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Pork meatballs in a spicy marinara sauce
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Pork Meatballs in a Spicy Marinara Sauce

Spice up dinner with these pork meatballs in a spicy marinara sauce. We jazz up the store-bought sauce to make life easier. The meatballs simmer in the sauce and burst with flavor.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4
Author: Jennifer Struss

Ingredients

Pork Meatballs

  • 1 lb Ground Pork
  • 1/4 cup Breadcrumbs (I used Panko)
  • 2 tbsp Milk or dairy free milk
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 tsp Chopped Fresh or Dried Parsley
  • 1 tsp Chopped Fresh or Dried Oregano
  • 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Pepper

Spicy Marinara Sauce

  • 1 small Chopped Onion or Half of a large
  • 2 Minced Cloves of garlic
  • 1/2 cup White Wine or Chicken Broth
  • 1 jar Tomato Sauce
  • 1 tsp Harissa
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup Shredded Mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan
  • 1 bunch Chopped Parsley

Instructions

  • Preheat a large pan over medium heat and add cooking oil. Soak the panko breadcrumbs in the milk for a minute. Add the ground pork, egg, chopped parsley, chopped oregano, grated parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
  • Mix the meatball mixture until just combined. Form the meatballs into tablespoon-sized balls. Add the meatballs to the pan and brown for 3 minutes on each side. Add in the chopped onion and minced garlic and cook for 3 minutes until slightly softened.
  • Add the white wine and scrape up any bits on the bottom of the pan. Let the wine cook for a minute and add the marinara sauce and harissa. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and turn down the temperature to medium-low heat. Let the sauce cook for 10 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through.
  • Top the meatballs with mozzarella cheese and cover until melted. Garnish with grated parmesan and chopped parsley. Serve with pasta or toasted bread and enjoy!

Notes

Soaking the breadcrumbs in milk for a minute will make your meatballs even more tender. Try not to over-mix to avoid dry and tough meatballs. You can substitute the wine for chicken broth or water if you prefer. Try not to go overboard on the harissa, it can get really spicy depending on the brand. You can always add more to taste.