Old-Fashioned Meatballs in Red Sauce

Classic Italian-style meatballs made with a combination of ground beef and sweet Italian sausage, seasoned with garlic and Pecorino Romano cheese, then baked in a simple crushed tomato sauce.

4 servings
1 hr 33 min

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground round (15 percent fat)
  • ½ pound sweet Italian sausage
  • cup plain dry bread crumbs
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • cup Pecorino Romano cheese
  • cups crushed tomatoes

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Remove ground round and sausage from refrigerator 30 to 60 minutes before cooking, if possible. Place bread crumbs in large bowl and stir in 1/3 cup water. When absorbed, blend together with eggs, garlic, 1/4 cup grated Romano, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

    60 min

  2. 2.

    Preheat oven to 425°F. Add meats to bread crumb mixture and combine well with fork. Form into 12 even balls. Lay in 1 layer in 8 x 14-inch baking dish so each is separated by about 1 inch.

    15 min

  3. 3.

    Stir 1/4 cup water into crushed tomatoes and season with 1/8 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste. Pour tomatoes over and around meatballs. Sprinkle tops with remaining 1 1/3 tablespoons grated Romano. Bake in center of oven until meatballs are just cooked through, about 18 minutes. Serve hot.

    18 min