Description
These juicy Homemade Meatballs bring classic comfort food right to your kitchen. Perfectly seasoned, tender, and versatile, they work in pasta, subs, or as bite-sized party appetizers. With a golden-brown sear or a simple oven bake, they’re meal-prep friendly and totally satisfying.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/3 cup milk
1 large egg
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup onion, grated
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
2 tablespoons olive oil (for pan-frying)
Instructions
1. In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk. Let sit for 5 minutes.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, soaked breadcrumbs, egg, parmesan, garlic, onion, parsley, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
3. Use a cookie scoop or spoon to shape the mixture into 1.5-inch balls. Roll gently by hand.
4. To bake: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place meatballs on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 18–20 minutes.
5. To pan-fry: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sear meatballs on all sides until browned. Add to sauce and simmer for 15 minutes.
6. Serve hot over pasta, in subs, or on mashed potatoes.
Notes
For extra tender meatballs, don’t skip soaking the breadcrumbs in milk—this creates a panade that locks in moisture.
Avoid overmixing your meat mixture. Gentle handling ensures soft, juicy meatballs instead of dense ones.
If freezing, shape raw meatballs and freeze them on a tray before transferring to a bag. Bake or pan-fry directly from frozen—just add 5 extra minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Bake or Pan-Fry
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 290mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 17g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: homemade meatballs, comfort food, Italian meatballs