Tiana Walters All about that Marinara!
Now I’ve been perfecting my meatballs and marinara recipe for years. Sadly it’s not Whole 30 so what’s a girl to do? Get to cooking. I like texture in my marinara and intense flavors. So if you want a boring homemade version of Prego, this ain’t for you. But if you want something with deep umami flavors, slightly sweet and of course salty, then I got you!
I remember as a kid my favorite nights were spaghetti nights. It’s the one dish my mom could nail. She always made a ton of ground beef red sauce so I could pile it on. Oddly, I hated tomatoes but give a girl red meat sauce, and I was happy. Even as a child my sauce to noodle ratio was way off, sauce winning of course. Oh and don’t forget the garlic bread with the crispy salad oh my lawd, so good.
Meatballs aka flavor bombs
Meatballs weren’t made often or even ever if I’m really thinking about it. Remember the spaghetti-o’s with meatballs, well that may have been my first. Horrible I know! But let’s just say my first true meatball was at a restaurant called Buca Di Beppo. Giant fluffy meatballs covered in sauce, I was hooked after that.
Now I make meatballs almost every week. They are so versatile, cheap, and an excellent source of protein. They are great to cook in large batches because they freeze so well. Creating an easy, fast weeknight recipe that taste like you spent hours in the kitchen.
Kitchen Gadgets Needed:
For this recipe I used an immersion blender linked below. I’ve had mine for almost 4 years now and use it all the time. Its a must when making your own sauces, dressings, and soups.
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How is this Meatballs & Marinara Whole 30?
Whole 30 Meatballs and Marinara a delicious and classic recipe that always brings rave reviews. You won’t need breadcrumbs or Parmesan, making this gluten and dairy free. The flavor comes from caramelizing the onions for maximum flavor. Tender, delicious, and packed with Italian flavor.
Check out a spin on the classic meatball, Whole 30 Mediterranean Chicken Meatballs!
Whole 30 Marinara
Ingredients
- 1/2 yellow onion
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 1 can diced tomato
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 1 head garlic minced
- 2 tbsp balsamic
- salt and pepper as needed
- 1 tbsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Caramelize onions in ghee
- Add garlic, and all seasoning.
- Once fragrant add canned tomatoes.
- Simmer 30. Finish with balsamic vinegar. Taste and adjust salt.
Whole 30 Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1 tbsp minced onion dried
- 1 tsp sage
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup almond milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a large bowl combine all ingredients. Use your hands to mix the meat until incorporated. (Don’t over mix or your meatballs will be dense!)
- Scoop out of meat and form into golf ball size, placing on a parchment lined sheet tray. (You can freeze them or store covered in the fridge for a day)
- Bake for 20 minutes or until internal temp reaches 165.
