Sausage Meatballs

Name: Italian Pork Sausage Meatballs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 500 g Italian pork sausages (see notes); 2 tbs olive oil; 2 tsp minced garlic; 1 brown onion (finely diced); 1 tbs balsamic vinegar; 2 tsp dried Italian herbs (parsley, thyme, oregano etc); 800 g diced tomatoes (tinned); 2 tsp caster sugar; 125 ml (1/2 cup) water (if needed); salt and pepper (to season)

Jump to Recipe

The EASIEST 30 minute Sausage Meatballs recipe! Italian style pork meatballs cooked in a rich tomato sauce, served with pasta and freshly grated parmesan cheese.

This tender and juicy meatball recipe, with its authentic Italian flavours, is a perfect dish for quick and easy midweek meals, or meal prepping for make-ahead dinners.

A parsley garnish on top of a serving bowl filled with spaghetti and meatballs.

If you're like me, you're always looking for a few quick and easy dinners to have on rotation for weeknight meals, and it has to be something that everyone will enjoy!

And dishes with a pasta, rice or noodle base certainly stretch further, making them economical meals too.

Besides these delicious Italian pork meatballs, some of my favourite options would also include my easy Fettuccine Carbonara (creamy NO CREAM recipe!), my 30 minute Chow Mein, tasty Bacon, Pea and Pesto Risotto, or my creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta Bake.

All ready in 45 minutes or less, with flavours loved by all - they make excellent leftovers too!

Why You're Going To Love This Recipe

Italian sausage meatballs cooked in a classic tomato sauce, then served over a bowl of spaghetti, makes a warm and satisfying family meal.

Ready in no time! Using Italian sausages not only gives an authentic flavour to the meatballs, but certainly cuts down on prep time as well.
Economical family meal - bite size sausage meatballs in a tomato sauce and served with pasta, stretches this to make a good family sized meal at a reasonable price.
Freezer friendly - sausage meatballs freeze really well, either cooked or uncooked. And this is a dish that reheats beautifully, making it great for planning meals ahead of time.
Irresistible flavour - tender and juicy Italian sausage meatballs, a tomato base and al dente pasta, with a good sprinkling on parmesan on top - this dish is one that all ages will enjoy with good Italian gusto!
Toddler and kid friendly - for the reasons above - taste, taste, taste!

Sausage meatballs in a tomato sauce, in a bowl filled with spaghetti noodles.

What You Need

Some meatball recipes use a mix of ground beef and pork mince, but I like to use good quality Italian pork sausages as they add their own unique flavour to this dish.

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.

Italian pork sausages - usually contain a blend of Italian herbs along with stronger, deeper flavours like paprika, ground fennel, and black pepper as the primary seasoning. Use a good quality sausage from the local deli, butcher's or supermarket.
Olive oil.
Garlic - either freshly crushed, or store bought minced garlic for convenience.
Brown onion - 1 medium brown onion, finely diced.
Balsamic vinegar - its sweetness and acidity is an excellent way to enhance ingredients that are also sweet and acidic, such as tomatoes.
Italian herbs - a blend of dried parsley, thyme and oregano etc. Purchase at the supermarket, or you can make up your own blend.
Diced tomatoes.
Caster sugar - similar to the balsamic vinegar, a little caster sugar just further intensifies the flavours in this tomato based sauce.
Water - add, if required.
Salt & pepper - season to taste.

The ingredients required for this recipe, all set out on a bench top.

Equipment Required

There's absolutely nothing elaborate required to make this easy family dish, just some pots and pans!

A deep frying pan;
A saucepan - if serving with pasta, this is optional.

A fork holding a sausage meatball above a bowl.

Step By Step Instructions

The sausage meatballs are browned first to sear the juices in, and then finished cooking in the rich and delicious tomato based sauce.

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.

Step 1 - Make The Meatballs

Cut one end of each Italian sausage open and squeeze the filling out into a bowl.

Using damp hands, roll meatballs from the sausage filling (I generally get 3 large meatballs per sausage).

In a large and deep frying pan, heat the olive oil on a medium-high heat.

Meat from sausages rolled into meatballs, and placed in a frying pan.

Fry the meatballs until browned all over.

Note: the meatballs will still be raw on the inside at this stage.

Sausage meatballs browned in a deep frying pan.

Remove the meatballs once browned, and set aside. Leave any remaining oil in the pan.

Step 2 - Make The Sauce

Saute the crushed garlic and diced onion in the pan for 2 minutes or until the onion has softened and is translucent.

Garlic and diced onion sauteing in a frying pan.

Add the balsamic vinegar, dried Italian herbs, diced tomatoes and caster sugar to the pan. Stir until the sauce is simmering.

Diced tomatoes, herbs, balsamic vinegar and sugar added to the pan.

Add the meatballs back into the pan and simmer for a further 10 minutes (or until the meatballs are fully cooked through).

Note: If the tomato sauce is too thick, add up to ½ cup of water and mix through.

Meatballs returned to the pan filled with tomato sauce.

Season with salt and pepper and serve with fresh parsley, pasta and parmesan cheese.

Expert Tips

Use a good quality pork sausage for the best flavour and not too high a fat content. You 'can' substitute with beef or chicken sausages, however pork has the best and most authentic flavour.
Work with damp hands to prevent the mixture from sticking to your fingers and palms.
Make the meatballs a small uniform size so that they cook fast and evenly.
Storing - cooked sausage meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat throughly before consuming.

Italian sausage meatballs cooked in tomato based sauce, piled on to a bowl of cooked spaghetti.

FAQs

Why are Italian pork sausages best to use?

Firstly, the pork mince used in these italian sausages is juicer than beef due to a slightly higher fat content.
Secondly, good quality Italian pork sausages have the most authentic flavours already in them, including Italian herbs, paprika, ground fennel, and black pepper. And by searing them first, the juices and flavours are trapped inside, making the sausage meatballs so flavoursome.

Can I freeze Italian sausage meatballs?

Yes, you can! You can freeze the cooked meatballs in the tomato sauce for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen or allow to defrost in the fridge before reheating.

How do I serve Italian pork sausage meatballs?

I usually serve sausage meatballs the traditional way - piled on top of a big bowl of spaghetti with lots of parmesan on top.
Add a warmed cheese bread, or herb and garlic focaccia, and a simple green salad to stretch the meal further.
Alternatively you can serve the meatballs on creamy polenta, mashed potato or cauliflower puree, or make them into a meatball sub with loads of mozzarella! Of course, the meatballs make a delicious pizza topping too!

Overhead shot of spaghetti and meatballs sprinkled with parmesan.

Kid friendly, quick and easy dinners are my go-to! Even better, they are freezer friendly for quick meals ahead. Why not try some of these simple family dinners?