Description
Tender, juicy meatballs slow-braised in a rich red wine and tomato sauce packed with depth, flavor, and perfect for serving over pasta, mashed potatoes, or creamy polenta.
Ingredients
1 lb (450g) ground beef
1/2 lb (225g) ground pork
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup milk
1 large egg
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 cup dry red wine
1 can (14 oz / 400g) crushed tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp sugar (optional)
Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, milk, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until combined — do not overmix.
2. Form mixture into 1½-inch (4 cm) meatballs.
3. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Brown meatballs on all sides until golden. Remove and set aside.
5. In the same pan, sauté onion until softened.
6. Add tomato paste and cook for 1 minute until darkened.
7. Pour in red wine and simmer for 2–3 minutes, scraping up any browned bits.
8. Stir in crushed tomatoes, oregano, bay leaf, and sugar (if using).
9. Return meatballs to the pan, cover partially, and simmer gently for 30–35 minutes until tender and sauce is thickened.
10. Discard bay leaf and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
11. Serve warm, garnished with fresh basil or parsley.
Notes
Use a good-quality dry red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.
For a deeper flavor, cook the sauce slowly over low heat.
These meatballs freeze beautifully — store in sauce for up to 3 months.
Serve with pasta, polenta, or crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4–5 meatballs
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
Keywords: red wine braised meatballs, Italian meatballs, slow cooked meatballs, comfort food, rich tomato sauce