Thanks to our friends at "Veal, Discover Delicious, funded by beef farmers and ranchers, for this Veal Parmesan Meatball with Tomato Cream Sauce recipe. This Italian meatball recipe is the ultimate quick and easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love! The meatballs are extremely tender and full of Italian flavors, then folded into the most rich and luscious tomato cream sauce. This dish pairs perfectly with your favorite pasta or some crusty bread, making it a delicious and satisfying family-friendly meal!
I can’t wait for you to try this easy meatball recipe – I know you’ll fall in love with it for many reasons.
Why you’ll love this Italian Meatball Recipe
Great for Family Dinners: This recipe is a crowd-pleaser that everyone from kids to adults will enjoy, which makes it an ideal family-friendly meal.
Tender Texture: Veal is known for its tender texture, which makes these meatballs soft and plump.
Flavorful and Savory: The combination of tender veal, Parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs creates a delicious and flavorful meatball recipe.
Creamy and Smooth Sauce: The smooth and rich tomato cream sauce is made with tomato sauce so there are no chunks of tomatoes to be found. This will make all the kiddos happy!
Nutrient-Rich: Veal is a good source of high-quality protein and essential vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, zinc, and iron, making these meatballs delicious and nutritious.
Less Mess: Since these meatballs are baked instead of fried there are no oil splatters while cooking. So there’s less mess which means less cleanup!
Versatile Recipe: This dish pairs great with pasta, garlic bread, sub rolls, veggie noodles, or a fresh salad, offering several options for a complete meal.
Quick Weeknight Meal: The easy meatball recipe is ready in less than an hour. Once the meatballs are in the oven, you’re free to focus on making the sauce. Or bake the meatballs ahead and create the sauce when ready to enjoy the meal during the week. Boom – that means dinner is on the table in less than 30 minutes!
Easy to Make: With simple steps and baking instead of frying, this recipe is easy to make.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this Italian meatball recipe with Tomato Cream Sauce…
Ingredients
For the Baked Meatballs:
- Ground veal
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Breadcrumbs (or almond meal or flour for low-carb & gluten-free)
- A small onion, finely diced or grated
- A large egg
- Garlic cloves, minced
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Chopped fresh basil
- Salt and pepper
For the Tomato Cream Sauce:
- Butter
- Garlic, minced
- Tomato Sauce
- Parmesan cheese
- Italian Seasoning
- Onion powder
- Pepper
- Heavy cream
- Sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
See the recipe card below for quantities.
Let’s talk about how this meatball masterpiece comes together…
How to make Veal Parmesan Meatballs
Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C).
Add all the meatball ingredients to a large bowl.
Add all the meatball ingredients to a large bowl. Mix until well combined.
Use a 1.5-inch scoop to portion out the mixture. Press it against the side of the bowl to pack the meat, then form into balls. You can bake the meatballs in two ways:
Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, make sure they aren’t crowded.
Or place a wire rack over a baking sheet and add the meatballs on top. This method allows the fat to drain away naturally.
Bake the meatballs for 13-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) using a meat thermometer.
How to Make Creamy Tomato Sauce
While the meatballs are baking, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute stirring constantly.
Add the tomato sauce, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, onion powder, and pepper.
Cook for 5 minutes, stirring until cheese has melted and smooth. Lower heat if needed.
Add the heavy cream and chopped parsley to the sauce, stirring to combine.
Taste the sauce and adjust with the sugar, this helps balance out any tanginess or acidity from the tomatoes. Add salt or pepper to taste.
Add the cooked meatballs to the sauce and let them cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.
Garnish with chopped parsley, basil, grated Parmesan cheese, or pepper flakes.
If you’re wondering what to serve with this yummy Italian Meatball recipe there are many great options…
What to Serve with Italian Meatballs
- Roasted Veggies or some Parmesan broccoli or garlic green beans make a great side dish.
- Toss the meatballs and cream sauce with spaghetti, linguini, penne, or whatever pasta you desire.
