Supper in Spain (Sorta) – Easy Garlic Tomato Meatballs for Any Night

Bring the bold flavors of Spain to your kitchen with this easy albondigas recipe—juicy Spanish meatballs in a garlic tomato sauce, ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect for a spring weeknight dinner!

Supper in Spain (Sorta) – Easy Garlic Tomato Meatballs for Any Night

There’s something about a cozy tapas bar that makes you feel like you’ve been whisked away to a hidden corner of Spain. We recently ducked into one on a whim—and let me tell you, it was the albondigas, or Spanish meatballs, that completely stole the show. Tender, juicy, and swimming in the most garlicky tomato sauce I’ve ever tasted, they were the kind of dish that made us pause mid-bite and say, “Okay, we have to try making this at home.”

So here we are—with this easy, spring-friendly version of Spanish meatballs in garlic tomato sauce, perfect for a relaxed weeknight dinner. They’re simple to prep, big on flavor, and the simmered sauce gets a little lift from white wine, paprika, and cumin. Pair with crusty bread, a crisp salad, or even some roasted potatoes for a full-on tapas-inspired meal at home. Trust me: one bite of these meatballs, and you’ll be dreaming of Spanish sunsets too.

I made my meatballs a little bigger than the tiny ones you'd typically find in a small tapas dish—a bit more satisfying for dinner. I served them over rice, which soaked up all that rich, garlicky tomato sauce beautifully. But honestly, they’re super versatile: you can serve them just as they are for a lighter bite, or pair them with pasta, quinoa, salad greens, or warm crusty bread for scooping. No matter how you plate them, it’s an easy weeknight dinner that feels a little extra special.

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

🛒 Basic Shopping List

Produce:

• Garlic
• Yellow onion
• Fresh parsley

Meat & Dairy:

• Ground beef
• Egg
• Milk

Pantry:

• Breadcrumbs
• Crushed tomatoes (canned)
• Dry white wine
• Olive oil
• Paprika
• Cumin
• Salt
• Black pepper

Optional Serving Ideas (Choose Your Favorites!):

• White or brown rice
• Pasta
• Crusty bread
• Salad greens
• Roasted potatoes

Substitutions and Variations

Substitutions

Missing an ingredient or want to switch things up? Here are a few simple swaps that work beautifully in this recipe:

• Ground Beef: Feel free to use ground turkey, chicken, or even a plant-based ground for a lighter or vegetarian version.

• Milk: Any unsweetened milk will work here—dairy or non-dairy (like almond, oat, or soy).

• Breadcrumbs: Panko, crushed crackers, or even cooked quinoa can be used if you’re out of traditional breadcrumbs.

• White Wine: No wine? No problem. Swap with low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth for a similar depth of flavor.

• Paprika: Use either smoked paprika or regular paprika.  Even a pinch of chili powder will still give great flavor.

• Cumin: You can leave it out if needed, or replace it with a pinch of ground coriander or even a little extra paprika for warmth.

• Crushed Tomatoes: Diced tomatoes (with a quick blend) or tomato sauce can be used in a pinch.

Variations

Want to put your own spin on these Spanish-inspired meatballs? Here are a few tasty ideas to try:

• Mini Tapas-Style Meatballs: Roll the meatballs smaller (about 1 tablespoon each) for a more traditional tapas feel—perfect for party platters or appetizers.

• Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a chopped chili to the tomato sauce for some heat.

• Cheesy Twist: Mix in some grated Manchego or Parmesan into the meat mixture for extra savory flavor.

• Herb Swap: No parsley? Try fresh cilantro or basil for a slightly different herbal note.

• Stuffed Meatballs: Place a small cube of cheese (like mozzarella or Spanish Mahón) in the center of each meatball for a gooey, melty surprise.

• One-Pot Option: Instead of baking, brown the meatballs directly in the skillet, then pour in the sauce and simmer—less cleanup, same great taste.

