This is a hearty sauce with both meatballs and Italian sausage. It's the perfect sauce to make if you have to feed a crowd.
Make this for a game day gathering, family or guests, or a potluck event. It's also an excellent recipe to make and freeze.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
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1 large egg
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
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1 cup breadcrumbs
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1 teaspoon salt
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1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes, or 2 to 3 teaspoons freshly chopped
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1/2 cup water
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3 pounds lean ground beef, preferably 90 percent
For the Sauce:
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3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
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1 pound sweet Italian sausage
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1 pound hot Italian sausage
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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3 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste
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3 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
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1 teaspoon salt
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1/4 teaspoon pepper
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1 teaspoon basil dried
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2 teaspoons sugar
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1 tablespoon parsley fresh
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1 tablespoon oregano
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2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
Steps to Make It
For Meatballs
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Gather the ingredients.
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Beat the egg in a large bowl.
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Stir in the 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon parsley, and 1/2 cup of water.
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Add the ground beef and mix to combine. Shape into small balls. Set aside.
For Sauce
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Gather the ingredients.
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Heat the olive oil in Dutch oven. Remove sausages from casings and add to the Dutch oven with the garlic, Cook, stirring with a fork to break up sausage, until it loses its pink color and garlic is tender. Drain and discard excess fat.
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Stir in all of the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Add meatballs, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 2 to 3 hours. Stir frequently.
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Enjoy!
Tip
- If you prefer to cook the meatballs outside of the sauce, line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a cooling rack in the pan. Arrange the raw meatballs on the rack and bake in a preheated 350° F oven for about 15 to 20 minutes. Add them to the sauce and simmer in the sauce for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or more.
- This is an excellent sauce to use with just about any type of pasta, or use it as a sauce for lasagna or a pasta casserole. Make it for a crowd, or freeze the sauce in batches.
Recipe Variations
- Add 1 to 2 pounds of sliced sauteed mushrooms to the sauce.
- Chop 1 or 2 bell peppers and add to the sauce.
- Shredded carrot can add some natural sweetness to the sauce. I usually add one shredded carrot.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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546 | Calories |
33g | Fat |
25g | Carbs |
39g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 12 to 15 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 546 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 33g | 42% |
Saturated Fat 11g | 55% |
Cholesterol 132mg | 44% |
Sodium 1278mg | 56% |
Total Carbohydrate 25g | 9% |
Dietary Fiber 5g | 18% |
Total Sugars 13g | |
Protein 39g | |
Vitamin C 23mg | 114% |
Calcium 132mg | 10% |
Iron 7mg | 38% |
Potassium 1529mg | 33% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
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