These meatballs in tomato sauce are the ultimate comfort food! Over the years of making this recipe, I’ve perfected the soft meatballs and flavorful sauce. It’s one of my family’s most requested dinners, and I love it because it only takes 35 minutes to make.
These meatballs in tomato sauce are one of my favorite cold-weather comfort meals. They’re hearty, deeply flavorful, and especially good served over a bowl of pasta when I’m craving something cozy and familiar.
I start by sautéing garlic in olive oil, then add the rest of the tomato sauce ingredients and let everything gently simmer. While the sauce cooks, I mix and roll the meatballs by hand, then nestle them right into the sauce. They simmer together until the meatballs are tender and cooked through, soaking up all that rich tomato flavor.
This is one of those dishes I almost always double because it freezes so well. Leftovers reheat beautifully or make an easy meatball sub for lunch the next day. It’s simple enough for a weeknight but comforting and reliable enough that the whole family always looks forward to it.
A few serving ideas
Naturally, these meatballs in tomato sauce pair well with pasta. They also make a great filling for a meatball sub. And many nights I’ve served them with a side of garlic bread and a big Caesar salad .
Slow cooker variation
To make this recipe using a slow cooker, you’ll need to start by making the sauce on the stove. Transfer the sauce to your slow cooker, then add the raw meatballs and cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 8-10 hours.
How to store and freeze
How long do they keep in the fridge? They’ll keep in the fridge in a covered container for up to 4 days.
Can you freeze cooked meatballs in tomato sauce? Absolutely! This is a great recipe to freeze for quick weeknight meals. Once the meatballs are cooked and cooled, transfer them all to a reusable silicone bag or freezer-safe container.
Meatballs in Tomato Sauce Recipe
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Ingredients
Tomato Sauce
- ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ▢ 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- ▢ 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ▢ 2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes (see notes)
- ▢ 1 teaspoon honey
- ▢ 1 teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
Meatballs
- ▢ 1 lb lean ground beef
- ▢ 1 large egg
- ▢ ½ cup breadcrumbs, quick oats, or almond flour (see notes)
- ▢ ½ cup chicken stock
- ▢ ¼ cup grated onion (use the juices)
- ▢ ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ▢ 1 teaspoon EACH: Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and Italian seasoning and saute for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, honey, salt, and pepper and simmer the sauce, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Lower the heat if the sauce begins to splatter. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 4 cloves garlic, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
- Combine all of the meatball ingredients in a large bowl and use your hands to mix everything together. Divide the meat into 12 portions and roll it into balls. ½ cup breadcrumbs, quick oats, or almond flour, ½ cup chicken stock, ¼ cup grated onion, 1 lb lean ground beef, 1 large egg, ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon EACH: Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper
- Place the meatballs into the tomato sauce and let them cook for 2 minutes. Turn them over in the pot then cover the pot with a lid and let them continue to cook for 15 minutes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
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Meatballs in Tomato Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
Tomato Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes , see notes
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
Meatballs
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs, quick oats, or almond flour , see notes
- ½ cup chicken stock
- ¼ cup grated onion , use the juices
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon EACH: Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and Italian seasoning and saute for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, honey, salt, and pepper and simmer the sauce, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Lower the heat if the sauce begins to splatter. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 4 cloves garlic, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
- Combine all of the meatball ingredients in a large bowl and use your hands to mix everything together. Divide the meat into 12 portions and roll it into balls. ½ cup breadcrumbs, quick oats, or almond flour, ½ cup chicken stock, ¼ cup grated onion, 1 lb lean ground beef, 1 large egg, ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon EACH: Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper
- Place the meatballs into the tomato sauce and let them cook for 2 minutes. Turn them over in the pot then cover the pot with a lid and let them continue to cook for 15 minutes.
