These days we all need a meal that is almost ready to eat when we walk in the door after a busy day. Make the sauce on the stove top while the meatballs bake in the oven. Add the meatballs to the sauce and let simmer on the stove top. If you are going to on the go all day put it all into a crock pot once it's been cooked and let it simmer. Great for a crowd or can be divided up into family size portions.
Ingredients: for meat sauce
- 3 pounds ground beef
- 1 large onion
- 3 large cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 tsp Italian spices
- 2 tsp pepper flakes ( optional)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 1.57 litre of pasta sauce
- 1 796 ml can crushed tomatoes
Ingredients: for meatballs
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 small onion, grated
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 egg
- 1 slice bread, grated
Method: for meat sauce
- In a large heavy pot fry meat, adding in onion, garlic and spices. Fry until meat is just done.
- Add pasta sauce, crushed tomatoes, cheese and bay leaves.
- Cover and simmer on stove top. Make meatballs.
Method: for meatballs
- In a large bowl mix all the meatball ingredients together and combine well.
- Form golf ball sized meatballs and place on a baking sheet. (for easy cleanup line with foil or parchment)
- Bake in 400º oven for 18 minutes. Add cooked meatballs to the sauce.
- Allow to cook on low for at least an hour for flavours to meld. It's ready to serve, or cool and freeze for later use.
For stove top serving: ready to serve according to above directions.
For crock pot: place cooled sauce and meatball mixture into crock pot and turn on low for 4-8 hours. Because it is already all cooked you are just letting it simmer on low all day. The flavour just gets better as it simmers.
Cook pasta as directed on the box. Serve and enjoy!
Left over meal idea. Baked Spaghetti casserole. If you have enough pasta and meat sauce left over stir together and put into a greased casserole dish. Top with some grated cheese and freeze. Remove from freezer, thaw and bake at 350º for 35-40 minutes, or until casserole is heated completely through.
Left over meal idea. Baked Spaghetti casserole. If you have enough pasta and meat sauce left over stir together and put into a greased casserole dish. Top with some grated cheese and freeze. Remove from freezer, thaw and bake at 350º for 35-40 minutes, or until casserole is heated completely through.