Description
These melt-in-your-mouth Italian meatballs are ultra-tender, packed with classic Italian flavors including Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, and perfect baked to juicy perfection. Ideal for dinner, lunch, or meal prep, these meatballs pair well with your favorite sauce for a comforting, homemade Italian meal.
Ingredients
Meatball Mixture
- 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1 lb ground beef or your choice of meat
- 1/4 medium onion, finely diced or grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- 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 the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat to prepare for baking the meatballs.
- Soak Bread Crumbs: In a large mixing bowl, combine Italian bread crumbs and milk. Mix well and let sit for at least 5 minutes to allow the crumbs to absorb the milk and become soft.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: Add ground beef, diced onion, minced garlic, beaten egg, salt, black pepper, parmesan cheese, and parsley to the breadcrumb mixture. Using your hands, gently mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the mixture to keep meatballs tender.
- Shape Meatballs: Portion the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet using a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop for uniformity. Wet your hands with water and roll the mixture into 2-inch diameter balls for even cooking.
- Bake: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Remove from the oven and drain off any excess fat.
- Serve: Serve the meatballs hot with your favorite sauce, pasta, or on their own for a delightful Italian meal.
Notes
- This recipe yields ultra-tender meatballs with a melt-in-your-mouth texture that stands out in any meal.
- For firmer meatballs, reduce the bread crumbs to 1/3 cup and milk to 1/2 cup, and slightly reduce the salt amount.
- To cook in an air fryer, place meatballs in a single layer in the basket and cook at 400ºF (200°C) for 10-12 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- You can freeze cooked meatballs by cooling them completely and storing in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat at 350°F for 8-10 minutes in the oven or 3-5 minutes in the air fryer.
- For additional tips, ingredient details, and variations, refer to the original blog post linked above.
- If you try this recipe, please rate it 5 stars or share your experience and tag @cookerru on Instagram!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
