Italian Meatballs
Italian Meatballs is perfect to feed a crowd. These meatballs cook tender, juicy and full of flavor on the stovetop or in the oven with simple ingredients.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Tomato Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, milk, parsley, eggs, minced garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Mix well using your hands or a large spoon until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Shape the meat mixture into meatballs, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. You should have around 24 meatballs.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 8-10 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer.
- Return the browned meatballs to the skillet with the tomato sauce. Cover the skillet and simmer the meatballs over low heat for 30-40 minutes, or until they are cooked through and have reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle the chopped fresh basil over the meatballs and sauce.
Notes
I recommend using ground beef with a higher fat content (80/20 or 85/15), to help keep the meatballs moist and tender.
Nutrition
Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 684mg | Potassium: 358mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 404IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 158mg | Iron: 3mg
