Easy Meatballs in Sauce is one of my go-to dishes when I want to feed a crowd without spending all day in the kitchen. You start by thawing your frozen meatball mixture in the refrigerator, and from there, it’s smooth sailing to a delicious homemade dinner.
What makes this recipe so special is how the simple tomato sauce comes together with those beautiful spices—oregano and black pepper really do the heavy lifting. The onions cook down until they’re sweet and tender, while a touch of sugar balances out the acidity of the tomatoes, creating a sauce that tastes like you’ve been simmering it all day long.
I love serving these meatballs over pasta or with crusty bread for soaking up that wonderful sauce, and they’re always the first thing to disappear at family gatherings. My grandchildren have grown up asking for seconds, and now they’re making them for their own families—there’s nothing quite like watching a recipe become a tradition.
Please scroll down and leave a star rating in the recipe card below — it helps other home cooks find Gran’s recipes, and it means the world to me!
Easy Meatballs in Sauce
Ingredients
- 0.5 cup Tomato Products
- 1 tablespoon Onions
- 2 teaspoon Distilled
- 0.5 teaspoon Sugar
- 0.25 teaspoon Oregano
- 1 dash Black Pepper
- 2 tablespoon Water
- 1.5 cup Rice
- 1 pound Meatballs
Instructions
- Thaw frozen meatball mixture in refrigerator.
- Divide into 12 portions.
- Shape into balls.
- Brown meatballs on all sides in hot frypan.
- Drain.
- Mix remaining ingredients except rice.
- Pour over meatballs.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover, and boil gently until sauce thickens–about 10 minutes.
- Spoon sauce over meatballs once during cooking.
