Italian Baked Beef Meatballs with Tomato Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-02 · Updated 2026-08-02

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Juicy beef meatballs, baked and simmered in a rich tomato sauce, perfect for pairing with pasta or crusty bread. This Italian-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 35 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup, grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
3, minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
1 tsp dried oregano
1 small, finely chopped onion

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, combine 1 lb ground beef, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 large beaten egg, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
Step 2: Shape mixture into 16 equal meatballs and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle 2 tbsp olive oil over the meatballs.
Step 3: Bake meatballs for 20 minutes until browned and cooked through.
Step 4: While meatballs bake, heat a large skillet over medium heat and sauté 1 small finely chopped onion in 1 tbsp olive oil for 4 minutes until translucent. Add 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes and 1 tsp dried oregano; simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.
Step 5: Transfer baked meatballs to the skillet with tomato sauce and gently simmer for 5 minutes to meld flavors before serving.