Pork and pancetta meatballs recipe

CLICK TO RATE
(73 ratings)

Quick and simple to make pork and pancetta meatballs and tomato sauce. Perfect to freeze and store over the Christmas period - just add to your favourite pasta when guests arrive.

  • healthy
Serves6
SkillEasy
Preparation Time1 hours
Cooking Time25 mins
Total Time1 hours 25 mins
Cost RangeCheap
Nutrition Per PortionRDA
Calories264 Kcal13%
Fat20 g29%
Saturated Fat6 g30%

Quick and simple to make, pork and pancetta meatballs and tomato sauce. Perfect to freeze and store over the Christmas period - just add to your favourite pasta when guests arrive.

Ingredients

  • 500g (1b) lean minced pork
  • 80g pack cubed pancetta, roughly chopped
  • 30g (1oz) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tsp dried sage or dried oregano
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 medium egg
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
  • 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
  • Tagliatelle or fettucine, to serve

WEIGHT CONVERTER

to

Method

  1. Put the pork, pancetta, Parmesan, herbs, seasoning and egg in a large bowl and use your hand to mix it together well.
  2. Shape the mixture into 24 balls (use a tbsp measuring spoon as a guide to how much mixture per ball). Put them on a tray lined with Bakewell paper and chill them until firmed up — about an hour.
  3. Meanwhile, make the sauce: Warm the oil in a large pan. Add the onion and cook for 5 mins until softened. Add the garlic and cook for a couple  of mins. Pour in the tomatoes and simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 mins. Add the ketchup and season.
  4. Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the meatballs in one layer and leave for 5 mins to brown on one side, then turn them to cook on the other side for another 5 mins.
Top Tip for making Pork and pancetta meatballs

The meatballs are just astasty made from mincedbeef or chicken

Trusted, informative, and empathetic – GoodToKnow is the ultimate online destination for parents. At GoodtoKnow, our mission is 'simple': we're trying to make sense of parenthood. On the site, you'll find everything you need for a happy, healthy family life. Our huge archive of content includes more than 18,000 articles and 1,500 how-to videos. These include expert-backed advice features on parenting, dealing with relationship changes after having a baby, self-care for mums and managing your family finances. We also feature tried-and-tested product reviews and buying recommendations for every stage of family life - from prams and Moses baskets to birthday gifts and top toys.