Meatball Marinara
Meatball Marinara is a classic Italian-American comfort food featuring savory, tender meatballs simmered in a rich, tomato-based marinara sauce. The meatballs are typically made from a blend of ground beef and pork with breadcrumbs, garlic, and herbs, while the sauce is a simple yet flavorful combination of tomatoes, onions, and Italian seasonings. It's most commonly served over pasta or with crusty bread for dipping.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is a good source of protein from the meatballs and provides lycopene, an antioxidant from the tomatoes. It's moderately high in fat and calories, with a typical serving (about 4-5 meatballs with sauce) ranging from 400 to 600 calories, depending on the meat-to-fat ratio and portion size.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 280 kcal |
| Protein | 18 g |
| Carbs | 12 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 680 mg |
| Iron | 3.5 mg |
| Calcium | 80 mg |
| Potassium | 450 mg |
| Vitamin A | 150 mcg |
| Vitamin C | 12 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.8 mcg |
| Phosphorus | 180 mg |
| Zinc | 3.2 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The marinara sauce itself is a hallmark of Neapolitan cooking, prized for its simplicity and bright tomato flavor, while the meatball tradition was largely popularized by Italian immigrants in the United States, adapting Old World recipes to new ingredients.
