Your Basic Meatballs
Perfectly tender, flavorful, and easy to make, "Your Basic Meatballs" are a must-have recipe for any home cook. Combining ground beef and pork with pantry staples like breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasonings, these meatballs strike the ideal balance between simplicity and richness. A quick soak of the breadcrumbs in milk ensures a moist, light texture, while garlic and onion add aromatic depth. Gently browned in olive oil and optionally simmered in marinara sauce, these versatile meatballs are ready in just 40 minutes and can be served over spaghetti, in sandwiches, or as a hearty appetizer. Whether you're meal prepping or whipping up a crowd-pleasing dinner, this recipe is a classic you'll turn to time and time again.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 0.5 lb Ground pork
- 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs
- 0.25 cup Milk
- 1 large Egg
- 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 0.25 cup Onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp Salt
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
Instructions
In a small mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes until the breadcrumbs absorb the milk and soften.
In a large mixing bowl, add the ground beef, ground pork, soaked breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, chopped onion, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
Using clean hands or a fork, gently mix the ingredients together until combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in dense meatballs.
Form the mixture into meatballs approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, placing them on a plate or tray. You should get about 16-18 meatballs.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the meatballs in a single layer, ensuring they don’t overcrowd the pan.
Cook the meatballs for 3-4 minutes on each side, turning them gently with tongs or a spatula, until they are browned on the outside. You may need to cook them in batches if your skillet is small.
Once all meatballs are browned, transfer them to a plate. If you plan to serve them with sauce, simmer the browned meatballs in your favorite marinara sauce for 10-15 minutes until fully cooked (internal temperature of 165°F).
Serve the meatballs hot with spaghetti, in a sub sandwich, or on their own with a dipping sauce.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
598 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 45.1 g | 58% | |
| Saturated Fat | 15.8 g | 79% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 169 mg | 56% | |
| Sodium | 799 mg | 35% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 12.5 g | 5% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.7 g | 3% | |
| Total Sugars | 2.4 g | ||
| Protein | 35.0 g | 70% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.6 mcg | 3% | |
| Calcium | 122 mg | 9% | |
| Iron | 3.8 mg | 21% | |
| Potassium | 440 mg | 9% | |
*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.
