Description
These Melt-In-Your-Mouth Italian Meatballs are juicy, flavorful, and easy to make. Made with a blend of ground beef, Italian bread crumbs soaked in milk, aromatic garlic and onions, parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley, these meatballs bake to tender perfection in just 30 minutes. Perfect as a main dish or served with your favorite pasta sauce, they bring classic Italian comfort food right to your table.
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: Preheat 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 the Italian bread crumbs and milk. Mix well and let the mixture sit for at least 5 minutes to allow the bread crumbs to absorb the milk, which helps keep the meatballs moist.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: Add the ground beef, finely diced onion, minced garlic, beaten egg, salt, black pepper, parmesan cheese, and parsley to the soaked bread crumb mixture. Using your hands, gently mix everything until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs: Using a cookie or ice cream scoop for uniform size, portion out the meat mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Wet your hands with water to prevent sticking, then roll each portion into approximately 2-inch diameter meatballs.
- Bake the Meatballs: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Once cooked through, remove from the oven and drain any excess fat from the baking sheet.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the meatballs hot with your favorite sauce or as desired. These meatballs pair wonderfully with marinara sauce, spaghetti, or as an appetizer.
Notes
- For best results, do not overmix the meatball mixture to keep them tender and juicy.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, pork, or a combination for different flavors.
- If using dried parsley instead of fresh, reduce the quantity to 1 teaspoon.
- Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure meatballs are fully cooked and safe to eat.
- These meatballs can be made ahead and frozen before baking; bake directly from frozen adding a few extra minutes to cooking time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
