Classic Italian Comfort Food (Printable Format)

Incredibly tender meatballs combining beef and Italian sausage, simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce with a surprising mint twist.

# What You'll Gather:

→ Meatball Mixture

01 - 1 lb ground beef (20% fat content)
02 - 1/2 lb spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
03 - 2 slices day-old white bread, crusts removed
04 - 1/4 cup milk
05 - 1 small onion, finely diced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 egg, beaten
08 - 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs
09 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
11 - 1 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

→ For Cooking

14 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Tomato Sauce

15 - 2 cups high-quality marinara sauce
16 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
17 - 1/2 teaspoon dried mint
18 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
19 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Tear the bread into small pieces and soak in milk until totally soft. Squeeze out the excess milk with your hands - this is the secret to tender meatballs!
02 - In a large bowl, gently combine the ground beef, sausage meat (removed from casings), soaked bread, onion, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley, and all seasonings. Keep your hands wet and mix just until combined - overworking makes tough meatballs.
03 - Let this mixture rest for 30 minutes, or even better, cover and refrigerate overnight. This lets all those flavors meld together beautifully.
04 - With wet hands, gently roll the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs. Keep them uniform for even cooking, and don't pack them too tight. A light touch is key here!
05 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet until it shimmers. Brown the meatballs on all sides, working in batches if needed. You want a beautiful golden crust - don't rush this step!
06 - In the same pan with all those tasty brown bits, add the marinara sauce, oregano, and that secret ingredient - dried mint! Add the minced garlic and let it all simmer.
07 - Nestle those gorgeous browned meatballs back into the sauce. Cover and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through and the flavors are singing together.
08 - Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve over your favorite pasta or with crusty bread. Watch how quickly these disappear!

# Important Tips:

01 - The combination of beef and spicy Italian sausage gives these meatballs incredible depth of flavor.
02 - Soaking bread in milk instead of using dry breadcrumbs is what makes these meatballs so tender.
03 - The dried mint in the sauce is a traditional Italian grandmother's secret that adds unexpected brightness.
04 - Don't skip the browning step - those caramelized bits add so much flavor to the sauce.
05 - Make sure to handle the meat mixture gently to avoid dense, tough meatballs.

Back to Recipe