Italian Meatballs With Rotelli & Meatball Heros
This recipe makes enough saucy meatballs for several meals. Toss half of the meatballs over pasta for tonight's dinner and freeze the rest to make meatball sandwiches next week.

Prep Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 30 mins
Servings:
Makes 6 servings plus enough for Meatball Heros (recipe follows).
Ingredients
-
Sauce:
-
2 tablespoons olive oil
-
3 large onions, chopped
-
6 cloves garlic, chopped
-
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
-
2 sweet red peppers, chopped
-
3 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes
-
2 teaspoons sugar
-
2 teaspoons salt
-
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
-
Meatballs:
-
2-1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
-
1 cup packaged seasoned bread crumbs
-
1 small zucchini, finely shredded
-
3 eggs, lightly beaten
-
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
-
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
-
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
-
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
-
Pasta:
-
1 pound rotelli pasta cooked according to package directions
Directions
1.
Sauce: Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, carrots and peppers; cook, stirring, 10 to 12 minutes or until softened. Remove half for making meatballs.
2.
Add tomatoes, sugar, salt and pepper flakes to vegetable mixture remaining in pot. Cover; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
3.
Meatballs: Place reserved vegetable mixture, chuck, crumbs, zucchini, eggs, salt, Italian seasoning, pepper and Parmesan in large bowl. With clean, wet hands, mix.
4.
Line baking sheet with waxed paper. Form meat mixture into 36 meatballs (1/4 scant cup for each). Place on prepared baking sheet.
5.
Drop meatballs into simmering sauce; don't stir for 5 minutes. Simmer in sauce for another 30 minutes, gently stirring occasionally.
6.
Spoon half of sauce and half the meatballs over cooked rotelli on large platter. Cool remaining sauce and meatballs for future Meatball Heros (recipe follows). Cover; refrigerate up to 3 days, or freeze up to 2 months. Makes 6 servings plus enough for Meatball Heros (recipe follows).
7.
Meatball Heros: Thaw sauce and meatballs, if necessary, overnight in refrigerator. Gently heat in saucepan over low heat until warmed through. Meanwhile, cut 6 long buns in half and toast. Top 6 halves with 3 meatballs each plus sauce. If desired, sprinkle 8 ounces (total) shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Broil briefly to melt. Top with remaining bun halves.
Nutrition information
Calories 644, Total Fat 22 g, Saturated Fat 8 g, Cholesterol 120 mg, Sodium 1322 mg, Carbohydrate 78 g, Fiber 8 g, Protein 35 g.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Add Your Review
how-tos
Recommended Recipe:
Old-Fashioned Spaghetti & Meatballs
To stretch the ground beef, we use high-fiber bulgur and whole-wheat breadcrumbs in the meatballs, which are baked rather than fried.
See Recipe

