Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs in Homemade Tomato Sauce
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
25 mins
-
Cook Time
1 hr 5 mins
-
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
-
Servings
24 meatballs
-
Calories
128 kcal
-
Course
Main Course, Dinner
-
Cuisine
Italian
Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs in Homemade Tomato Sauce
Description
This recipe involves preparing a tomato sauce with diced and whole canned tomatoes, tomato paste, onions, garlic, and herbs including basil and parsley, simmered gently with the addition of bay leaf and a touch of sugar to balance acidity. Lemon zest adds a subtle brightness. Meanwhile, the meatball mixture combines ground meat with egg, panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, herbs, and black pepper. Each meatball is carefully formed around a mozzarella cube to enclose the cheese completely.
Baked until cooked through, the meatballs develop a slight browning and the mozzarella inside becomes melted. They are then stirred into the sauce for serving. The combination provides a rich contrast of textures and flavors from the savory meat, creamy cheese, and herbaceous tomato sauce. These meatballs suit a main course with pasta or bread for soaking up the sauce.
The recipe includes a note that nutrition calculations use ground turkey for lean protein, and it allows the use of either beef or turkey. Baking temperature and times are specified to achieve doneness without overcooking.
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 2 pounds ground beef or turkey, lean
- 1 tablespoon olive oil if using turkey
- ½ onion finely chopped
- 1 egg
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese shredded
- ¼ cup flat leaf parsley or 1 tablespoon dried parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil, chopped, fresh
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 12 ounces mozzarella cheese cut into 24 cubes, fresh
Sauce
- 1 onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 (28 ounce each) can whole tomatoes with juices
- 1 (28 ounce each) can diced tomatoes with juices
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 (6 ounce each) can tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped, fresh
- 1 teaspoon basil dried
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lemon for zest only
Instructions
Sauce
- Using a veggie peeler, peel off two very thin pieces of lemon zest making sure only to get the yellow part (not the white).
- Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion & garlic and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add remaining sauce ingredients. Reduce heat to low, cover and let simmer 1 hour.
Meatballs
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Cut mozzarella into 24 small squares, set aside.
- Mix together turkey or beef, olive oil (if using turkey) onion, egg, panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, basil, and pepper. Mix just until combined (over mixing will create tough meatballs).
- Divide meat into 24 even pieces. Wrap each piece around a piece of cheese. Roll into a ball ensuring all of the cheese is completely covered by the turkey mixture.
- Place on a pan lined with parchment paper. Bake 30 minutes (a little of the cheese may leak out of some of the meatballs, that's ok, there will still be more inside!)
- Remove meatballs from the oven, stir into the sauce and let simmer an additional 20 minutes.
- Serve on pasta.
Notes
- Nutrition information is based on using ground turkey for leaner meatballs.
- Both ground beef and turkey can be used based on preference.
- Ensure mozzarella cubes are fully enclosed in meat to minimize leakage during baking.
- Bake at 375°F for about 30 minutes until meatballs are fully cooked and slightly browned.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 24meatballs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 128 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 128 | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 4g | 1% |
| Protein | 14g | 28% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 41mg | 14% |
| Sodium | 202mg | 8% |
| Potassium | 217mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 265IU | 5% |
| Vitamin C | 7.3mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 116mg | 12% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
