Go Back
+ servings
Chef John's Italian Meatballs

Chef John's Italian Meatballs

Chef John's Italian Meatballs are easy to make and are baked, making cleanup simple while delivering juicy and flavorful results.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Additional Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8 meatballs
Calories 390 kcal

Equipment

  • baking sheet
  • Skillet
  • mixing bowl
  • Rubber spatula

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

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

Instructions
 

Preparation Steps

  • Gather all ingredients.
  • Cover a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. Soak bread crumbs in milk in a small bowl for 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking and stirring until onion is very tender, about 15 minutes more.
  • Gently stir beef and pork together in a large bowl. Add onions, bread crumb mixture, eggs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic, salt, black pepper, Italian herb seasoning, and red pepper flakes; mix together using a rubber spatula until combined. Cover and refrigerate for about one hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  • Form mixture into balls about 1 ½ inches in diameter; arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until browned and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Serve with your favorite tomato sauce. Enjoy!

Notes

These meatballs freeze well. Flash freeze the cooked meatballs on a baking sheet for a few hours or up to overnight, then transfer to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to three months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1meatballCalories: 390kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 21gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 617mgPotassium: 349mgFiber: 1gVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 2mg
Keyword beef, Chef John's, Italian meatballs, meatballs, pasta, pork
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!