Description
Savory Italian-style Baked Meatballs deliver pure comfort with each hearty bite. Juicy beef, herbs, and parmesan create a classic dish that brings warm family memories straight to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground pork
Binding and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup milk
Seasonings:
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for greasing the baking sheet)
Instructions
- Set the oven to 400F (200C) and lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, gently blend ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, eggs, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and milk until ingredients are just incorporated, avoiding overmixing.
- Using clean hands, form the meat mixture into uniform 1½-inch spherical meatballs, ensuring consistent size for even cooking.
- Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart to allow heat circulation.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through to promote uniform browning.
- Verify doneness by checking that internal temperature reaches 160F and the exterior appears golden and slightly crisp.
- Allow meatballs to rest for 2-3 minutes after removing from oven to help retain moisture.
- Serve immediately with marinara sauce, atop pasta, or alongside your preferred accompaniments.
Notes
- Blend meats gently to keep meatballs tender and prevent dense, tough texture.
- Opt for freshly grated Parmesan instead of pre-packaged for richer, more authentic flavor profile.
- Rest meatballs briefly after baking to help juices redistribute, ensuring maximum moisture and succulence.
- Consider using lean ground beef mixed with slightly fattier ground pork to maintain perfect balance of flavor and juiciness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 355 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg