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Tender Melt-In-Your-Mouth Italian Meatballs

Italian meatballs - featured image
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These Italian meatballs are tender, juicy, and bursting with garlicky warmth and herbs. Perfect for cozy dinners or casual gatherings, they deliver melt-in-your-mouth texture with simple ingredients and easy preparation.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 recommended for juiciness)
  • 1/2 pound ground pork (adds richness)
  • 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs (about 90g, Italian-style preferred)
  • 1/2 cup whole milk (120ml)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 25g)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups marinara sauce (480ml)

Instructions

  1. Soak the breadcrumbs in milk in a large bowl for about 5 minutes until soft.
  2. Add ground beef, ground pork, minced garlic, Parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, pepper, and egg to the soaked breadcrumbs. Gently mix until just combined without overmixing.
  3. Shape the mixture into 1 1/2-inch (4 cm) meatballs, about 20 total, keeping them uniform in size.
  4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown meatballs in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until nicely browned but not cooked through.
  5. Pour marinara sauce over the browned meatballs in the skillet or transfer to a baking dish. Cover and simmer on low heat for 20-25 minutes, or bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25 minutes to finish cooking.
  6. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with extra parsley or grated Parmesan before serving.

Notes

Soaking breadcrumbs in milk is crucial for tender meatballs. Mix gently to avoid dense texture. Brown meatballs without overcrowding the pan to get a nice crust. Simmering in sauce finishes cooking and enhances flavor. Refrigerate formed meatballs for 30 minutes before cooking for better texture. For gluten-free, substitute breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free panko.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian meatballs, homemade meatballs, easy meatballs, tender meatballs, melt-in-your-mouth meatballs, comfort food, dinner recipe

Find it online: https://emacrave.com/tender-melt-in-your-mouth-italian-meatballs-recipe-easy-homemade-perfection/