Description
These Melt-In-Your-Mouth Italian Meatballs are tender, flavorful, and incredibly easy to prepare. Perfectly seasoned with garlic, Parmesan, and fresh parsley, these meatballs are baked to juicy perfection and make a delightful addition to any pasta dish or appetizer platter.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Mixture
- 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1 lb ground beef (or preferred ground meat)
- 1/4 medium onion, finely diced or grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried parsley)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow easy cleanup.
- Soak Bread Crumbs: In a mixing bowl, combine the Italian bread crumbs with the milk and let them sit for 5 minutes. This helps soften the crumbs, ensuring moist meatballs.
- Mix Ingredients: Add ground beef, finely diced or grated onion, minced garlic, beaten egg, salt, black pepper, Parmesan cheese, and parsley to the soaked bread crumbs. Mix gently just until combined to avoid tough meatballs.
- Form Meatballs: Roll the meat mixture into approximately 2-inch diameter meatballs and place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 18–20 minutes, or until their internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), ensuring they are cooked through but still juicy.
- Drain Excess Fat: Once baked, remove the meatballs from the oven and drain any excess fat before serving to maintain their melt-in-your-mouth quality.
Notes
- For best flavor, use freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or pork as preferred.
- Handling the mixture gently prevents tough meatballs.
- Internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) to ensure meatballs are fully cooked and safe to eat.
- Serve with marinara sauce and your favorite pasta or as a hearty appetizer.
