Super Simple Friday Night Meatballs

Serves 10

120 min

Super Simple Friday Night Meatballs

Recipe GLPRc320bb0302ce68

0.0(0)
Italian
Main Course
120 min
Servings: 10
Stovetop
SNAP eligible

Tender, flavorful meatballs made with seasoned ground beef, breadcrumbs, and fresh herbs, served in a rich tomato sauce with garlic. This crowd-pleasing dish is perfect for Friday night dinners and pairs beautifully with pasta and Parmesan cheese.

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Ingredients

4 slices bread, crusts removed

2 eggs

2 pounds 80/20 ground beef

1 1/2 tablespoons adobo seasoning

1/2 cup minced fresh parsley leaves

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Olive oil for frying

2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

6 to 8 cloves minced garlic

1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

Pasta for serving

Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Directions

  1. Tear the bread into small pieces and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the eggs and mix together until the bread breaks down and forms a paste-like mixture.

  2. Add the ground beef, adobo seasoning, minced parsley, and a generous pinch of kosher salt and black pepper to the bread mixture. Gently combine with your hands until just blended, taking care not to overwork the mixture.

  3. Shape the mixture into meatballs about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. You should have approximately 30 to 35 meatballs.

  4. Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches to avoid crowding, brown the meatballs on all sides until deeply golden, about 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Transfer the browned meatballs to a plate.

  5. In the same skillet, add the extra-virgin olive oil and minced garlic. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.

  6. Add the tomato paste to the skillet and stir continuously for about 2 minutes, allowing it to deepen in color and develop flavor.

  7. Pour in the canned whole peeled tomatoes with their juice. Use a wooden spoon to crush the tomatoes slightly as they blend into the sauce. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste.

  8. Return the browned meatballs to the skillet, nestling them into the tomato sauce. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently, uncovered, for about 45 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the flavors meld.

  9. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, and serve topped with the meatballs and sauce. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese.