Italian Meatballs

Meatballs in white bowl with spaghetti and pasta sauce.

Homemade meatballs, just like grandma used to make, ready in about 30 minutes.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings meatballs

Calories 149kcal

Author Jessica Robinson

Ingredients

Meatballs

2 pounds ground beef (85% ground chuck)
1 cup Parmesan Reggiano cheese (grated)
1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon onion powder
¾ teaspoon garlic powder (or 2 cloves garlic, minced)
¼ cup dried parsley (or fresh parsley, chopped finely)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (for pan frying)

Instructions

Meatballs

In a large bowl, combine ground beef, Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, eggs, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper with your hands until combined. (Food safe rubber gloves will help keep your hands clean.)
Use a cookie scoop to measure out meatballs and shape into rounds. (about 2 inch rounds)
Scoop them out and roll gently into the palms of your hands. Place on a jelly roll pan or half sheet pan lined with parchment paper.

Cooking Meatballs on Stovetop

Add several tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to a 12-inch cast iron skillet or Dutch oven and heat over low heat.
Cook meatballs in batches, being careful not to crowd them so they brown well. Use tongs to carefully turn meatballs occasionally, browning all sides well. About 5-6 minutes.
Cook until nicely browned and cooked through. Remove from the pan and drain on clean, dry paper towels.
Add warm meatballs to warm marinara sauce or enjoy on subs.

Baking Meatballs

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil onto a jelly roll pan.
Use a cookie scoop to measure out meatballs and shape into rounds. (about 2 inch rounds)
Scoop them out and roll gently into the palms of your hands. Place meatballs onto the prepared jelly roll pan.
Bake on middle or top rack. Turn meatballs with tongs occasionally as they cook.
Continue baking until nicely browned and cooked through. About 20 minutes total.
Drain cooked meatballs on clean, dry paper towels.

Notes

To keep things neat and clean, we recommend using food safe rubber gloves to easily mix meatballs.

For best flavor with meatballs

We recommending cooking in a cast iron skillet over low heat. Do NOT turn up the heat! Doing so will cause you to brown the exterior too quickly and meatballs will overcook and become dry!

Nutrition