Description
This Savory Red Wine Meatballs recipe combines juicy ground beef and optional pork with a rich red wine and tomato sauce, creating a perfect dish for Valentine’s Day. These meatballs are tender, flavorful, and simmered to perfection, making for a comforting and elegant meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb Ground Beef (80/20) (Substitute with ground turkey or chicken; add extra olive oil for moisture.)
- 1/2 lb Pork (Optional; adds richness.)
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs (Substitute with GF panko or crushed rice crackers for gluten-free.)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese (Can be reduced or omitted for dietary restrictions.)
- 1 large Egg (Use flax egg for vegan version.)
- 3 cloves Garlic (Minced for depth of flavor.)
- 1 medium Onion (Diced.)
- 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning (Can substitute with fresh herbs.)
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
Sauce
- 1 cup Red Wine (Use a dry variety like merlot.)
- 1 cup Tomato Sauce (Quality product for best flavor.)
- Olive Oil (For cooking)
To Garnish and Serve
- Freshly chopped parsley
- Crusty bread or pasta
Instructions
- Prepare the Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, optional pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, diced onion, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
- Shape Meatballs: Form the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs, ensuring they are uniform in size for even cooking.
- Brown the Meatballs: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Cook the meatballs in batches, turning occasionally until they are browned evenly on all sides. Remove browned meatballs and set aside.
- Deglaze the Pan: In the same skillet, pour in the red wine and tomato sauce. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom to enhance the sauce’s flavor.
- Simmer the Meatballs: Return the meatballs to the skillet with the sauce. Cover and let simmer gently for about 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 160°F, allowing flavors to meld and meat to cook through.
- Serve: Plate the meatballs with sauce hot. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve alongside crusty bread or your favorite pasta.
Notes
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option; add extra olive oil to keep meatballs moist.
- Use gluten-free panko or crushed rice crackers instead of breadcrumbs to make the recipe gluten-free.
- For a vegan version, replace the egg with a flax egg and omit the Parmesan cheese.
- Choose a dry red wine like Merlot for the best flavor profile in the sauce.
- Ensure meatballs are uniform in size to cook evenly.
- Use a meat thermometer to verify meatballs reach 160°F for safety.
- Serve with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
