients, and with chillier days arriving, it becomes a comforting option for dinner. These are among the reasons this dish often earns a top spot on weekly menus.
The recipe has two parts: the meatballs and the sauce. The sauce can vary beyond a classic tomato base and pair well with fries or mashed potatoes, or with something a bit more elaborate such as a curry or chili sauce.
As this dish is prepared, keep a few tips in mind to shape the meatballs perfectly and make the process smoother:
The definitive recipe for making the best homemade meatballs
Contents
These quantities yield this recipe for four servings.
For the meatballs:
- Ground meat of any kind, with a common choice being a mix of beef and pork
- Egg
- Breadcrumbs or flour
- Milk
- Pepper and salt to taste
- Spices such as paprika, garlic powder, and parsley
For the sauce:
- Half an onion
- Carrot
- One clove of garlic
- Half a red bell pepper
- A jar of natural crushed tomatoes or homemade crushed tomatoes
- Oil and salt
Detailing
- Soak breadcrumbs in milk and let them rest for about ten minutes. Then fold them into the meat mix and work until the bread is well absorbed.
- Combine the minced meat with the spices, milk-soaked breadcrumbs, egg, and breadcrumbs until a cohesive dough forms.
- Shape the mix into round portions using a glass or cup as a mold.
- Next, prepare the sauce. Sauté diced garlic, onion, carrot, and pepper in a pan with a little oil. When the onion is translucent and the carrot softened, add the crushed tomatoes over medium to low heat. Season with salt and pepper. If the tomatoes are naturally sweet, a touch of sugar can balance acidity. If a homemade tomato sauce is prepared in advance, sugar may not be necessary. Let the sauce simmer on low heat.
- Once the meatballs are cooked, briefly brown them in a pan with a bit more oil to give them a light golden color.
- Pour the sauce into the same pot and add the meatballs. Remove excess oil first by laying the meatballs on paper towels before adding them to the sauce. This helps keep the sauce clean and the meatballs less greasy.
- Simmer everything together for about 20 minutes on low heat.
- While the meatballs cook, prepare a side such as fries or boiled, mashed, or roasted potatoes.
- When ready, plate and serve the meatballs with the sauce and the chosen side dish.