- Try zoodles or veggie noodles for a low-carb meal and gluten-free meal.
- Load the saucy meatballs on Sub rolls or slider buns for a delicious Italian meatball sandwich.
- Crusty garlic bread for dunking in that tasty sauce.
- A fresh green salad.
Storing, Reheating, and Freezing
How to Store It: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors will continue to develop, making them even tastier the next day!
How to Reheat It: To reheat, place the meatballs and sauce in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through. As it warms you may need to add a splash of cream to thin out the sauce.
You can also reheat them in the microwave for a quicker option but use a medium-low setting and microwave the sauce in increments of 20 seconds, checking and stirring as you go.
Can You Freeze It? Yes, you can freeze the meatballs. But I do not recommend freezing the sauce. Heavy cream can separate in the freezer.
For freezing the meatballs, allow them to cool after baking them, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
If you're looking for a delicious and comforting family dinner idea, these Veal Parmesan Meatballs with Tomato Cream Sauce are sure to hit the spot!
The tender baked meatballs are loaded with savory Parmesan, baked to perfection, and smothered in a rich, creamy tomato sauce. Perfect for family dinners, entertaining guests, or just treating yourself to a restaurant-quality meal at home!
MORE COMFORTING BEEF DISHES YOU’LL LOVE
Veal Parmesan Meatballs with Tomato Cream Sauce
Easy Veal Parmesan Meatball with Tomato Cream Sauce! This Italian meatball recipe is the ultimate quick and easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love! The meatballs are extremely tender and full of Italian flavors, then folded into the most rich and luscious tomato cream sauce. This dish pairs perfectly with your favorite pasta or some crusty bread, making it a delicious and satisfying family-friendly meal!
Ingredients
For The Meatballs:
- 1 pound veal
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced or grated
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup breadcrumbs (or almond meal or almond flour for low-carb and gluten-free)
- 1 large egg
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ⅓ cup fresh parsley chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
For The Tomato Cream Sauce:
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 15-ounce quality canned tomato sauce
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ cup heavy cream (more if needed to thin the sauce)
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley or basil
- ½-1 teaspoon sugar to bring down the acidity (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
- chopped fresh parsley and basil, grated parmesan, or pepper flakes for garnishing.
Instructions
For The Meatballs:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, gently combine all the meatball ingredients. Be careful not to overmix, or the meatballs may become tough.
- Use a 1.5-inch scoop to portion out the mixture. Press it against the side of the bowl to pack the meat, then form into meatballs.
- You can bake the meatballs in two ways:
• Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, making sure they aren’t crowded.
• Or place a wire rack over a baking sheet and add the meatballs on top. This method allows the fat to drain away naturally. - Bake the meatballs for 13-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) using a meat thermometer.
For The Tomato Cream Sauce:
- In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, onion powder, and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring until cheese has melted and smooth. Lower heat if needed.
- Add the heavy cream and chopped parsley to the sauce, stirring to combined and thickened.
- Taste the sauce and adjust with the sugar, this helps balance out any tanginess or acidity from the tomatoes.
- Add salt or pepper to taste.
- Add the meatballs to the sauce and let them cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped parsley, basil, grated Parmesan cheese, or pepper flakes.
- Serve these baked meatballs warm just as they are or over pasta, in sub rolls, on slider buns, or with garlic bread. Enjoy!
*Note: Depending on how you serve this dish you may need to double the tomato cream sauce.
Notes
Depending on how you serve this dish you may need to double the tomato cream sauce.
Nutrition Information
Yield
5Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 509Total Fat 33gSaturated Fat 17gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 204mgSodium 1129mgCarbohydrates 17gFiber 3gSugar 6gProtein 36g
This nutrition card uses an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. This estimate is not a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice!
Laura
I will have to try them real soon
holly
Hi Laura! Yes - please do! I would love to hear what you think when you do!