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Italian Meatballs with Sunday Gravy
3.7 from 60 votes

Italian Meatballs with Sunday Gravy

Italian Meatballs with Sunday Gravy combines a rich tomato sauce simmered with onions, garlic, and optional mushrooms and red wine with tender meatballs made from a blend of ground sirloin, pork, and chuck. The meatballs are baked until cooked through and served with pasta, soaked in the flavorful sauce. This hearty dish balances savory meat and robust tomato flavors, making it ideal for a comforting meal that highlights traditional Italian-American cooking methods.

Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 12
Calories: 424 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Sunday Gravy (Red Sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion diced, large
  • 2 cloves garlic grated
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 cups whole peeled tomatoes two 32-ounce cans
  • 4 cups tomato sauce low sodium
  • 2 pounds mushroom optional, sliced
  • 1 cup red wine optional
  • parsley to serve, fresh
  • basil to serve, fresh
Meatballs
  • 1 pound ground sirloin
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1 pound ground chuck or veal
  • 3 cloves garlic grated
  • 2 egg lightly whisked
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs Italian style
  • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
  • ½ cup parsley minced
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • pasta we use DeLallo whole wheat pasta, cooked

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. To make the sauce, heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large stock pot and stir in diced onions, garlic, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and saute onions until translucent, stirring frequently, about 8-9 minutes.
  2. Stir in whole peeled tomatoes and tomato sauce carefully breaking apart tomatoes with a wooden spoon. (Alternatively, I like to break them apart with scissors in the can before adding.) Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer while you begin working on the meatballs. (You can add red wine and mushrooms at this time if using.)
  3. For the meatballs, start by pre-heating oven to 350 degrees and lining two or three baking sheets with foil.
  4. Place all meatball ingredients (sirloin through pepper) in a large bowl and use your hands to mix together until everything is thoroughly combined.
  5. Using a cookie scoop, start forming mixture into meatballs and line into a single layer on the baking sheet.
  6. Bake meatballs for 15 minutes then remove from oven and carefully add to the sauce simmering on the stove. Continue simmering sauce with the meatballs for 30 minutes or longer.
  7. Serve over pasta of choice.

Notes

  • Adding a Parmesan rind to the sauce during cooking enhances its flavor depth.
  • This recipe can be scaled down by half if needed without sacrificing quality.

Nutrition Information

Calories 424kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 20.1g (7%) Protein 30.2g (60%) Fat 24.3g (37%) Saturated Fat 8.9g (45%) Polyunsaturated Fat 15.4g (91%) Cholesterol 128mg (43%) Sodium 1764mg (74%) Fiber 3.2g (13%) Sugar 8.7g (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 424

% Daily Value*

Calories 424kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 20.1g 7%
Protein 30.2g 60%
Fat 24.3g 37%
Saturated Fat 8.9g 45%
Polyunsaturated Fat 15.4g 91%
Cholesterol 128mg 43%
Sodium 1764mg 74%
Fiber 3.2g 13%
Sugar 8.7g 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.