• Add Veggies: Stir in sautéed spinach, bell peppers, or chopped zucchini to the sauce for a veggie-packed version.

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Don’t Overmix the Meat: When combining your meatball mixture, use your hands and mix gently. Overworking the meat can make the meatballs dense instead of tender.

• Uniform Size = Even Cooking: Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion your meatballs evenly so they bake at the same rate.

• Make Ahead Friendly: You can prep the meatballs in advance and refrigerate them for a few hours before baking. You can even freeze them (raw or cooked) for future meals.

• Deglaze with Wine: After sautéing the onions and garlic for the sauce, the wine helps lift all the flavorful bits off the pan—don’t skip this step if you’re using wine!

• Adjust Seasoning at the End: Once the sauce has simmered and the meatballs have absorbed the flavors, give it a final taste and adjust the salt and pepper if needed.

• Serving Sauce Matters: Spoon extra garlic tomato sauce over the top when serving—don’t let any of it go to waste!

• Leftovers Reheat Well: These meatballs make delicious leftovers! Store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze in portions for a future easy meal.

💬 Let’s Chat!

Have you ever tried Spanish albondigas at a tapas bar—or made your own at home? I’d love to hear how you serve your meatballs! Do you go the traditional route with small bites and crusty bread, or lean into a cozy bowl over rice or pasta like I did? Drop your thoughts in the comments below or tag me on Instagram @sliceofsouthern-let’s swap ideas!

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One Pot Tortellini with Sausage and Spinach in a Tomato Basil Sauce

Yum

Do you ever get a craving for something that you think is strange?

Well I do.  Every now and then I crave marinara sauce, or meat sauce.  Any red Italian sauce actually.  I know, I think it's strange too.  It's not the pasta that I'm craving (although who doesn't crave pasta!) but it's actually the sauce.  I know this because I can have a delicious chicken Parmesan dripping with marinara and be perfectly satisfied without any pasta.

So this 'red sauce' craving hit me big time over the long holiday weekend.  I mean I was rooting through my food on hand looking for anything I could make that a red sauce would go on.  I only had 1 can of diced tomatoes on hand!  How could that be???  I'm always stocked, but not on the day the craving hit.  Figures....but I did find a jar of a yummy tomato basil sauce in a jar that I had hidden away.  So it hit me that will make a variation of a one pot dish that I love, Ravioli Florentine which is a family favorite. 

Oh boy, no ravioli to be found in the frig or the freezer, but I did find some tortellini.  Bingo!  Substitution time, and with a few alterations on the original dish I came up with a winner!

Adding a nice Italian turkey sausage to the sauce gave it some body and wonderful spicy flavor.  The flavors of fresh basil add a fresh taste that jazzes it up.  Just look at this meaty sauce! 

All in one pot.  Don't you love that?  Plus the clean up is a breeze and I hate doing dishes!  This would work great as a weeknight meal as it can be done in 30 minutes.  So the result is we both loved it, and it satisfied my craving...until next time.

Enjoy!



One Pot Tortellini with Sausage and Spinach in a Tomato Basil Sauce

serves 4

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 lb turkey Italian sausage, casings removed (about 3 links)

1/2 (24 oz) jar tomato basil sauce

1 (14.5 oz) can finely diced tomatoes

1/4 cup water

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 (9 oz) pkg refrigerated cheese tortellini

2 cups packed fresh spinach, roughly chopped

salt & pepper to taste 

2 Tbsp basil, chopped

Heat olive oil in a large skillet medium heat. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds then add sausage using a wooden spoon to break it into pieces as it browns.  Cook until it is cooked through, about 6-7 minutes.  

Add in tomato basil sauce, tomatoes, water, and seasoning and bring to a simmer. Add tortellini making sure they are covered in the sauce.  Cook on medium low about 10 minutes until pasta is tender.  Stir occasionally.  Add spinach and season with black pepper and salt if needed.   Cook several minutes until spinach has wilted.  Remove from heat and sprinkle with chopped basil.  

