Homemade Marinara Sauce With Meatballs

Name: Homemade Marinara Sauce With Meatballs
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 300 min
Total time: 330 min
Ingredients: 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes; 1 6 ounce can of tomato paste; 2 bunches fresh basil; 4 sprigs fresh oregano; ¼ cup Parmesan; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon dried basil; 1 teaspoon dried parsley; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon ground pepper; 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 2 pounds ground turkey,; 1 ½ pounds turkey sausage; ½ cup panko bread crumbs; ½ cup Parmesan cheese; 2 eggs; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon dried basil; 1 teaspoon dried parsley; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon pepper

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This homemade marinara sauce is made with fresh basil and oregano mixed with crushed tomatoes, dried herbs, and spices. Add in meatballs that are made from scratch and you'll have a classic Italian dish that is full of flavor with every bite!

Fork in a plate of pasta with marinara sauce and meatballs.

Pasta is hands down one of the most delicious and versatile foods on the planet. Everything from this hearty chicken alfredo pasta, to creamy and delicious pesto pasta, to a classic homemade lasagna, there are so many different ways to enjoy pasta!

While similar to this penne pasta with Italian marinara sauce, this homemade marinara sauce with meatballs has been passed down from generation to generation. And there's nothing better than a recipe that has been passed down. Especially when it's an authentic Italian recipe.

This version is made with crushed tomatoes and fresh basil and oregano. And the Italian homemade meatballs are hand rolled and placed on top of the sauce and then slow cooked in the crock pot. Using a crock pot instead of a saucepan allows for the slow melding of flavors and yields a rich and authentic taste.

This is excellent on top of any type of pasta or veggie noodles. I especially love it mixed in with this spaghetti squash and goat cheese. Not only is it good on top of pasta, it's also an excellent dipping sauce for fried mozzarella sticks or these cheesy garlic breadsticks. And, it's also great to use when making your own pizza!

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✔️ Quick Recipe Overview
ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
📋 Variations
🔪 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
🙋 Recipe FAQs
💭 Expert Tips
🍝 More Pasta Recipes You'll Love!
Homemade Marinara Sauce With Meatballs

✔️ Quick Recipe Overview

Why This Is The Best Homemade Marinara Sauce: Made just as it is in the south of Italy, this marinara sauce recipe is healthy, made with fresh ingredients, and full of authentic flavor!

How Long It Takes: 30 minutes to prep, 5 hours to slow cook

Equipment You'll Need: skillet, crock pot/slow cooker

White plate containing spaghetti noodles with 3 meatballs and marinara sauce.

ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works

1. Basic Ingredients. This homemade marinara sauce is made with basic ingredients, and all you need to do is add them to the crockpot, give it a stir, and let it do all the hard work for you!

2. Easy to make. And there is no chopping involved.

3. Amazing the next day. The sauce produces the most delicious leftovers. And, it is also freezer-friendly!

🛒 Ingredients You'll Need

The marinara sauce ingredients you'll need are below:

Ingredients on a counter to make homemade marinara sauce.

Fresh Herbs: Using fresh oregano and basil is key to making this recipe work. They completely change the flavor and adds the rich authentic taste.
Dry Seasonings: Garlic, basil, onion, and garlic powder are traditional Italian marinara sauce ingredients and pair extremely well with the fresh herbs.
Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated from a block will always yield best results; however, the grated parmesan cheese in a can also works.
Crushed Tomatoes: Using canned crushed tomatoes is most convenient and provides the perfect consistency to the sauce.

To make the meatballs, you'll need these ingredients.

Ingredients on a counter to make meatballs.

Ground Turkey: For extra lean meatballs, use 99% or 93% fat-free ground turkey. 85% or 80% lean ground turkey adds more flavor due to the higher fat content.
Turkey Sausage: ground and uncooked works best.
Eggs: They play a key role in binding the meatball mixture together.
Breadcrumbs: you can use panko or breadcrumb style. Both work well.
Parmesan Cheese: freshly grated from a block will always yield best results; however, the grated parmesan cheese in a can also works.

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

📋 Variations

Do not add uncooked noodles to the bottom of the crock pot before adding the sauce. There isn't enough liquid in the sauce to properly cook the noodles.
You can choose to just make the marinara sauce and not make the meatballs.
This recipe makes a lot of meatballs, about 50 medium-sized. You have the option to either cook all the meatballs in the crock pot with the sauce or prepare only half and freeze the rest for later.
You can double the sauce recipe and freeze some for later use.
Instead of using ground turkey, you can use ground beef, chicken, or pork.
If you can't find uncooked turkey sausage, you can use pre-cooked turkey sausage crumbles. Just chop them into small pieces before adding them to the meatball mixture.
For more garlic flavor, add in 2-3 cloves of fresh minced garlic to the homemade marinara.
To make it spicy, add in ½ to 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.

🔪 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Step 1: Start by making the sauce. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, fresh basil and oregano, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings to the crock pot. Stir to combine. Set aside.

Crock pot containing crushed tomatoes, fresh basil, spices, salt and Parmesan cheese.

Step 2: To make the meatballs, combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Bowl containing ingredients to make meatballs.

Step 3: Using your hands, roll the mixture into medium-sized balls (about 1.5 to 2 inches thick). Add olive oil to the skillet and when hot, place the meatballs in the skillet. Do this in batches.

Step 4: Brown the outsides of the meatballs until slightly brown. The goal is to brown both sides of the meatballs, not cook them all the way through. They will finish cooking in your slow-cooker. From there, place the meatballs in the crock pot on top of the sauce.

Step 5: Place the lid on the crock pot, set it to low heat, and slow cook for 5 hours.

Black slow cooker with meatballs sitting on top of marinara sauce.

Once done, serve on top of a plate of pasta and top with fresh Parmesan cheese and fresh basil! This is the only marinara sauce recipe you will ever need. A classic Italian favorite that is incredibly easy to make and perfect for any dinner!

White plate containing spaghetti noodles, three meatballs, and marinara sauce.

🙋 Recipe FAQs

What is the difference between marinara sauce and spaghetti sauce?

Traditional spaghetti sauce contains additional spices, tends to be thicker, and is often prepared with chopped vegetables or chopped meat. Marinara sauce consists of tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and seasonings. It's a more versatile sauce that can be used as a dipping sauce, as the base sauce for pizza, or over pasta.

Can I substitute fresh tomatoes?

You can, but it will require removing the skin from the tomatoes, blanching them, and then simmering them down into the right consistency of crushed tomatoes. This process takes about 45 minutes.

How Should I Store Leftover Sauce?

Store leftovers in an airtight container with a lid in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. This sauce also stores really well in glass jars.

Can I Freeze Marinara Sauce With Meatballs?

Ensure the sauce has completely cooled before freezing. To freeze, place the sauce in a freezer safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and then reheat on the stovetop.

White plate containing spaghetti topped with marinara sauce and meatballs.

💭 Expert Tips

It's important that the meatballs are slightly browned before putting them into the crock pot. If you skip this step, they will fall apart in the sauce while slow cooking.
Before serving, remove any leftover twigs from the fresh basil and oregano.
Serve this over your favorite pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or with steamed vegetables. You can also serve this homemade marinara sauce with meatballs in a hoagie roll for one of the best meatball sandwiches you'll ever eat!

🍝 More Pasta Recipes You'll Love!

If you tried this homemade marinara sauce with meatballs or any other recipes on my website, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I love hearing from you! And, please leave a 🌟 rating while you're there!

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