Description
These Italian Style Beef Meatballs with Marinara are a hearty and classic comfort food dish, featuring tender meatballs simmered in a rich marinara sauce. Made with ground beef, Italian breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs, this recipe delivers authentic Italian flavors perfect for a family dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
- 1/2 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Cooking and Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce or 3 cups homemade marinara
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Soften Breadcrumbs: In a large bowl, combine the Italian-style breadcrumbs and whole milk. Let them sit for 2 to 3 minutes until the breadcrumbs soften and absorb the milk.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: Add the ground beef, grated Parmesan cheese, large egg, minced garlic, chopped fresh parsley, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to the breadcrumb mixture. Gently mix everything together until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat to keep the meatballs tender.
- Shape Meatballs: Form the mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs, making about 18 to 20 meatballs in total for even cooking.
- Brown the Meatballs: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides for 6 to 8 minutes, working in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding the pan. Once browned, remove the meatballs from the skillet and set them aside.
- Sauté Onion: In the same skillet, add the finely diced onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and translucent, scraping up any browned bits from the pan for extra flavor.
- Add Marinara Sauce: Pour in the marinara sauce along with red pepper flakes if using. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat.
- Simmer Meatballs: Return the browned meatballs to the skillet, cover with a lid, and let them simmer in the sauce for 15 to 20 minutes until cooked through and reaching an internal temperature of 160°F.
- Garnish and Serve: Once done, garnish the meatballs and sauce with fresh basil leaves and additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot with your choice of side.
Notes
- Do not overmix the meat mixture to keep meatballs tender and juicy.
- To enhance the flavor, substitute half of the ground beef with ground pork.
- These meatballs freeze well after cooking and cooling; reheat thoroughly before serving.
