Description
Delicious homemade meatballs cooked in a flavorful tomato sauce and served over tender rice. This comforting dish combines ground beef with aromatic herbs and spices, perfect for a hearty family dinner in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound (450 g) ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced or grated
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup dried breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Tomato Sauce
- 1 cup tomato sauce or crushed canned tomatoes
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Cooking
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil (e.g., olive oil or vegetable oil)
- Rice, prepared according to package instructions
Instructions
- Prepare the meatball mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, finely diced or grated onion, minced garlic, dried breadcrumbs, egg, chopped fresh parsley, ground black pepper, and salt. Gently mix the ingredients together until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form the meatballs: Shape the meat mixture into small meatballs, about 2 tablespoons of mixture each, roughly the size of a golf ball. Place them evenly spaced on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
- Prepare the tomato sauce: Pour your favorite tomato sauce or crushed canned tomatoes into a saucepan. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat.
- Cook the meatballs: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add about one tablespoon of cooking oil. Once hot, add the meatballs carefully to the skillet. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally to brown all sides and ensure they are cooked through.
- Simmer meatballs in sauce: Transfer the browned meatballs into the simmering tomato sauce. Allow them to cook together for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, letting the flavors meld and the meatballs finish cooking.
- Prepare the rice: While the meatballs cook in the sauce, prepare rice according to the package instructions until fluffy and tender.
- Serve: Spoon a portion of cooked rice onto each plate, top with several meatballs and a generous ladle of tomato sauce. Garnish with extra parsley if desired and serve warm.
Notes
- Use fresh parsley for the best flavor, but dried parsley may be substituted if necessary.
- If you prefer a milder onion taste, rinse the diced onion under cold water before mixing.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed gluten-free crackers.
- Leftover meatballs with sauce can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Use ground turkey or chicken for a leaner meatball variation.
- Adjust the seasoning of the tomato sauce to your taste by adding herbs like basil or oregano.
