Italian Grandma Makes Meatballs (and Spaghetti)

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner while ground pork is often cheaper.

Start by mixing 2 pounds of ground beef with 2 eggs in a bowl.

Add a little salt, black pepper, garlic powder, bread crumbs, Pecorino Romano cheese, and chopped parsley to the bowl.

Wash hands before mixing the ingredients together thoroughly with both hands.

Form the mixture into meatballs, about the size of a golf ball, making around 25 meatballs.

Place the meatballs in the refrigerator to marinate for a bit while preparing the sauce.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan until warm.

Add chopped onions to the pan and sauté until they start to soften.

Add minced garlic to the pan and sauté briefly before adding the sauce ingredients.

Add water to the pan to clean out any residue and incorporate it into the sauce.

Season the sauce with salt, black pepper, and fresh basil, then let it cook.

In another pan, heat oil and fry the meatballs until they are browned all around.

Once browned, transfer the meatballs to the sauce to cook together for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, turning occasionally.

Check the sauce for seasoning and adjust if necessary before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens