Easy Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs
User Reviews
5
Easy Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs
Description
This meatball recipe combines ground beef, finely chopped onion, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, herbs like parsley and basil, garlic, and seasonings, resulting in a flavorful and moist meat mixture. After forming into balls and creating an indent for mozzarella cubes, the meatballs are sealed and baked until fully cooked.
The accompanying sauce is developed by sautéing onion and garlic, thickening it with cornstarch and optionally adding red wine, then simmering crushed tomatoes with fresh parsley and basil for depth. Pouring the sauce over the baked meatballs or simmering them in it creates a cohesive dish highlighted by molten cheese centers inside each meatball.
This dish suits casual dinners served alongside pasta, bread, or salads. It offers a hearty, cheesy texture and herbaceous notes from fresh ingredients.
The recipe allows substitutions such as ground turkey for beef, dried herbs instead of fresh, gluten-free breadcrumbs, or omitting wine and cornstarch if preferred. These adjust cooking time or flavor but preserve the recipe's essence.
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef lean
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped, small
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese plus extra for sprinkling, freshly grated
- 2 egg lightly beaten
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped, fresh
- 2 tablespoons basil chopped, fresh
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper fresh
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese cut into 1/2 inch square pieces, ball
For the sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup red wine optional, dark
- 1 (28 ounce) crushed tomatoes can
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped, fresh
- 2 tablespoons basil chopped, fresh
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- To prepare the meatballs, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets with cooking spray or oil.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, onion, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, eggs, garlic, parsley, basil, salt and pepper. Mix with a fork until combined.
- Using a spoon or scoop, roll meat into balls, about 2 tablespoons each. Using your thumb, press into the center to create an indent, place a piece of cheese in the center of the dough ball and then re-roll ball to cover the cheese. Don’t be afraid to use a little extra meat mixture if you need to cover the cheese. Repeat with remaining meat and arrange on baking sheet.
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through.
- While the meatballs are baking, prepare sauce. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes.
- Whisk in the cornstarch and optional wine, if desired. Let simmer for 2 additional minutes.
- Add crushed tomatoes, parsley, basil and salt. Stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and let simmer for 15 minutes.
- Once baked meatballs are done, carefully add them to the sauce. On low heat, simmer uncovered for an additional 10 minutes. Serve as an appetizer or with pasta. Enjoy!
Notes
- Substitute ground beef with ground turkey if desired for a leaner option.
- Use 1 tablespoon dried herbs in place of 2 tablespoons fresh parsley and basil.
- Gluten-free breadcrumbs can replace regular breadcrumbs for dietary needs.
- Omitting red wine is acceptable; it adds flavor but is not essential.
- Cornstarch thickens the sauce but can be left out if preferred.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 15meatballs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 151 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1meatball | |
| Calories | 151kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 4g | 1% |
| Protein | 14g | 28% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 57mg | 19% |
| Sodium | 265mg | 11% |
| Potassium | 206mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Sugar | 0g | 0% |
| Vitamin A | 170IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 2.6mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 99mg | 10% |
| Iron | 1.5mg | 8% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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