Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsO'Brien's Oyster Bar & Seafood TavernFranco's Meatballs & Linguini Recipe

Franco's Meatballs & Linguini Recipe

Time1h
Serves4

Franco's Italian meatballs with homemade marinara over linguini.

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Ingredients

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Meatballs

Method

Meatballs Preparation

  1. 1

    Mix Meatball Ingredients

    In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, chopped parsley, eggs, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.

  2. 2

    Form Meatballs

    Using your hands, form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on a baking sheet.

  3. 3

    Cook Meatballs

    In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add meatballs to the skillet and cook for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.

Marinara Sauce Preparation

  1. 4

    Cook Onions and Garlic

    In the same skillet, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sauté chopped onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.

  2. 5

    Make the Sauce

    Add crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, sugar, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and let simmer for 15 minutes.

  3. 6

    Add Meatballs to Sauce

    Carefully add the browned meatballs to the marinara sauce. Cover and let simmer for another 20 minutes.

Linguini Preparation

  1. 7

    Cook Linguini

    While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and linguini. Cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes.

  2. 8

    Drain and Serve

    Drain the linguini and return to the pot. Serve topped with marinara sauce and meatballs. Sprinkle with additional grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

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