Simple Pasta with Meatballs - Easy and Delicious!

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork can be less expensive.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

canned tomatoes

🥗Healthier: fresh tomatoes

💰Cheaper: tomato paste

Fresh tomatoes provide a lighter taste, while tomato paste is budget-friendly.

spaghetti

🥗Healthier: whole wheat pasta

💰Cheaper: pasta made from other grains

Whole wheat pasta offers more fiber.

Rehydrate breadcrumbs with milk until they look a little too loose, then set aside.

Peel garlic cloves and grate them.

In a bowl, combine 1 pound of ground beef, grated garlic, 1 egg, a generous amount of parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt.

Mix everything together with clean hands until well combined.

Form the mixture into meatballs about the size of a golf ball.

Heat oil in a large pot until shimmering, then sear the meatballs for about a minute on each side until browned.

Remove the seared meatballs from the pot and set aside.

Add pork bones to the pot, seasoning them with salt on both sides, and allow them to brown.

Remove some oil from the pot, leaving the browned bits, then add extra-virgin olive oil and chopped onion.

Sauté the onions until they start to soften, about a couple of minutes.

Add the pork bones back into the pot and pour in about 1 cup of red wine, cooking for a minute to let the alcohol evaporate.

Add 2 cans of tomato puree to the pot, filling each can with water afterward to clear out any leftover bits and pouring that in as well.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens