Meatballs are a culinary delight cherished across cultures. Whether nestled in a comforting pasta dish or served as appetizers, their versatility makes them a kitchen staple. This classic Meatball Recipe combines ground beef and pork to create tender, flavorful bites that are perfect for any occasion. Serve these up with a batch of from-scratch marinara sauce and you have yourself a hearty home-cooked meal!
Ingredients and Substitutions
The heart of any meatball recipe lies in its ingredients. Combining ground beef and pork adds depth of flavor and succulence. However, feel free to customize according to your preferences. For a leaner option, substitute ground turkey or chicken. Experiment with spices like garlic, oregano, or chili flakes to tailor the taste to your liking.
Cooking Methods
The beauty of this meatball recipe lies in its adaptability to various cooking methods. This recipe uses a hands-off approach, opting for baking in the oven. Alternatively, pan frying can create a meatball with a crispy exterior and juicy interior,
Storage
One of the joys of homemade meatballs is the ability to prepare them in advance and freeze for later use. After baking, allow the meatballs to cool completely before transferring them to freezer bags. Label the bags with the date and reheating instructions, then freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply bake the frozen meatballs at 400°F for 25-30 minutes until heated through.
Alternatively, freeze the unbaked meatballs for future convenience. After shaping the meat mixture into balls, flash freeze them on a parchment-lined baking sheet before transferring to freezer bags. When ready to use, bake them from frozen according to the recipe instructions.
Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 large egg, beaten
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ cup dry Italian breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ¼ cup yellow onion, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, beaten egg, cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix together until combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the milk, breadcrumbs, garlic, and onion. Mix well.
- Combine the milk mixture with the meat mixture, and mix until just combined.
- With greased hands, form the mixture into 2 tablespoon-sized meatballs and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake until the outsides are browned and they read 165°F on a meat thermometer (about 25 minutes).
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