Description
This homemade meatballs recipe delivers juicy, tender meatballs packed with savory herbs and spices. Perfect for dinners, snacks, or meal prep, they combine simple pantry ingredients with versatile cooking methods for rich flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture every time.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or basil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Optional Variations
- Use 2 pounds lean ground turkey or chicken instead of beef and pork
- Add 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1 chopped jalapeño for spice
- Swap herbs: cilantro, oregano, or thyme (1/4 cup fresh)
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed nuts for binding
- Add mozzarella, feta, or ricotta cheese inside or on top before baking
Instructions
- Prepare the Meat Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef and pork with bread crumbs soaked in milk, grated Parmesan, chopped herbs, minced garlic and onion, salt, pepper, and egg. Mix gently with your hands or a spoon to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat which can make the meatballs tough.
- Shape the Meatballs: Using your hands or a small scoop, roll the mixture into evenly sized balls roughly the size of a golf ball. Placing them on a tray as you go helps keep shapes consistent.
- Cook the Meatballs: You have options: pan-fry in a bit of olive oil over medium heat until browned all around and cooked through; bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes; or simmer gently in your favorite sauce for extra tenderness.
- Let Rest and Serve: After cooking, allow the meatballs to rest briefly to lock in juices. Serve with sauce, pasta, or your chosen side dishes.
Notes
- Don’t overmix: Combine ingredients just until blended to ensure tender meatballs.
- Soak breadcrumbs: Soaking breadcrumbs in milk is key to juicy meatballs that don’t dry out.
- Uniform size: Roll meatballs to the same size for even cooking every time.
- Browning matters: Searing meatballs before baking or saucing adds a delicious crust and deeper flavor.
- Use fresh herbs: Fresh parsley or basil brings brightness that dried herbs just can’t match.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American/Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 85mg