Whenever I have a craving for meatballs, my easy meatball recipe comes to mind.
They are simple to make, nothing fancy and totally old-school. They are great and completely tender without even a hint of toughness.
The steps to make these meatballs are so simple and effortless!
I’ll walk you through each step so that you can enjoy perfectly shaped and cooked fresh, healthy, and delicious meatballs tonight.
Let’s make it simple, as meatballs are a delicious comfort food. There are some basics you should know before starting the preparations for your meatballs.
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The ground meat
You can use any packaged ground meat that you can easily get from local stores but I personally love to grind my meat at home literally by using a meat grinder.
You get fresh, clean, and healthy ground meat so easily. And you can’t guarantee the freshness and quality of the packaged meat.
You can go for ground turkey, lamb, veal or chicken or a mix of ground meat you like. The blend of ground pork or beef is also a great alternative option to go. Keep in mind that you get more tender meatballs – the fattier the meat you use for it.
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Breadcrumb and milk binder
You will get totally tender meatballs if you use a binder to prepare your delicious meatballs.
I use breadcrumbs in a little milk so that I get soggy bread and after that I mix them into the meat. This will ensure moisture to the meatballs and prevents the meat proteins from being tough and shrinking.
Egg also contributes to tenderness, so don’t forget to use it as well. And if you don’t have breadcrumbs, you can also go for crumbled saltine cracker, panko, or even a slice of torn-up bread.
What you need to make this easy meatball recipe
Meat grinder (if you prefer to grind meats on your own)
Ways to make meatballs
Option 1: Roast or broil meatballs
You can also roast the meatballs at 400°F for 25 to 30 minutes or broil them for around 20 to 25 minutes.
Please make sure that you don’t use lean meat as it will ruin all your efforts.
The meatballs will turn browned and down when cooked through. Serve the delicious meatballs immediately to enjoy the best of it.
Option 2: Cook meatballs directly in sauce
You can even cook the meatballs in sauce directly. Go for any pasta sauce or marinara and bring it to a simmer – then add all the meatballs to the pan. Now cover it and cook for 30 to 35 minutes.
When the meatballs register 165°F in the middle on an instant-read thermometer, they are cooked through and ready to be served on the table immediately.
I hope you’ve got the idea of making fresh, healthy, and delicious meatballs and you will definitely enjoy the recipe with your family. Your kids are going to fall in love with this wonderful tasty recipe.
Please share if you have made this recipe and how it was. I would love to hear from wonderful people like you!
Easy Meatballs
These easy and delicious meatballs are the ultimate comfort food! Serve alone or over pasta for a simple dinner the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ cup onion, finely chopped or grated large
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup dry breadcrumps
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 clove minced garlic
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 lb ground meat (pork, beef, chicken, turkey, or a mix)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, place the breadcrumbs and milk together and stir until combined. Here the breadcrumbs will become soggy by absorbing the milk. Set aside.
- In a separate large bowl, add parsley, black pepper, Parmesan, egg, and salt and whisk them until combined properly.
- Place the ground meat into the egg mixture and thoroughly mix them together by using your hands.
- Add the chopped onions, garlic, and soaked breadcrumbs into the meat and mix them thoroughly by using your fingers (don’t overwork the meat). Rather than kneading the meat, try to pinch them between your fingers.
- To turn the meat into meatballs: prepare a rimmed baking sheet. Take around 2 tbsp of the meat and use your hands to roll the meat gently (generally, 1 ½ inch meatballs are the perfect size for this job). Repeat this process with the rest of the meat. Place the meatballs a few inches apart on a baking sheet to prevent touching.
- Option 1: bake or broil the meatballs. You can either roast the meatballs at 400°F for 25 to 30 minutes or broil them for around 20 to 25 minutes. Do not use lean meat for this method. The meatballs will turn browned and down when cooked through. Serve the delicious and stunning meatballs immediately to enjoy the best of it.
- Option 2: cook meatballs directly in sauce. Bring your favorite pasta sauce or marinara to a simmer. Add all of the meatballs to the pot. Now, cover it the pot and cook for 30 to 35 minutes. When the meatballs register 165°F in the middle on an instant-read thermometer – they are cooked through and ready to be served on the table immediately.
About the Author
Alamin Houssain is the creator of Kitchen Product Reviewed. You can follow him on Twitter, Pinterest or LinkedIn.