Print
clockclock iconcutlerycutlery iconflagflag iconfolderfolder iconinstagraminstagram iconpinterestpinterest iconfacebookfacebook iconprintprint iconsquaressquares iconheartheart iconheart solidheart solid icon

Easy Italian Meatballs Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4 from 13 reviews

These Easy Italian Meatballs are a classic, flavorful dish made from lean ground beef mixed with Parmesan, Italian bread crumbs, and aromatic herbs. They can be cooked either gently in the oven or simmered on the stovetop, resulting in tender, juicy meatballs perfect for pairing with your favorite pasta and sauce.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 16 minutes
  • Yield: 36 meatballs

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef (93% lean)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley (or 1 Tbsp dried)
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cooking

  • About 2 cups water (for initial microwave cooking)
  • Italian pasta sauce (quantity as desired for covering meatballs)

Instructions

  1. Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine lean ground beef, eggs, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian bread crumbs, chopped parsley, basil, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Use your hands to mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
  2. Form Meatballs: Roll the mixture into meatballs weighing about 1 ounce each, roughly the size of a golf ball. Using a 3-tablespoon cookie dough scoop can help maintain consistent size.
  3. Arrange Meatballs: Place the formed meatballs in a 9″x13″ glass pan.
  4. Microwave Pre-Cooking: Pour about 2 cups of water into the pan to fill it one-third full. Loosely cover the pan with parchment paper and microwave on high for 3 minutes.
  5. Flip and Continue Microwaving: Turn the meatballs over carefully, cover again with parchment paper, and microwave on high for an additional 3 minutes.
  6. Choose Cooking Option: At this stage, select either:
  7. Option 1 – Oven Cooking: Drain the water from the pan, sprinkle meatballs lightly with salt, and cover them with your preferred pasta sauce. Cover the pan with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 300°F (149°C) for 1 hour.
  8. Option 2 – Stovetop Simmering: Transfer the microwaved meatballs to a large pot on the stove, cover them with sauce, and simmer on low heat for 1 hour.
  9. Serve: After cooking, serve the meatballs hot with your choice of pasta. Optionally garnish with fresh herbs or additional Parmesan cheese. Enjoy your flavorful Italian meatballs!

Notes

  • Using lean beef and baking or simmering results in tender, moist meatballs with less fat.
  • The initial microwave step speeds up cooking and helps set the meatballs before finishing with sauce.
  • You can substitute dried parsley if fresh is not available, using about 1 tablespoon dried.
  • The size of meatballs is important for even cooking; about 1-ounce portions work best.
  • If baking, cover the pan tightly with foil to retain moisture during the low-and-slow cooking.
  • Author: Monica
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 56 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Low Fat

Find it online: https://monicarecipes.com/easy-italian-meatballs-recipe/