Best 5 Best Ever Italian Meatballs Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary journey to Italy with our exquisite Italian meatballs, a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. These meatballs, steeped in rich Italian tradition, are crafted with a blend of succulent ground beef, savory spices, and fresh herbs, capturing the essence of Italian cuisine. Prepared with love, each meatball is meticulously shaped by hand, ensuring a tender and juicy interior enveloped in a crispy, golden-brown crust. Accompanying these meatballs are three delectable homemade sauces, each offering a unique flavor profile to complement the meatballs perfectly.

From the classic and robust tomato sauce, bursting with the sweetness of sun-ripened tomatoes and the tang of Italian herbs, to the creamy and luscious Alfredo sauce, enveloping the meatballs in a velvety embrace of Parmesan cheese and cream, to the vibrant and aromatic pesto sauce, alive with the freshness of basil, pine nuts, and garlic, each sauce elevates the meatballs to new heights of culinary delight. Whether you prefer the traditional simplicity of the tomato sauce, the indulgent richness of the Alfredo sauce, or the vibrant freshness of the pesto sauce, these recipes guarantee an unforgettable dining experience.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

CHEF JOHN'S ITALIAN MEATBALLS



Chef John's Italian Meatballs image

Homemade meatballs are a very easy to make, and since we skip the very messy step of pan-frying these before they hit the sauce, it becomes downright simple. Here I use a standard half-beef/half-pork mixture. You can substitute water or beef broth for the milk, if preferred.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 2h15m

Yield 30

Number Of Ingredients 14

⅓ cup plain bread crumbs
½ cup milk
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 eggs
¼ bunch fresh parsley, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Cover a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.
  • Soak bread crumbs in milk in a small bowl for 20 minutes.
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onions in hot oil until translucent, about 20 minutes.
  • Mix beef and pork together in a large bowl. Stir onions, bread crumb mixture, eggs, parsley, garlic, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, Italian herb seasoning, and Parmesan cheese into meat mixture with a rubber spatula until combined. Cover and refrigerate for about one hour.
  • Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  • Using wet hands, form meat mixture into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Arrange onto prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until browned and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 81.9 calories, Carbohydrate 1.7 g, Cholesterol 32.3 mg, Fat 5.5 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 6.2 g, SaturatedFat 1.9 g, Sodium 192.1 mg, Sugar 0.5 g

BEST EVER ITALIAN MEATBALLS



Best Ever Italian Meatballs image

This is a recipe I was given from a lady from Italy. She told me that the secret of mouth watering meatballs is not to cook them before adding them to the sauce, as cooking them in the sauce will not only add more flavor to the sauce, but also to the meatballs. What I do is make these a day ahead of time, with my sauce. Then, I refrigerate it over-night, which makes any fat rise to the top and harden, where it is easily removed. This process also allows all of the flavors to "marry" together, making it especially delicious!

Provided by Irishcolleen

Categories     Meatballs

Time 1h55m

Yield 16 Meatballs

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork
2 large eggs
1 cup onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup bell pepper, finely chopped
3/4 cup fresh parmesan cheese, grated
1/3 cup Italian breadcrumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh oregano, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 teaspoons anise seeds (optional)

Steps:

  • Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
  • Shape into small meatballs.
  • Drop the meatballs into simmering sauce. It is important not to stir the sauce for at least 25 minutes. This will allow the meatballs to firm up enough as not to break up in the sauce. Make sure your burner is low enough so that your sauce does not scorch during this process.
  • Continue simmering until sauce reaches desired consistency and meatballs are cooked through.

THE BEST MEATBALLS



The Best Meatballs image

I never knew how to make good meatballs until I found this recipe. I normally make mine with just ground beef and they still taste great. I've used the combination of pork, beef and veal and they are equally good. Definitely use fresh bread crumbs and freshly grate your cheese instead of using the canned variety...it really does make a difference.

Provided by Geanine

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 50m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 pound ground beef
½ pound ground veal
½ pound ground pork
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 eggs
1 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
1 ½ tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups stale Italian bread, crumbled
1 ½ cups lukewarm water
1 cup olive oil

Steps:

  • Combine beef, veal, and pork in a large bowl. Add garlic, eggs, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.
  • Blend bread crumbs into meat mixture. Slowly add the water 1/2 cup at a time. The mixture should be very moist but still hold its shape if rolled into meatballs. (I usually use about 1 1/4 cups of water). Shape into meatballs.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Fry meatballs in batches. When the meatball is very brown and slightly crisp remove from the heat and drain on a paper towel. (If your mixture is too wet, cover the meatballs while they are cooking so that they hold their shape better.)

Nutrition Facts : Calories 613.4 calories, Carbohydrate 6.6 g, Cholesterol 148.6 mg, Fat 53.2 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 26.6 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, Sodium 333.1 mg, Sugar 0.3 g

THE BEST MEATBALLS YOU'LL EVER HAVE



The Best Meatballs You'll Ever Have image

Very tasty meatballs full of spice and sauteed to perfection. I usually serve mine with spaghetti, but I've also served them with a BBQ sauce and rice on the side.

Provided by BEARNESTA

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Meatball Recipes

Time 35m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 pound lean ground beef
¾ cup crushed seasoned croutons
¼ cup chopped sweet onion
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, croutons, sweet onion, egg, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, red pepper flakes, and Cajun seasoning. Form the mixture by hand into meatballs.
  • Heat the olive oil and melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Place the meatballs in the skillet, and cook, turning constantly, 20 minutes, or to desired doneness.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 335.8 calories, Carbohydrate 9.7 g, Cholesterol 123.1 mg, Fat 22.5 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 22.7 g, SaturatedFat 8.9 g, Sodium 481.7 mg, Sugar 2.3 g

GREAT-GRANDMA'S ITALIAN MEATBALLS



Great-Grandma's Italian Meatballs image

My great-grandmother started this easy meatball recipe with our family. We use ground beef and turkey for these meatballs, and the flavor's so good, you won't miss the extra calories. -Audrey Colantino, Winchester, Massachusetts

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 50m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon each dried basil, oregano and parsley flakes
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
Optional: Hot cooked pasta and pasta sauce

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375°. In a small skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Cool slightly., In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, cheese, eggs, seasonings and onion mixture. Add turkey and beef; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls., Place meatballs on a rack coated with cooking spray in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake until lightly browned and cooked through, 18-22 minutes. If desired, serve with pasta and pasta sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 271 calories, Fat 13g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 125mg cholesterol, Sodium 569mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 27g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

Tips:

  • Use a combination of ground beef and ground pork for a flavorful and moist meatball.
  • Soak the bread in milk before adding it to the meatball mixture. This will help to bind the ingredients together and prevent the meatballs from becoming dry.
  • Grate the Parmesan cheese finely. This will help it to distribute evenly throughout the meatball mixture.
  • Season the meatball mixture generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. You can also add other herbs and spices to taste.
  • Form the meatballs into small, uniform balls. This will help them to cook evenly.
  • Brown the meatballs in a skillet over medium heat before simmering them in sauce. This will help to develop their flavor and prevent them from falling apart.
  • Use a rich and flavorful tomato sauce for the meatballs. You can use a store-bought sauce or make your own.
  • Simmer the meatballs in the sauce for at least 30 minutes, or until they are cooked through.
  • Serve the meatballs over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.

Conclusion:

These Italian meatballs are a classic dish that is sure to please everyone. They are flavorful, moist, and easy to make. With a few simple tips, you can make the best Italian meatballs ever. So next time you are looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed.

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