Spicy Tomato Cream Sauce with Spaghetti

Yum

Sometimes we need a little pasta sauce in our lives.

Me?  I actually crave a good red sauce, so whether it is served over pasta, or a fabulous chicken dish, I've gotta have it!

The other day we went out to dinner at a local Italian restaurant.  I was all set to get something with a delicious red sauce to soothe my craving.  Little did I know that I'd end up with a chef's special that was too tempting to resist.  The only down side was that there wasn't any 'red sauce' in sight. 

Although the dish was wonderful and had an outstanding sauce of lemon, wine, and artichokes I started to have that familiar craving a few days later.  I need something with 'red sauce!  Do you ever get those cravings?  I know, a little strange, but it's really calling me.

Into the kitchen I went to prepare our dinner.  Something quick.  Something using pantry items.  Something that features a 'red sauce'...and spice...and cream.

The result was a quick and easy creamy, yet spicy, red sauce served over spaghetti.  Using your favorite jarred sauce makes things easier and definitely quicker for a weeknight meal.  Red pepper flakes amp up the heat a little while the cream adds thickness and comfort to the dish.

Cravings are gone!  My tummy is satisfied until the next craving comes along.  

Enjoy!



Spicy Tomato Cream Sauce with Spaghetti

serves 4

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 (24 oz) jar of spaghetti sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half
1 lb thin spaghetti

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until softened.  Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.  Add the spaghetti sauce, basil, thyme, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.  Stir to combine.  Add the cream and stir.  Simmer about 10 minutes until sauce has thickened and is heated through.

Meanwhile in another large pot, cook your pasta in salted boiling water according to the package directions.  Drain. Add to the saucepan and toss to coat.  Serve.

Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce (Healthier Version)

Sometimes comfort food just calls me.

A lot of time that food is laden with high calories and carbs.  So what to do when you made a resolution to eat healthy or lose weight and you are only 1 month in and already wanting to throw it out the window?

Try this wonderful creamy pasta sauce.  It's a healthier version since it doesn't use any cream!  Using evaporated milk with a little added cornstarch gives it the texture and richness of cream, without all the fat.  Love that!

This sauce is so easy to throw together that you can easily make it during the week to feed the whole family. To help control the carbs, use a high fiber spaghetti such as Barilla Plus, which tastes great.  Trust me, everyone will love it, and no one will miss the calories.

Enjoy!



Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce (Healthier Version)

serves 4

2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 medium onion, small dice
2 cloves garlic, minced1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes 
Pinch of chili flakes
1 tsp Italian herbs
Kosher Salt
1 cup low fat evaporated milk
1/4 tsp cornstarch
1 pound Thin Spaghetti or other pasta(I used Barilla Plus)
grated Parmesan

To a large skillet over medium heat add the olive oil and diced onion.  Cook about 7 minutes until transparent.  Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds.  Add the crushed tomatoes, chili flakes, Italian herbs, and salt (to taste) stirring to combine.  Bring the pasta sauce to a low boil and cook about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile cook pasta according to package directions, to al dente.  Drain and set aside.  Turn the heat to low under the skillet.  In a measuring cup add evaporated milk and whisk in the cornstarch.  Add to the sauce and stir to combine.  Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat.  

Divide pasta among four plates and top with grated Parmesan cheese.  Serve immediately.

Sicilian Spaghetti Sauce

It's officially fall and today is a nice balmy day at 64 degrees so far.  I do love the cool mornings, but I'm sure that this won't last for long as we've had one hot summer...and it's not over yet.

As I'm sitting here watching Rick Steves' ITALY Cities of Dreams shows I'm taken back to my trip to Italy with my mom and the wonderful memories we made.  One of my best vacations ever!  Of course the food was outstanding.  I can remember every dish we ate all those years ago.  Now that's an impression, and that's some good food.

