This is an easy recipe for pork meatballs in tomato sauce - just like my grandma used to make. A comforting dish everyone loves!
Ingredients: 13 | Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 1 hour | Servings: 4 servings | Difficulty: Easy
These pork meatballsย in tomato sauce are a very quick meal to put on your table, especially when you are using leftover meatballs.
If you want to be really quick, then grab a jar of previously made tomato or marinara sauceย as well. Or a bought tomato sauce jar, of course. Check out these Spanish Meatballs, too; they are amazing.
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Recipe ingredients
Ingredients for the tomato sauce: Passata or crushed tomatoes, onion, garlic, tomato paste, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
Ingredients for the pork meatballs: Ground pork, white bread, onion, garlic, egg, flour, seasoning, herbs, and oil. Try Romanian pork and beef meatballs or Turkish beef kofta, too.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make pork meatballs in tomato sauce?
Super quick version
Leftover meatballs + a jar of marinara sauce. Heat the meatballs in the sauce. Serve.
Pork meatballs from scratch
Step #1: Cook the chopped onions in a small pan and soak the bread.
Step #2: Mix all the meatball ingredients in a bowl.
Step #3: Shape small meatballs.
Step #4: Coat them with flour.
Step #5: Place the pork meatballs on a baking sheet.
Step #6: Bake them until cooked through.
Tip: You can also cook them in a frying pan on the stovetop. Cook them on medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes on each side until they are deeply browned on the outside. Check one to make sure that they are cooked through.
Tomato sauce from scratch
Step #7: Saute the onions.
Step #8: Add the sauce ingredients and simmer for about 30 minutes.
Step #9: Add the meatballs.
Step #10: Toss them with the tomato sauce and reheat them in the sauce.
Storage
Store the leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat the meatballs in tomato sauce in a saucepan on the stovetop or microwave.
How to serve?
Serve the pork meatballs in tomato sauce over garlic parmesan mashed potatoes (my favorite way), over spaghetti or other types of noodles (even zucchini noodles), over rice, or eat simply with a slice of yogurt flaxseed bread.
Any type of green salad is a good side dish; our favorite is the one with yogurt dressing.
Pork Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Equipment
- Large saucepan
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
Quick version:
- leftover meatballs
- marinara sauce from a jar Note 1
Recipe from scratch
Marinara sauce:
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb passata or 1 can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leave
- 1 pinch of sugar
- fine sea salt and pepper
Pork meatballs:
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 thick slice white bread crusts removed, about 1.7 oz/ 50 g
- 2 large garlic cloves grated
- 1 lb ground pork Note 2
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- fine sea salt and black pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1-2 tablespoons chopped parsley to serve
Instructions
Quick version:
- Heat the meatballs in the sauce, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.leftover meatballs + marinara sauce from a jar
Pork meatballs:
- Preheat the oven: If you want to bake the meatballs, preheat the oven to 360ยฐF/ 180ยฐC and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Alternatively, you can cook the meatballs in a frying pan, on the stovetop.
- Saute onions: Chop the onion finely. Heat the oil and cook the onions until softer and golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer them to the mixing bowl and let them cool slightly.1 tablespoon oil + 1 onion
- Soak the bread: Remove the crust from the bread and soak the bread in a little cold water. Squeeze it lightly and add it to the bowl.1 thick slice white bread
- Meatball mixture: Add the garlic, ground pork, egg, parsley, thyme, about ยฝ teaspoon salt (to taste), and pepper. Mix well with your hand, and form small meatballs. Wet your hands from time to time; it works better. 2 large garlic cloves + 1 lb ground pork + 1 egg + 1 tablespoon parsley + 1 teaspoon dried thyme + fine sea salt and black pepper
- Flour pork meatballs: Place the flour in a large, shallow bowl, add the meatballs 2-3 at a time, and toss them gently to coat them with flour. Pat them carefully to remove the excess flour. Place them on the prepared baking sheet.1-2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until cooked through. Cut one in the middle to check that it's cooked through.
- Alternatively, you can fry the meatballs in a large frying pan. Heat about 1 tablespoon of oil and cook the meatballs in two batches, turning them regularly for 5โ6 minutes, or until nicely browned and cooked through. Cut one open to check for doneness.1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Tomato sauce:
- Saute onions: Chop the onion and the garlic very finely. Heat the oil in a saucepan and cook the onion and the garlic until translucent.1 onion + 2 garlic cloves + 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Simmer tomato sauce: Add the remaining sauce ingredients. Bring to a simmer, cover the pan, leaving a crack open, and cook on a medium-low heat for about 30 minutes; the sauce should thicken slightly. Adjust the taste with salt and pepper and another small pinch of sugar, if necessary.1 lb passata + 1 tablespoon tomato paste + 1 teaspoon dried thyme + 1 bay leave + 1 pinch of sugar + fine sea salt and pepper
- Heat the meatballs: If you are using leftover meatballs, add them to the sauce during the last 10 minutes or so and heat them through. If the meatballs are freshly cooked and still hot, add them to the sauce and toss well. Sprinkle the dish with parsley and serve immediately or reheated. 1-2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Notes
- Quick version: Use as much sauce as needed; it depends on how many leftover meatballs you have.
- Ground meat: You can also make the recipe with ground beef, a mixture of ground pork and ground beef, or with ground turkey.
Nutrition
Franรงois says
Seems terrific! I'll follow your recipe, but I'm pretty sure it won't look as beautiful as your photos!
Adina says
Thank you, Francois. I am sure your dish will look just as nice. ๐
Valentina | The Baking Fairy says
This looks delicious! There is nothing better than repurposing leftovers into a brand new yummy dish!
Adina says
Thank you, Valentina, I think that too, I hate throwing leftovers away.
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
Grandmother's recipes are the best! This looks like a perfect family favorite. Have a wonderful holiday, Adina! xo
Adina says
They are, Kate. A beautiful Christmas time to you to. ๐
allie says
I get such a kick out of your grandmother, Adina. Like not eating anything white. My brother will not eat anything white either. I'm talking sour cream, cream cheese, yogurt, mayonnaise... you name it. The only way we can get him to eat it is if we SNEAK it in something and don't tell him -- as long as he doesn't know about it - he eats it just fine. Funny. This simple meatball dish looks so delicious. I know my boys will gobble it right up. Merry Christmas Adina - have a beautiful holiday with your family. XO
Adina says
Yeah, it is funny how they don't mind if they don't know it's there. ๐ And it is funny that there are more people having an issue with white food, I thought my grandma was really special. I have to google that, it makes me curious! Merry Christmas to you too, Allie.
Denise Browning says
These are very tasty meatballs... this means, made right! And they look pretty appetizing too!
Adina says
Thank you, Denise.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
That's so funny and so true about what your grandmother said - just as well to make a big batch of meatballs if the house will smell like 'em! Plus, who doesn't love lots of yummy meatballs ๐ ? Looks delicious, Adina! Merry Christmas!
Adina says
I could not have enough meatballs, if you ask me. I always make a double batch, because we all love them so much, either hot or cold, with sauce or on bread, it doesn't matter. Merry Christmas to you to, Dawn, I hope you have a wonderful time.
Agness of Run Agness Run says
Yum! This is such an appetizing and awesome recipe which I will definitely prepare for the Christmas dinner, Adina! What kind of onion do you use?
Adina says
Nothing special, Agness, just plain onions. I hope you like it. I wish you a Merry Christmas!