Poor pasta and meatballs! Over time they've gotten a reputation for taking all day to cook. While I enjoy a long cooked tomato sauce, I don't always have the time to make it. My quick tomato sauce (or red sauce as it's called in my house) paired with baked meatballs is perfect for a night when you want something substantial but don't want to spend all evening in the kitchen.

30 Minute Baked Gluten-Free Meatballs

1 1/2 pounds meatloaf mix (beef, pork, veal) or lean ground beef

2 large eggs

1/4 cup milk

1 cup dried gluten-free bread crumbs (If you don't know how to make bread crumbs, I made a video for you!)

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

Generous 1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Pinch garlic powder

Pinch salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet lightly with cooking spray or coat lightly with olive oil.

In a large bowl combine all ingredients. Stir (or use your hands) to combine.

Roll meat mixture into balls, about 2 Tablespoons each. (I use a cookie scoop.)

Place rolled meatballs onto prepared tray.

  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until internal temperature of meatballs reaches 165 F degrees.

  Use as directed below.

15 Minute Tomato Sauce

I make my own tomato sauce (okay, for this recipe I cheat a little and start with a can of sauce). You don't have to! Use whatever sauce you love! 

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

1/2 red pepper, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup red wine

one 28 ounce can Hunt's tomato sauce

one 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes

Generous pinch dried basil and oregano

Pinch salt and freshly ground pepper

Heat olive oil in medium sauce pan over medium heat.

Add onions and peppers. Cook until onions are soft and translucent. Add garlic. Cook until aromatic, about 1-2 minutes. You don't want to brown the garlic.

Add wine. Allow to reduce for 2 minutes.

Add tomato sauce, petite diced tomatoes and herbs. Stir to combine.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Reduce heat and allow sauce to simmer for 15-20 minutes. If your pasta and meatballs aren't ready, just allow the sauce to simmer longer. It won't hurt it.

Use as directed below.

Pasta and Meatballs

1 pound pasta (as always I used Tinkyada's Penne Pasta)

Meatballs

Pasta Sauce

Make Meatballs.

While meatballs are baking, start pasta sauce.

While pasta sauce is simmering, boil water for pasta.

Cook pasta and drain.(For directions on how to cook gluten-free pasta, click here.)

Return pasta to cooking pot.

Add 1/3 of the pasta sauce. Stir to combine.

Transfer to serving dish.Top with meatballs and remaining sauce.

Enjoy!