Description
These Melt-In-Your-Mouth Italian Meatballs are tender, juicy, and bursting with classic Italian flavors. Made with a blend of ground beef, parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs, these meatballs are baked to perfection, making them perfect for dinner, lunch, or meal prep. Serve them with your favorite marinara sauce or pasta for a comforting Italian meal.
Ingredients
Meatball Mixture
- 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1 lb ground beef or your choice of meat
- 1/4 medium onion, finely diced or grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley or 1 tsp dried parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Soak bread crumbs: In a large mixing bowl, combine Italian bread crumbs and milk. Mix well and allow this mixture to sit for at least 5 minutes to let the bread crumbs absorb the milk, helping to keep the meatballs moist and tender.
- Mix meatball ingredients: Add ground beef, finely diced or grated onion, minced garlic, beaten egg, salt, black pepper, parmesan cheese, and parsley to the bread crumb mixture. Gently mix with your hands until just combined, being careful not to overwork the mixture to avoid tough meatballs.
- Form meatballs: Using a cookie or ice cream scoop for even sizing, portion the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Wet your hands with water and roll each portion into approximately 2-inch diameter balls to ensure uniform cooking.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for 18-20 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). This guarantees they are cooked through and safe to eat.
- Drain and serve: Once baked, remove the meatballs from the oven and drain any excess fat from the baking sheet. Serve hot with your favorite sauce or alongside pasta, or incorporate into meal prep for easy lunches and dinners.
Notes
- This recipe produces ultra-tender meatballs with a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- For firmer meatballs, reduce breadcrumbs to 1/3 cup and milk to 1/2 cup, and slightly reduce salt.
- To cook meatballs in an air fryer, place them in a single layer in the basket and cook at 400ºF (200°C) for 10-12 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165˚F (74°C).
- To freeze, cook meatballs fully and let cool completely before storing in an airtight container. They keep for up to 3 months frozen.
- Reheat frozen meatballs by thawing overnight in the fridge, then warming at 350°F for 8-10 minutes in the oven or 3-5 minutes in the air fryer.
- For extra tips and ingredient details, refer to the original blog post and consider rating or sharing your results for community feedback.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