So I'm getting a hankering for some comfort food.  So let's make some pasta.  Fall is the perfect time for comfort food.

You may recall that a neighbor of mine is from Sicily.  She's passed on now but I treasure the time I got to spend with her hearing her stories of traveling to America at the age of 14 on a boat, landing in New Orleans!  What an adventurous woman.  And her food?  to die for.

Today's recipe is a meaty pasta sauce and is a variation of her Sicilian Spaghetti Sauce. Oh! this is soooo good.  The recipe makes quite a bit of sauce, but not to fret, this freezes wonderfully.  I've placed my extra sauce in a airtight container and it will keep in the freezer for several months to take out and have again on a cold fall night.  Perfect double duty!  It also takes a while to make this sauce so make sure to do this on a weekend.

While I've never been to Sicily it's certainly on my bucket list. Thank you Nettie (my 4th grandmother!) for all your stories and your inspiration. Nettie's tomato marinara, Sicilian Sauce is wonderful if you don't like meat in your sauce.

Manga! Manga!

Sicilian Spaghetti Sauce

adapted from my Sicilian neighbor Nettie

serves 6

1/2 lb. sweet or hot Italian sausage, ground or casings removed
1/2 lb. 10% lean ground sirloin

1 medium yellow onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 15oz cans of good quality tomato sauce

1 6oz can of tomato paste

3 cups water

1 t salt

2 t dried parsley

1 t dried basil

1/2 t dried thyme

1/2 t red pepper flakes

Cooked spaghetti

Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Cook sausage and ground sirloin in a large skillet over medium heat about 6 min.  Stir meat as it cooks until it crumbles.  Add onion and garlic to the meat and continue to cook and stir another 4 minutes or until onion is soft and meat is no longer pink.  Drain if necessary.  Set aside.

In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, add tomato sauce, paste, and water.  Stir to combine.  Add your spices, salt, parsley, basil, thyme, and red pepper flakes.  Stir to combine.  Add your meat and onion mixture. Cook on medium low for about 40-50 minutes or until sauce thickens slightly.  Serve over hot spaghetti and top with grate Parmesan cheese if desired.

Mother's Butter, Tomato & Onion Sauce

Being a foodie lover I'm also a knowledge junkie.

I confess that I love taking cooking classes.  You may think you know everything, but there is SO MUCH to learn from other chefs.  Even if it is just a technique or a tip that makes something simpler, or just makes things make sense.  It's worth it to always seek to enhance your knowledge about a subject.  

Recently I been taking classes online through Craftsy.  Have you heard of them?  They are wonderful online classes with various subjects, one being cooking.  So browsing the class topics I decided to purchase one by the famed chef Guliano Hazan on Classic Italian Pasta Sauces: Meat and Tomato.  

 (Excuse the messy bowl, I tossed the pasta and sauce in this bowl and should have swapped it out...but I was too impatient and hungry!)

The classes are videos taped in segments that you can watch at your own pace, rerun, and even have discussions with class participants and the chef himself.  I must say it is wonderful!  I learned so much more about making pasta sauces than I never knew before.  


Today I'm sharing the first sauce I made from the class.  It's called Mother's Butter, Tomato & Onion Sauce.  It's just that.  Tomatoes cooked with butter and an onion.  It's cooked down into a fabulous rich sauce that's best served over an egg pasta.  Try looking in the artisan section of the pasta aisle for something like egg fettuccine.  One other item he suggests is that you use San Marzano canned tomatoes (real San Marzano tomatoes) such as a brand like Cento.  Both are easily found in the grocery store, but if you can't find them, substitute with the best that you can find.   Since the ingredients are so few it is important that they be of the best quality to allow the flavors to shine.

This sauce is like comfort heaven!  I hope you try it and let me know how you liked it.  I also hope you check out Craftsy, I think it's a great site.  I can't wait to try one of Peter Reinhart's bread classes next!

