two meatballs in one

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• small meatballs:
• 4 sweet italian lamb sausage, casings removed
• 1/2 cup water, or as needed
• large meatballs:
• 2 1/4 pounds ground beef
• 1/2 cup italian-seasoned bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• sauce:
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 sweet onion, minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (15 ounce) can no salt-added diced tomatoes with italian herbs
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried sweet basil
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Recipe

Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ready Time: 1 hr 50 mins


• form lamb sausage into small 1/2-inch meatballs using a small scoop. fill a skillet with enough water to make a 1-inch depth; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer. cook meatballs in the simmering water until cooked through, about 15 minutes. remove meatballs with a slotted spoon and cool on a paper towel-lined plate. drain water.
• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c).
• mix ground beef, bread crumbs, ketchup, parmesan cheese, worcestershire sauce, egg, granulated garlic, and 1 teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl. scoop ground beef mixture into about 1-inch portions using an ice cream scooper; form each portion around 1 small lamb meatball to cover completely. arrange double meatballs on a baking sheet.
• bake in the preheated oven until meatballs are browned and partially cooked, about 25 minutes.
• heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic in the hot oil until onion is softened, about 10 minutes. add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, sugar, italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon black pepper, basil, and lemon juice; bring to a boil. reduce heat and simmer sauce for 20 minutes. add meatballs to sauce and simmer, stirring gently, until meatballs are fully cooked, about 20 more minutes.