Italian Meatball Recipe
User Reviews
4.7
-
Prep Time
25 mins
-
Cook Time
20 mins
-
Total Time
45 mins
-
Servings
25 meatballs
-
Calories
143 kcal
-
Course
Main Course
-
Cuisine
Italian
Italian Meatball Recipe
Description
The recipe features a traditional meatball mix of three types of ground meat to balance flavor and texture. White bread cubes soaked in evaporated milk create moisture and tenderness. The micrograted onion and garlic incorporated into the mix enhance aroma without large chunks. Seasoning with salt, pepper, beef bouillon, and parsley rounds out the flavor profile.
Forming large 2-3 inch wide meatballs and baking them on a wire rack helps develop a slightly crisp outer surface while retaining juiciness. After baking, simmering the meatballs in a simple tomato sauce made with olive oil, garlic, onion, dried basil, sugar, and bay leaf infuses them with added depth without overpowering their taste.
This combination produces meatballs well suited for serving with pasta or crusty bread. The tomato sauce can be prepared concurrently or ahead of time. The recipe suggests being mindful of moisture levels in the meat mixture and adjusting with dry bread crumbs if needed to achieve correct binding consistency.
The seasoning measures provide a balanced savory base, and baking instead of frying offers a less oily texture. Simmering in sauce after baking ensures thorough flavor absorption and tenderness.
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 garlic micrograted, large cloves
- 2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley minced
- 2 egg lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons salt coarse
- 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon beef bouillon ground
- 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 veal broken into 1 inch pieces, ground
Sauce:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion , chopped
- 5-6 cloves garlic , minced
- 28 ounces tomato sauce plain
- 1 teaspoon basil dried
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt coarse
- 1 bay leaf dried
Instructions
Meatballs:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and make the tomato sauce, if desired.
- 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.
- Add the grated onion and garlic to the bread, mix well. Add the parsley, eggs, salt, pepper and beef bouillon, continue to mix well.
- 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.
- 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!)
- 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.
- Remove and simmer in the the prepared tomato sauce or your other favorite sauce.
Tomato Sauce:
- 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.
- 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.
- Add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer for an additional hour.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Notes
- If the meatball mixture feels too loose, add dry bread crumbs gradually to absorb excess moisture and maintain shape.
- Use a wire rack on the baking sheet to allow even browning and fat drainage from the meatballs.
- Baking meatballs before simmering helps them hold together and develop a light crust.
- The tomato sauce can be made ahead and simmered with meatballs for better integration of flavors.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 25meatballs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 143 kcal
% 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.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
You'll Also Love
