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A black skillet filled with Italian meatballs in tomato sauce, garnished with chopped parsley and basil.

Italian Meatballs Recipe

This Italian meatball recipe combines ground beef and pork with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic, and herbs for a flavorful result. The meatballs are browned in olive oil, then simmered in marinara sauce until tender. Serve them hot with pasta or garlic bread, garnished with extra Parmesan and parsley.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 lb 225g ground beef
  • 1/2 lb 225g ground pork
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs preferably fresh
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

Method
 

  1. Prepare the Meat Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic, parsley, milk, egg, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix gently until just combined—do not overmix.
  2. Shape the Meatballs: Form the mixture into golf-ball-sized meatballs (about 12-14 pieces).
  3. Sear the Meatballs: Warm olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides, about 5–7 minutes total. They don’t need to be fully cooked at this stage.
  4. Simmer in Sauce: Pour marinara sauce into the skillet with the meatballs. Cover and simmer on low heat for 20–25 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through.
  5. Serve: Serve hot over spaghetti or with garlic bread. Top with additional Parmesan and chopped parsley if you like.