Easy Italian Meatball Recipe

This easy Italian meatball recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner. The juicy beef meatballs are cooked in a delicious sauce for a satisfying meal.

 

When it comes to weeknight dinners, Italian recipes are so good to try. Some of our favorites are caprese pizza, Italian stuffed peppers and eggplant parmesan. This Italian meatball recipe is another family favorite and is super easy to make. Be sure to read to the end of the post for my tips and tricks for perfect meatballs!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Safeway. All opinions are mine.

Why this recipe works

Meatballs are comforting any time of year! When cooked in a delicious tomato based sauce and topped with cheese (like the one we have here!) they are the definition of comfort food. Here are a few reasons you might want to try this recipe:

1. Quick and easy: No resting or chilling is needed for this recipe. Simply make the mixture, cook and serve. It takes less than 40 minutes from start to finish.
2. They’re tender: No more chewy and rubbery meatballs. Follow this Italian meatball recipe and you’ll get juicy and tender meatballs every time.
3. Absolutely delicious: This is going to be your go-to Italian meatball recipe. With fresh and dried herbs, these are flavorful in every bite.
4. Leftovers are delicious: This recipe makes about 25 large meatballs and if you have leftovers, they reheat beautifully and taste just as good. They also freeze very well.

Ingredients and substitutions

The key to delicious meatballs is quality ingredients. Here is what you need to make these homemade beef meatballs:

• Ground beef: I used O Organics® grass fed 85% lean ground beef for this recipe. It results in some of the most tender meatballs I’ve tasted. O Organics products are budget friendly without compromising quality and taste.
• Breadcrumbs: The addition of breadcrumbs make these meatballs soft and gives them a nice texture. For a gluten free version, try gluten free breadcrumbs.
• Milk: Adding the milk to the breadcrumb makes a mixture that makes the meatballs moist. You can use any kind of milk including whole or dairy free milk.
• Eggs: You need eggs to bind the ingredients together. It’s also possible to use flax eggs.
• Basil and parsley: You can use dried or fresh basil for this recipe to add flavor and freshness. I suggest you use fresh chopped parsley in the mixture and as a final touch.
• All purpose flour: No flour goes into the mixture, but the meatballs are rolled in flour before cooking for that brown delicious coating! Gluten free flour works, too.
• Marinara sauce: You can use your favorite homemade or store-bought marinara sauce to cook the meatballs.
• Mozzarella: I topped the meatballs with O Organics shredded mozzarella at the end before serving. Always say yes to the melting cheese!

Shop O Organics® offers high quality USDA-certified organic back to school essentials available in every aisle of the store at a value. It’s available in the Maryland area exclusively at Safeway stores or one of Albertsons Companies family of stores.

How to make Italian beef meatballs

Make the mixture

In a large bowl, place the ground beef, bread crumbs, milk, eggs, dried basil and chopped parsley. Using your hands, mix all the ingredients together until well combined and forms a ball. You want this mixture to be pretty sticky and coherent.

Prepare the meatballs

Using a large ice cream scoop, scoop out the meatball mixture and form the balls, placing them on a baking sheet. Roll each meatball in flour and place it back on the baking sheet. Wet your hands to prevent the mixture from sticking to them.

Sear in the pan

Heat some olive oil over medium heat and sear the meatballs on all sides until they are brown. At this point, we don’t want them to cook completely, but just deep brown. Transfer the meatballs to a plate and set aside.

Cook in the sauce

Add the pasta sauce to the same pan and bring it to a low simmer. Add the meatballs to the sauce and let them cook for about 10 to 15 minutes, until they’re fully cooked. I like to ladle some sauce on them a few times while cooking.

Once the meatballs are cooked, sprinkle some shredded mozzarella cheese on top, then cover and cook for another 2 minutes until the cheese is melted. Top with parsley and serve immediately.

Baking instructions

To make Italian baked meatballs, skip rolling them in flour. Instead, place them on a baking sheet and coat them with cooking spray. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes. Then place them in the pasta sauce and simmer for a few minutes.

Serving suggestions

These beef meatballs go well with many different sides. Here are a few suggestions:

• Starchy sides: white rice, brown rice, pasta, roasted potatoes or simply some crusty bread.
• Lighter sides: Mediterranean salad, eggplant caponata, caprese salad and cucumber tomato avocado salad.
• You can also turn it into a sandwich using some homemade hoagie rolls.

Freezing instructions

• Freeze cooked meatballs: Once the meatballs are seared on all sides, transfer them to a baking sheet and let them cool completely. Freeze them in freezer bags for up to 3 months. To serve, heat pasta sauce in a pan or a pot and place the meatballs in the sauce. Cook until completely heated through.
• Freeze uncooked meatballs: Form the meatballs but don’t roll them in flour. Place them on a baking sheet and freeze for one hour until they’re solid. Transfer them to freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, thaw the meatballs in the fridge, roll them in flour and proceed with the recipe as instructed.

Frequently Asked Questions

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