This step-by-step recipe for beef meatballs with tomato sauce (freezer-friendly) is popular in my family, particularly for my toddler son who is a picky eater!

Preparation List for Toddler-friendly Meatballs

• Servings: 2-3
• Perparation Time: 40 min
• Ingredients:
  • 1 lb(450g) ground chuck, 20 percent fat
  • 1/2 cup(120ml) grated parmesan or pecorino romano
  • 1 large clove garlic minced
  • 1/2 lb(225g) sliced bread
  • 1/2 cup(120ml) milk
  • 1 egg
  • 4-6 oz(50-75g) dried spaghetti pasta (prefer higher quality like Rao’s)
  • 1 lb(450g) tomato puree (Mutti brand is good)
  • salt
  • 4 tablespoons(60ml) olive oil

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Toddler-friendly Meatball Recipe

• Make meatball mixture. To a large bowl add 1lb(450g) ground beef, 1 egg, the bread we just put together, 1 large minced garlic clove, 1/2 cup(120ml) grated parmesan or pecorino. Mix all the ingredients together until homogenous.

• Form meatballs. Roll meat mixture into balls about the size of golf balls.

• Fry Meatballs. Put a large pan over medium heat. Once pan is hot, add 4 tablespoons(60ml) of olive oil to the pan. Add meatballs to the pan and fry in batches. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently roll the meat balls to fry all sides. Once all sides are brown, take them out of the pan and set aside, they are likely not fully cooked yet, but we will finish cooking in the tomato puree once the meatballs are all fried. Note that it is easy to accidentally break the meatballs, but, even if they do break, they are still good and can be cooked in the tomato puree just the same.

• Simmer with Tomato Puree. In a separate pot, add 1 lb(450g) tomato puree and heat on medium until simmering, add meatballs to sauce and cook until done (about 15 minutes or so).

• Make Pasta and Serve. Boil 4-6 oz (2-3 servings) Spaghetti noodles in salted water according to package instructions. After noodles are cooked, set aside a small amount of the pasta water before draining (maybe 4 tablespoons or so). Drain Pasta and serve with sauce and meatballs, mixing some of the reserved pasta water in with the noodles to add a creamy texture and help the sauce stick to the noodles. Top with additional parmesan/pecorino. This meal is very popular in my family including both adults and my son who is a picky eater!

• Freeze Left Over Uncooked Meatballs. If you have any left over meatballs that you did not cook, these can easily be frozen and stored for later use. I prefer to make large batches of these meatballs and freeze them for convenience.