Description
This easy Italian meatballs recipe combines ground beef and mild Italian sausage with classic Italian seasonings, Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley to create flavorful and tender meatballs. You can choose to bake them in the oven or cook them in a skillet until golden brown. Perfect served with marinara sauce over pasta or enjoyed on their own.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage (casing removed)
Dry Ingredients
- â…” cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- â…” cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons finely minced fresh parsley (plus more for serving)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 garlic cloves (finely minced)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs (whisked)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided, if cooking in skillet)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: If you choose to bake the meatballs, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking.
- Combine Meats: In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef and mild Italian sausage until evenly combined.
- Make Meat Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine the Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, finely minced fresh parsley, salt, minced garlic, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Add this breadcrumb mixture along with the whisked eggs to the combined meats. Mix everything thoroughly by hand until well incorporated.
- Shape Meatballs: Using about 1½ tablespoons of the mixture per meatball, shape the mixture into roughly 36 equal-sized meatballs. To avoid sticking, spritz your hands lightly with nonstick cooking spray while rolling.
- Cook in Skillet (Optional): Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add half of the meatballs, stirring often to brown them evenly on all sides for 12-15 minutes. Transfer cooked meatballs to a clean plate and repeat with the remaining olive oil and meatballs.
- Bake in Oven (Optional): Place the shaped meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet fitted with a wire rack. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until they are golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) indicating they are fully cooked.
- Serve: Serve your meatballs hot with your favorite marinara or tomato sauce, sprinkled with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. They pair wonderfully over pasta or as a delicious appetizer.
Notes
- You can cook the meatballs either in a skillet or bake them in the oven depending on your preference and time.
- Using a wire rack on the baking sheet helps the meatballs cook evenly and the bottoms stay crispy in the oven.
- If the mixture feels too sticky or wet, add a little more breadcrumbs to help bind it.
- Make sure to cook the meatballs to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure they are safe to eat.
- For a spicier kick, increase the red pepper flakes or add other spices such as crushed fennel seeds.
- Leftover cooked meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
