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meatballs in a bowl of red sauce with fresh herbs on top and red pepper flakes
5 from 2 votes

Homemade Meatballs and Red Sauce

These homemade meatballs are made with hot Italian sausage, beef, veal, and aromatics for the most tender juicy meatball. Swimming in a red sauce made from scratch.
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 50 minutes
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
4 -6 servings

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 1/2 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 pound hot italian sausage
  • 1/2 pound ground veal (or lamb (see note #1))
  • 1/3 cup yellow onion (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup garlic (minced)
  • 2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
  • 1/4-1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs (start with 1/4, then adjust if mix is too wet)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (can omit if you don't like spicy)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt & pepper
  • 1/4 cup olive oil for pan searing

Homemade Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 anchovy filets
  • 1/4 cup yellow onion (chopped)
  • 1 large carrot (grated (about 1/3 cup))
  • 6 cloves garlic (grated or pressed (leftover ends put in sauce))
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 56 ounces San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves (chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Garnish/Sides (optional)

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Instructions

  • In a dutch oven, over medium heat, add 2 tbsp of olive oil and sauté onion and garlic for 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a mixing bowl and add all the meatball ingredients (minus the olive oil). Using your hands mix the meatballs until ingredients are all combined (see note #2 and #3). Form balls with your hands (I usually form mine into 1 1/2in balls) and place aside.
  • Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in dutch oven on med/high heat. Add the meatballs and pan sear sides for about 1 minute on each side or until browned. You will have to do this in batches. Set aside on a pan and start the sauce once all the meatballs have been pan seared.
  • Leaving the oil in the dutch oven, lower the heat to medium and add the anchovies. Once they are dissolved, add the onions and sauté until they begin to soften about 3-4 minutes. Next, add the grated garlic and carrots to the sauce, let cook another minute. Pour in the red wine and allow the liquid to reduce by half (about 4 minutes).
  • Open 2 cans of San Marzano tomatoes and add to the sauce. Mix in the red pepper flakes, oregano, and fresh ground black pepper.
  • Using your cooking utensil break up the tomatoes in the sauce and bring to a boil. Once it begins to bubble lower the heat to simmer. If you do not want a chunky sauce you can use an immersion blender or laddle into a heat safe blender. Add the fresh basil, stir the sauce, and add the meatballs.
  • Cover and reduce the heat to simmer. Let the sauce and meatballs simmer for 30 minutes. The meatballs should reach an internal temperature of 160F degrees.
  • Serve alone, over pasta, as a meatball sub, or with my homemade garlic bread
  • Top with additional parmesan cheese, basil, and red pepper flakes

Notes

  1. You can use whatever combo of meat so long as it equals 1.5lbs. (Sirloin/lamb, lamb/pork, all 3, etc.)
  2. When making the meatballs, put some olive oil on your hands, so the mixture doesn't stick to your hands
  3. Do not over-mix or overwork the meat when rolling the meatballs. This will result in tough and dense meatballs.
  4. Use an immersion blender to puree your sauce!

Video

Nutrition Information

Calories: 832kcal (42%), Carbohydrates: 32g (11%), Protein: 41g (82%), Fat: 59g (91%), Saturated Fat: 17g (106%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Monounsaturated Fat: 31g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 230mg (77%), Sodium: 1632mg (71%), Potassium: 1494mg (43%), Fiber: 6g (25%), Sugar: 12g (13%), Vitamin A: 4453IU (89%), Vitamin C: 51mg (62%), Calcium: 316mg (32%), Iron: 8mg (44%)
© Author: Stephanie