Healthier Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
• 0.25 cups chopped fresh parsley
• 1 large egg , beaten
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 clove garlic , minced
• 0.25 teaspoons ground black pepper

Instructions

1. 1

   Make the meatballs: Mix ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, beaten egg, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and pepper in a large bowl until well combined. Form into 12 balls. Cover and refrigerate until needed.

2. 2

   Make the sauce: Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes, salt, sugar, and bay leaf. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour.

3. 3

   Stir in tomato paste, pepper, and basil; stir in meatballs. Simmer on low heat until meatballs are cooked through, about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).

4. 4

   Discard bay leaf before serving.