Italian meatballs are easy to make, and taste great in pastas, sauces, gravies, and sandwiches. These meatballs are just the right size. They hold up well when simmered in hot Marinara sauce, Arrabbiata or Pomodoro sauce, or baked into an Italian meatball sub or a Chicago Deep Dish Pizza.
Italian Meatballs Recipe
Italian Meatballs
Equipment
- large bowl
- baking dish
- foil
- tongs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground sweet Italian sausage
- 1 pound ground lamb
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 ½ cup bread crumbs – unflavored
- 1 ½ tbsp granulated garlic
- 1 ½ tbsp dried basil
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 ½ tsp black pepper – freshly ground
- 6 tbsp grated Romano cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉. Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl.
- Mix all of the ingredients with clean hands until well blended.1 pound ground beef, 1 pound ground sweet Italian sausage, 1 pound ground lamb, 2 egg yolks, 1 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 1 1/2 tbsp granulated garlic, 1 1/2 tbsp dried basil, 1 tbsp dried oregano, 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 1 1/2 tsp black pepper, 6 tbsp grated Romano cheese
- Form into balls about ¼ cup each, and place into a greased baking dish.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, remove the foil, and check to make sure they have cooked completely through.
- Place back into the oven for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and rest for 15 minutes to let some of the juices absorb back into the meatballs. Drain any remaining grease and serve with your favorite pasta, sandwich or sauce.
Notes
PRIVATE NOTES
Nutrition
More Information
Variations
For a spicier Italian meatball, instead of using sweet Italian sausage you could use spicy Italian sausage. You could also mix in some red pepper flakes.
Use in sauces
If you are making Spaghetti and Meatballs, add the meatballs to the simmering Pomodoro Sauce a few minutes before serving. This will warm them up and flavor them with the sauce, but they will still retain their taste and texture. If you add them too early, they risk falling apart. You are not making Spaghetti Bolognese after all, are you?
Other uses
Italian meatballs are also delicious served over egg noodles with Mushroom Gravy. Add some sour cream and Dijon mustard to the mushroom gravy to make Beef Stroganoff – perfect with meatballs.
They could also be used to make terrific sliders. Just add a meatball to a slider bun, top with provolone cheese and a bit of Arrabbiata sauce with some extra sauce for dipping. Call it The Godson. Now I’m inspired!
Leftovers
Meatballs freeze well. If you have leftover meatballs, or if you made a large batch – add a meals worth to a vacuum seal bag and keep in the freezer for up to a few months.
Related recipes
Arrabbiata or Pomodoro Sauce
Mushroom Gravy
Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza
Care to comment? I'd love to read it. Please be cool, respectful, relevant, positive or constructive, and leave an actual comment. Thanks!