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Soft Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Tender, comforting and incredibly easy to eat
EASY MEALS FOR ELDERLY PARENTS
6/6/20263 min read
There is something universally beloved about a good meatball in a rich tomato sauce.
These meatballs are made deliberately soft and tender - using a higher ratio of breadcrumbs and egg than a standard recipe which gives them a gentler, more yielding texture that is perfect for elderly parents. They simmer slowly in a smooth blended tomato sauce until they are completely soft and the sauce has absorbed all their flavour.
Served over soft pasta or creamy mashed potato this is one of the most satisfying and complete meals in the entire collection. And it freezes so beautifully that making a big batch is always worth it.
Why This Recipe Works
Deliberately soft texture - higher breadcrumb ratio creates tender meatballs that are easy to cut and eat
Smooth blended sauce - no chunks or tough pieces, just silky rich tomato sauce
High in protein - beef mince provides excellent complete protein
Rich in iron - important for maintaining energy levels in elderly people
Freezes beautifully - up to 3 months making it ideal for batch cooking
Versatile serving options - works over soft pasta, mashed potato or with soft bread
Recipe Details
Serves: 6 (makes approximately 24 meatballs) Prep time: 25 minutes Cook time: 45 minutes Freeze: Up to 3 months
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
700g beef mince (not too lean - some fat keeps them tender)
¾ cup fresh breadcrumbs (from soft white bread)
1 large egg
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
3 tbsp finely grated parmesan
1 tsp dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp olive oil for browning
For the tomato sauce:
2 cans diced tomatoes (400g each)
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
Step 1 - Make the meatball mixture Combine beef mince, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, parsley, parmesan, oregano, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix with your hands until just combined - do not overmix as this makes tough meatballs. The mixture should feel slightly soft and moist.
Step 2 - Shape the meatballs With wet hands roll the mixture into balls approximately the size of a golf ball. Wet hands prevent sticking and give a smoother surface. Place on a lined baking tray as you go.
Step 3 - Brown the meatballs Heat olive oil in a large deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches turning gently until golden on all sides - about 4 minutes per batch. They don't need to be cooked through at this stage. Remove and set aside.
Step 4 - Make the tomato sauce In the same pan reduce heat to medium. Cook onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Add diced tomatoes, basil, oregano and sugar. Season well. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Step 5 - Blend the sauce Use a stick blender to blend the sauce until completely smooth. This gives a silky sauce with no chunks that is much easier for elderly parents to manage.
Step 6 - Simmer the meatballs Return the meatballs to the pan with the blended sauce. Cover and simmer gently over low heat for 20–25 minutes until the meatballs are completely cooked through and tender and the sauce has thickened beautifully.
Step 7 - Serve Serve over very soft cooked pasta or creamy mashed potato with extra parmesan grated over the top.
Freezing Instructions
Cool completely
Portion meatballs with sauce into individual containers
Label with name and date
Freeze up to 3 months
To reheat: Thaw overnight in fridge. Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat stirring occasionally. Or microwave in 90 second intervals stirring between each until piping hot throughout. Cook fresh pasta or reheat mashed potato to serve alongside.
Always ensure food is piping hot all the way through before serving.
Kim's Tips
💕 Wet hands for rolling - keep a bowl of water beside you and wet your hands between each meatball. It prevents sticking completely and gives a much smoother result.
💕 Don't overmix the meat - overmixed meatballs become dense and tough. Mix until just combined and no further.
💕 The breadcrumbs are the secret to softness - more breadcrumbs than a standard recipe gives these meatballs their deliberately gentle texture. Don't reduce them.
💕 Blend the sauce- this is the step that makes the sauce truly elderly-parent friendly. A smooth sauce is so much easier to eat than a chunky one.
💕 Make a double batch - meatballs freeze so beautifully that making double the quantity takes barely any extra time but fills your freezer for weeks.
💕 Pork and beef mince mixed - using half beef half pork mince gives an even more tender and flavourful result if you have both available.
What You'll Need
A stick blender for the sauce and individual freezer containers for batch cooking are the key tools for this recipe. I've linked both on my Amazon storefront.
👉 Shop my kitchen recommendations on Amazon
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These are such a crowd pleaser - I'd love to hear if they became a regular! Leave a comment below or come and find me on Instagram. You're not doing this alone. 💕