Nanny's Spaghetti Sauce and Meatballs (with Italian Sausage too!) is a popular recipe with her family. The grandkids absolutely love it! Easy to make, freezer-friendly and always a hit!

Let me introduce to you Nanny Pat!
Nanny Pat has been a loyal supporter of Lovefoodies since it's very beginning and is always busy sharing her delicious family recipes with us. Nanny's part of our Lovefoodies 'family' now, kind of like our resident cook!
Here we have Nanny's Meatball Surprise, which she's been making the same way for her family for over 50 years! They won't allow her to change it or tweak it in any way whatsoever, simply because they all absolutely love it just how it is!
Recipe by Pat Milton
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Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
1 ½ hrs for sauce & meatballs
Yield
4 - 6 Persons
Ingredients
Nanny's Spaghetti Sauce:
¼ Cup olive oil
3 large cans Tomatoes ( 1 lb.12oz. ) whole peeled or crushed
3 (6 oz.) cans Tomato Paste
1 Tablespoon parsley
2 or 3 cloves garlic, chopped or crushed
1 Tablespoon Oregano
2 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper
½ Cup Romano cheese, grated.
The Meatballs:
2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 ½ lbs. ground pork
¾ tsp. ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon garlic salt
2 Tablespoon chopped parsley
¼ Cup grated Romano Cheese
3 eggs
¾ Cup bread crumbs
Optional:
Nanny sometimes adds an Italian Sausage in to the sauce, you can choose sweet, mild hot etc, whatever to your liking!
Instructions
Make the sauce
1. Put olive oil in a pan, chop or crush cloves of garlic in oil, heat slowly, do not let burn or turn brown.
2. Add tomatoes (I crush with my hand while adding them) garlic salt, paste, parsley, oregano, pepper & Romano cheese and bring to a simmer and let simmer for at least 1 ½ hrs. (6 qt. pan works.)

Nanny's Top Tips
I use about a CUP of water (total) to rinse the cans out when using for each can, and then put the water in the saucepot.
You can add whatever things your family likes, hot pepper, more spices, onions, mushrooms etc., then it becomes YOUR sauce, but after more than 50 yrs. of making this, our family objects to any changes!
If they want Hot, I serve the seasoning on the side, and of course, a dish of freshly grated Romano or Parmesan, or a combo to sprinkle on the top.
Make the Meatballs:
1. Put meat & pork in a large bowl. Add pepper, salt, parsley, & cheese.
2. Mix thoroughly. Add eggs & bread crumbs, mix until well blended. Oil hands and make into balls, whatever size you like, and don't squish them to death, just medium to lightly form into balls.
3. Put oil in the frying pan & brown slowly (don't let them get crusty).
Then drain them and put them in the Spaghetti Sauce, and continue cooking them in the sauce.
We like Italian sausages too, and cook them the same way & add to sauce.
This makes about 24 large, 36 medium or 48 small. Serve with pasta of your choice, and crusty Italian Bread or Rolls, we like Garlic Bread
We'd love to hear from you and what you thought of our recipe. Did you make any changes or add some other ingredients? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading and happy cooking!

Recipe Card

Nanny's Spaghetti Sauce and Meatballs
Nanny's Spaghetti Sauce and Meatballs (with Italian Sausage too!) is a popular recipe with her family. The grandkids absolutely love it! Easy to make, freezer-friendly, and always a hit!
Ingredients
Nanny's Spaghetti Sauce:
- ¼ Cup olive oil
- 3 lb large cans Tomatoes whole, peeled or crushed
- 18 oz canned Tomato Paste
- 1 Tablespoon parsley
- 2 cloves or 3 garlic chopped or crushed
- 1 Tablespoon Oregano
- 2 tsp . garlic salt
- 1 tsp . ground black pepper
- ½ Cup Romano cheese grated.
My Meatballs:
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 ½ lbs ground pork
- ¾ tsp . ground black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon garlic salt
- 2 Tablespoon chopped parsley
- ¼ Cup grated Romano Cheese
- 3 eggs
- ¾ Cup bread crumbs
Instructions
- Make the sauce
- Put olive oil in pan, chop or crush cloves of garlic in oil, heat slowly, do not let burn or turn brown.
- Add tomatoes (I crush with my hand while adding them) garlic salt, paste, parsley, oregano, pepper & Romano cheese and bring to a simmer and let simmer for at least 1 ½ hrs. (6 qt. pan works.)
- Make the Meatballs
- Put meat & pork in large bowl. Add pepper, salt, parsley, & cheese.
- Mix thoroughly. Add eggs & bread crumbs, mix until well blended. Oil hands and make into balls, whatever size you like, and don't squish them to death, just medium to lightly form into balls.
- Put oil in the frying pan & brown slowly (don't let them get crusty). Then drain them and put in the Spaghetti Sauce, and continue cooking them in the sauce.
- We like Italian sausages too, and cook them the same way & add to sauce.
- This makes about 24 large, 36 medium or 48 small.
- Serve with pasta of your choice, and crusty Italian Bread or Rolls, we like Garlic Bread.
Notes
Nanny's Top Tips
I use about a CUP of water (total) to rinse the cans out when using for each can, and then put the water in the saucepot.
You can add whatever things your family likes, hot pepper, more spices, onions, mushrooms, etc., then it becomes YOUR sauce, but after more than 50 yrs. of making this, our family objects to any changes!
If they want Hot, I serve the seasoning on the side, and of course, a dish of freshly grated Romano or Parmesan, or a combo to sprinkle on the top.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 985Total Fat: 65gSaturated Fat: 23gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 35gCholesterol: 345mgSodium: 1921mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 79g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate
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