1-First, heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic cloves, sautéing until they soften and release their aroma, which takes about 3-5 minutes. This step builds the base for your homemade marinara sauce.

2-Next, add the 28-ounce can of plum tomatoes, along with ½ teaspoon dried basil, ¼ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon black pepper. Let this simmer on low heat for 20-30 minutes until the sauce thickens to a rich consistency.

3-While the sauce simmers, prepare the meat mixture. In a bowl, combine the 2 slices of bread processed into crumbs with ½ cup milk, letting it soak for a minute. Then, gently mix in the 1.5 pounds of ground beef, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 lightly beaten egg, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon dried basil, and ¼ teaspoon dried oregano.

4-Using a ¼ cup scoop, flatten portions of the meat mixture in your hand. Place one drained mozzarella ball in the center, then seal and reshape into a ball. Arrange these in a greased oven-safe dish, top with the marinara sauce, cover with foil, and bake at 350ºF (175ºC) for 1 to 1½ hours until fully cooked.

5-Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet if needed. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, chopped parsley, egg, salt, and pepper, mixing gently. Take a small portion, flatten it, add a mozzarella cube, and wrap it to form a tight meatball. Place on the sheet, bake for 18-22 minutes, then simmer in marinara if desired. Serve warm, with adaptations for dietary needs like plant-based options.