Print

Creamy Marry Me Meatballs Recipe Easy Homemade Rich Tomato Sauce

Creamy Marry Me Meatballs - featured image
Print Recipe

A comforting and rich meatball dish simmered in a velvety cream-infused tomato sauce, perfect for cozy dinners and quick weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (80/20 preferred)
  • ½ cup (50 g) breadcrumbs (plain or Italian seasoned)
  • ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) crushed tomatoes
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Fresh basil leaves, torn (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined, about 5 minutes.
  2. Roll the mixture into 1½-inch (4 cm) balls, about 16 meatballs. Place on a plate or tray.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown meatballs in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer to a plate.
  4. In the same skillet, sauté chopped onion until translucent and soft, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Add crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer, about 5 minutes.
  6. Return meatballs to the skillet, nestle into the sauce, cover, and simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  7. Stir in heavy cream and warm through for 2-3 minutes until sauce turns rich pinkish color. Adjust seasoning if needed.
  8. Garnish with torn fresh basil leaves and serve immediately over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.

Notes

Do not overmix meatball ingredients to keep them tender. Brown meatballs well to lock in juices. Simmer with lid on to meld flavors. Add cream at the end to prevent curdling. Use coconut cream for dairy-free version. If sauce thickens too much, add pasta water or broth to loosen.

Nutrition

Keywords: meatballs, creamy tomato sauce, easy dinner, comfort food, quick recipe, homemade meatballs, rich sauce

Find it online: https://yumyep.com/creamy-marry-me-meatballs-recipe-easy-homemade-rich-tomato-sauce/