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+ servings
meatballs in marinara in a pan.
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5 from 4 votes

Best Italian Meatballs Ever!

I’m declaring WAR on dry hard meatballs! These are the meatballs my husband declared the “Best meatballs ever!” Pretty bold words from a New Jersey Italian boy, and he’s right!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 6
Calories: 270kcal
Author: Cynthia

Ingredients

  • ½ cup fresh bread crumbs or same amount of panko bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup milk or half and half
  • 1 large egg whisked
  • ½ cup Romano cheese grated
  • ¼ cup parsley fresh leaves, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 lb ground beef or a mixture of beef, pork, and/or veal.
  • ¼ cup onion very finely chopped or grated
  • 1 clove garlic minced

Instructions

  • Get ahead of the game and do your mise en place. That just means getting all your ingredients measured and cut up and "in place" so you can get right down to the business of making meatballs. Preheat your oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper and spritz with non-stick spray.
  • Place the torn bread in a large bowl and cover with the milk. Let it sit for about 5 minutes. It will get mushy. This is a good thing!
  • Add all your other ingredients to the bowl with the soaked bread and gently mix together with a wooden spoon or extra gently with your hands.
  • Shape the mixture into roughly golf ball sized balls using a small cookie scoop or your hands. Place on your baking sheet with a little space in between each ball so they all get even exposure to the heat and get the little crispy side bits we all know and love! You should get about 24-28 meatballs.
  • Bake in 400° oven for 25-30 minutes, turning over once. Remove from the oven. Sneak one and taste it for quality control. No one will notice one missing meatball.
  • Add the meatballs to your favorite sauce. Let the sauce and meatballs simmer for about 20 minutes. Toss with pasta, serve over polenta or use in a sandwich.

Nutrition

Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 981mg | Potassium: 284mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 308IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 2mg