Description
Succulent Tuscan-style meatballs deliver authentic Italian comfort on a plate. Herbs, parmesan, and slow-simmered tomato sauce create a memorable meal you’ll savor with pure Mediterranean delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground pork
Binding and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for frying)
- 2 cups marinara sauce
Instructions
- Combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley, eggs, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing bowl, gently blending ingredients until uniformly incorporated.
- Craft uniform spherical meatballs approximately 1½ inches in diameter, ensuring consistent size for even cooking.
- Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, carefully positioning meatballs to achieve golden-brown exterior on all surfaces, rotating every 2-3 minutes for approximately 6-8 minutes total.
- Delicately transfer perfectly seared meatballs into simmering marinara sauce, allowing them to gently cook and absorb flavors for 15-20 minutes until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- Present meatballs elegantly atop pasta, nestled within crusty submarine rolls, or arranged independently, garnishing with additional grated Parmesan and freshly chopped parsley for vibrant visual appeal and enhanced taste profile.
Notes
- Choose a mix of ground meats with different fat contents for juicier, more flavorful meatballs that won’t dry out during cooking.
- Avoid overmixing the meat mixture to prevent tough, dense meatballs; gently combine ingredients just until they’re incorporated.
- Wet your hands with cold water when forming meatballs to prevent the mixture from sticking and help create smoother, more uniform shapes.
- For gluten-free option, swap breadcrumbs with almond meal or gluten-free breadcrumbs to maintain the meatballs’ texture and binding.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg