Oven Baked Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
These oven baked meatballs in tomato sauce are juicy, tender, and packed with homemade flavor. The creamy breadcrumb mixture keeps the meatballs incredibly soft while the rich tomato sauce slowly cooks everything together in the oven for the perfect cozy family dinner.
Ingredients
For The Meatballs
- 3 tbsp breadcrumbs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tsp paprika
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 egg
- 1 lb ground pork and beef mix
- 1/3 tsp salt
- 1/3 tsp black pepper
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 3 tbsp rice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For The Tomato Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and heavy cream. Mix well until the breadcrumbs fully absorb the cream and become soft and creamy.
- Add the paprika, Italian seasoning, egg, and minced garlic. Mix well and set aside while preparing the remaining ingredients.
- Place the rice into a sieve and boil it for 3 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain well.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until soft and lightly golden. Season with a small pinch of salt and black pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground pork and beef with the salt and black pepper. Add the cooked onion, partially cooked rice and breadcrumb mixture.
- Mix everything very well for about 5 minutes until smooth and fully combined.
- Lightly wet your hands with water and shape the mixture into large meatballs. Place them into a baking dish in a single layer.
- To prepare the sauce, melt the butter together with the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the flour and stir until smooth.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes and water. Add the salt, sugar, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for about 5 minutes while stirring occasionally.
- Pour the tomato sauce evenly over the meatballs.
- Bake uncovered at 400°F for 40 minutes using bottom heat until the meatballs are tender and fully cooked.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Lightly wet your hands before shaping the meatballs to prevent sticking.
- Do not overcook the rice before mixing it into the meatballs. Partially cooked rice gives the best texture.
- Use high-quality crushed tomatoes for the richest homemade tomato sauce flavor.
- The meatballs become even more flavorful the next day after absorbing more sauce.
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