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4.7 from 210 votes

Italian Meatball Recipe

Cook up something special with the best homemade meatball recipe! Delicious, juicy and full of flavor (and a secret ingredient!) this recipe is sure to become a favorite.

Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 25 meatballs
Calories: 143 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Meatballs:
  • 1 1/2 cups white bread crusts removed and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
  • 2/3 cup evaporated milk
  • 1/2 white onion micrograted
  • 4 large garlic cloves micrograted
  • 2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley minced
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten
  • 2 teaspoons coarse salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground beef bouillon
  • 1 pound ground beef broken into 1 inch pieces, minimum of 80/20 mix
  • 1 pound ground pork broken into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 pound ground veal broken into 1 inch pieces
Sauce:
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion , chopped
  • 5-6 cloves garlic , minced
  • 28 ounces plain tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1 dried bay leaf

Instructions

Meatballs:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and make the tomato sauce, if desired.
  2. Place the cubed white bread and evaporated milk into a large mixing bowl, tossing to combine. Allow to sit while you prepare other ingredients. Bread will start to disintegrate and absorb milk.
  3. Add the grated onion and garlic to the bread, mix well. Add the parsley, eggs, salt, pepper and beef bouillon, continue to mix well.
  4. Working in 3 rounds, add 1/3 of each type of ground meat, blending with your fingers until it just comes together until everything is combined.
  5. Take 2-3 tablespoons of meat and toss back and forth between your hands to pack. Meatballs should be approximately 2-3 inches wide (I like big meatballs!)
  6. Place onto a broiler pan or a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack, make sure the meatballs are not touching. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
  7. Remove and simmer in the the prepared tomato sauce or your other favorite sauce.
Tomato Sauce:
  1. In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 3-4 minutes until soft and fragrant. Add the garlic, sauteing for 1 additional minute.
  2. Stir in the tomato sauce, sugar, basil, salt and bay leaf. Simmer for 20-20 minutes or until flavors marry. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
  3. Add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer for an additional hour.
  4. If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Notes

  • Water content in many of these ingredients can vary greatly. If you find your mixture too loose and starting to spread, you can add dry bread crumbs to soak up the excess.

Nutrition Information

Calories 143kcal (7%) Carbohydrates 2g (1%) Protein 10g (20%) Fat 9g (14%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Cholesterol 55mg (18%) Sodium 249mg (10%) Potassium 193mg (6%) Vitamin A 60IU (1%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 37mg (4%) Iron 0.9mg (5%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 25meatballs

Amount Per Serving

Calories 143

% Daily Value*

Calories 143kcal 7%
Carbohydrates 2g 1%
Protein 10g 20%
Fat 9g 14%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 55mg 18%
Sodium 249mg 10%
Potassium 193mg 4%
Vitamin A 60IU 1%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 37mg 4%
Iron 0.9mg 5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.