Elevate your dinner game with these *Easy Baked Meatballs with Two Sauce Options*, a versatile and flavorful dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings. These tender, oven-baked meatballs are a mouthwatering blend of ground beef, ground pork, parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning, making them irresistibly savory and juicy. The recipe lets you customize the experience with two delicious sauce options: a classic marinara for a comforting, tomato-rich touch, or a creamy garlic parmesan sauce for a velvety, indulgent twist. Ready in just 40 minutes, this crowd-pleaser pairs beautifully with pasta, crusty bread, or can even shine solo. Whether you’re craving hearty nostalgia or creamy decadence, this recipe delivers every time!
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a baking sheet with olive oil or line it with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
Mix the ingredients gently with your hands or a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the meatballs tender.
Using your hands or a cookie scoop, shape the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs (about the size of a golf ball) and place them evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they are browned and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 160°F/71°C).
While the meatballs are baking, prepare your choice of sauce.
For the marinara sauce: Warm 2 cups of marinara sauce in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Serve the baked meatballs over the warm sauce.
For the garlic parmesan sauce: In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute until it forms a smooth paste.
Gradually whisk in 1.5 cups of milk, ensuring no lumps form. Cook and stir constantly until the mixture thickens, about 3-5 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in 0.5 cup of grated Parmesan, 0.5 teaspoon of garlic powder, 0.25 teaspoon of salt, and 0.25 teaspoon of black pepper. Serve the meatballs drizzled with the cream sauce.
Serve your baked meatballs hot, with pasta, crusty bread, or simply as a stand-alone dish with your chosen sauce!
Calories |
2909 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 191.3 g | 245% | |
| Saturated Fat | 92.6 g | 463% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 796 mg | 266% | |
| Sodium | 8892 mg | 387% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 130.5 g | 47% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 10.9 g | 39% | |
| Total Sugars | 56.6 g | ||
| Protein | 182.4 g | 365% | |
| Vitamin D | 7.6 mcg | 38% | |
| Calcium | 2830 mg | 218% | |
| Iron | 18.0 mg | 100% | |
| Potassium | 3500 mg | 74% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.