For the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Place the bread on a baking sheet. Bake until totally dry, about 30 minutes.
Break the bread into chunks. Pulse in a food processor until the bread turns into crumbs. Throw in the meat into a large mixing bowl. Add the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, milk, parsley, garlic, eggs, salt and some pepper. Use clean hands to mix together until well combined.
Use a scoop to retrieve a small amount of the meat mixture, and roll it in your hands to make meatballs (about 25). Place on a pan and put the pan in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes, just to firm them up.
Heat the olive oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat. Working with 8 to 10 meatballs at a time, cook them until brown but not cooked all the way through, 2 to 3 minutes per batch. Remove from the pot to a plate while you make the sauce.
For the sauce: Add the garlic and onions to the meatball pot. Stir and cook until the onion begins to soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook for another minute. (Just omit this step if you're not using wine.) Add the crushed tomatoes, whole tomatoes, sugar, salt and pepper to taste.
Stir the sauce to combine all the ingredients. Cover and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. If sauce needs more liquid, just add in a little water. Then throw in the parsley, basil and the meat-a-balls! Stir gently, then cover and cook for 20 more minutes, stirring once or twice until the meatballs are cooked through.
Heap the rigatoni on a large platter and pile the meatballs and sauce on the top. Sprinkle on some extra minced parsley and serve with extra grated Parmesan.

Kitchen-Friendly View

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving Per 100 g

Amount Per 1 Serving
Calories	1166.99 Kcal (4886 kJ)
Calories from fat	665.29 Kcal
		% Daily Value*
Total Fat	73.92g	114%
Cholesterol	143.38mg	48%
Sodium	1423.53mg	59%
Potassium	1376.78mg	29%
Total Carbs	82.71g	28%
Sugars	14.88g	60%
Dietary Fiber	11.43g	46%
Protein	42.77g	86%
Vitamin C	31.9mg	53%
Iron	6mg	34%
Calcium	571.5mg	57%

Amount Per 100 g
Calories	174.93 Kcal (732 kJ)
Calories from fat	99.73 Kcal
		% Daily Value*
Total Fat	11.08g	114%
Cholesterol	21.49mg	48%
Sodium	213.39mg	59%
Potassium	206.38mg	29%
Total Carbs	12.4g	28%
Sugars	2.23g	60%
Dietary Fiber	1.71g	46%
Protein	6.41g	86%
Vitamin C	4.8mg	53%
Iron	0.9mg	34%
Calcium	85.7mg	57%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Find out how many calories should you eat.

Tastes

salty
savory
bitter
sweet

Search recipes
by ingredients

Construct & Analyze
Your Recipe

Analyze

Try this similar recipes

Beef-Stuffed Peppers

Green peppers , red peppers or 4 large yellow peppers and 19 more..
Meatball Sliders

Ground beef, Ground pork, Ground veal and 18 more..
Sliders, The Meatball Way

Ground beef, Ground pork, Ground veal and 19 more..
Christy's Meatballs or Meatloaf

Ground beef (use very lean beef), Egg, beaten and 22 more..
Swedish Meatballs

Ground beef, Ground pork, Minced onion, Plain breadcrumbs and 13 more..