Jul 13 2026
RestaurantsBellaBrava Bexley - Land O’LakesBucatini & Meatballs Recipe

Bucatini & Meatballs Recipe

Time1h
Serves4

pomodoro sauce | pecorino Romano | torn basil

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Ingredients

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Pasta

Meatballs

Pomodoro Sauce

Garnish

Method

Meatballs Preparation

  1. 1

    Preheat and Mix

    Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, grated Parmesan, chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.

  2. 2

    Form Meatballs

    Using your hands, form the mixture into meatballs, about the size of a golf ball. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

  3. 3

    Bake Meatballs

    Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they are browned and cooked through.

Pomodoro Sauce Preparation

  1. 4

    Cook Garlic

    In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant.

  2. 5

    Add Tomatoes

    Add the canned whole tomatoes, crushing them with a spoon. Stir in salt, black pepper, and sugar. Let the sauce simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  3. 6

    Add Fresh Basil

    Tear the fresh basil leaves and stir them into the sauce just before serving.

Pasta Cooking

  1. 7

    Boil Water

    In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the bucatini and cook according to package instructions until al dente.

  2. 8

    Drain Pasta

    Once cooked, reserve a cup of pasta water, then drain the bucatini.

Assembly

  1. 9

    Combine and Serve

    In the skillet with the pomodoro sauce, add the cooked bucatini and meatballs. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency. Serve immediately topped with grated Pecorino Romano and torn basil leaves.

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