Note:  This is not sponsored, I am just sharing my opinion of a site I came across that I think you would like.


MOTHER'S BUTTER, TOMATO & ONION SAUCE
From Hazan Family Favorites by Giuliano Hazan
Serves 4 people

INGREDIENTS
• 3 cups (31 ounces/907 g) canned whole peeled tomatoes with their juice
• 5 tablespoons (2½ ounces/75 g) butter
• 1¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 medium (6 ounces/ 170 g) sweet yellow onion
• Tagliolini made with 3 eggs and 2¼ cups flour (or 12 ounces dry store-bought narrow noodles)
• 1/3 cup (11/3 ounces/57 g) freshly-grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1. Coarsely chop the canned tomatoes. Trim both ends of the onion, peel it and cut in half lengthwise.

2. Put the tomatoes, butter, onion and salt in a 4 to 5-quart (3.8 to 4.7 L) saucepan and place over medium heat. When the tomatoes begin to bubble, lower the heat to a slow but steady simmer. Cook, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes until the tomatoes are no longer watery and the sauce has reduced, 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the sauce is done the butter will have separated from the tomatoes and there should not be any liquid left.

3. When the sauce is ready, fill a pot for the pasta with about 6 quarts (5.67 L) of water, cover, and place over high heat. When the water boils, add 2 tablespoons salt to the boiling pasta water, put in the tagliolini, and stir until all the strands are submerged. Cook until al dente. When the pasta is done, drain well, toss with the sauce and the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Serve at once.

Ravioli Florentine

Happy Weekend!

MGG and I were fortunate enough to get a head start on our weekend, so we decided to go and have some fun!  So we were off to the races.  The horse races that is.  Oh the memories of going to the races with my mom and dad are still fresh.  Both my parents loved going to the races and passed their love on to me.

I hadn't been to the races in quite some time and this was MGG's first time ever.  Sometimes it's just hard to fit things in to your daily life that you find exciting.  So it was great to go again, and to share his first time watching the ponies.

We went to Santa Anita Race Track, purchased box seats right in front of the finish line, and ate a wonderful lunch at the Clubhouse.  So far so good.  MGG was having a great time.  The real excitement began when the races started and MGG was winning almost every race.  How did he do that?  Beginners luck I guess!  So after a full day of races we were tired and ready to go home.

Once home we found ourselves happy, tired, and hungry.  So I decided to satisfy our appetite by making a quick pasta dish.  You can have this one on the table in under 30 minutes.  The best part is this is a one pot meal as well.  I'm just loving those, and the clean up is a breeze!

This pasta dish is full of good things.  Spinach, mushrooms, garlic, tomatoes make for a hearty yet tasty sauce to which you cook the ravioli in.  Using frozen spinach makes the dish quick.  I also used a new item I found in the store.  It's a sun dried tomato pesto.  Not the green kind, but a deep red pesto.  A perfect addition to the sauce, giving it more depth.  For the ravioli you could use fresh or frozen.  I chose a fresh ravioli made of chicken and spinach.  Make sure to use your favorite flavor.  It all comes together easy and everyone will flip over it!

So, sleepy, full, and satisfied we ended our day.  A great way to start the weekend!

Ravioli Florentine

Serves 4-6

3 T olive oil
1 (8oz) package fresh mushrooms, sliced
¾ c onion, finely diced
1 T garlic, minced
1 (16 oz) pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained well
2 c water
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning
1 (8.1 oz) jar sun-dried tomato pesto
1 (25oz) family size pkg ravioli – any variety

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Add mushrooms, onion and garlic. Cook for 8-10 minutes stirring frequently until mushrooms are tender. Stir in spinach, water, tomatoes, and pesto. Stir to combine. Cook 5 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium and add ravioli. Try and push ravioli under the liquid if possible. Cover with a lid and cook 8-10 minutes until soft and fully cooked. Serve.

adapted from Good Cents Cooking Magazine