Sweet Smokey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Imagine succulent meatballs bathed in a slightly spicy tomato sauce, topped with golden mozzarella and fresh parsley. This tasty dish comes together effortlessly in just one pan for a convenient midweek dinner.

Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Gluten-Free Option Available

Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

• 500g ground beef

• 1 small onion, finely grated

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 2 tablespoons sweet serendipity sauce

• 1 small carrot, finely grated

• 1/3 cup fine breadcrumbs

• 1 egg

• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Sauce:

• 500g passata (or smooth tomato sauce from diced tomatoes)

• 1/4 cup sweet serendipity sauce

• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

• 250g grated mozzarella cheese

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, grated onion, minced garlic, grated carrot, breadcrumbs, egg, and sweet serendipity sauce. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Once thoroughly mixed, shape the mixture into 30 small meatballs. Pro tip: Keep your hands slightly wet to prevent the mixture from sticking.

3. These meatballs can be prepared in advance and refrigerated until you're ready to cook.

4. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning frequently, until they are browned on all sides, approximately 8 minutes.

5. Reduce the heat to medium and pour in the passata (or smooth tomato sauce from diced tomatoes) and sweet serendipity sauce. Sprinkle in the smoked paprika and gently stir the sauce into the meatballs.

6. Turn off the heat and sprinkle the grated mozzarella evenly over the top. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and turns golden.

7. Serve these tasty meatballs as meatball subs with spinach and grated carrot, or pair them with pasta.

Hints & Tips

Gluten free -For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free breadcrumbs.

Mince - Feel free to substitute beef mince with pork mince or a mixture of both.

Tip -Wet your hands when shaping the meatballs to prevent sticking.

Easy swap - If you don't have passata, blend diced tomatoes in a food processor or Nutribullet for a smooth tomato sauce.

Serving suggestion - Consider serving these quick and easy meatballs for a midweek dinner with options like meatball subs with spinach and grated carrot or alongside pasta and salad.

Portion Size - This recipe serves 4 or 2 with leftovers.

Storage - Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also prep and freeze the meatballs before or after cooking.