Description
These Juicy Italian Meatballs are everything you love about Italian comfort food: tender, savory, and slow-simmered in a rich tomato sauce. Perfect over pasta or in a sub, they’re the kind of recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef (80/20)
0.5 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
0.75 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
0.5 cup whole milk
2 large eggs
0.5 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tablespoons olive oil (for searing)
3 cups tomato sauce or marinara
Instructions
1. Combine the breadcrumbs and milk in a large mixing bowl and let sit for 5 minutes to absorb.
2. Add the ground beef, sausage, eggs, Parmesan, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Mix gently until just combined.
3. Form the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs and place them on a lined baking sheet.
4. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sear meatballs in batches until browned on all sides. Alternatively, bake at 400°F for 15–20 minutes.
5. Place meatballs into a simmering pot of tomato sauce. Simmer on low for 30–45 minutes.
6. Serve over pasta, in subs, or as appetizers. Garnish with extra Parmesan and parsley.
Notes
Avoid overmixing the meat to keep the meatballs tender.
Use freshly grated Parmesan for better texture and flavor.
Let meatballs rest in the sauce after cooking to absorb even more flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmered
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 670mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: meatballs, Italian, comfort food, family dinner, homemade