Meatball Parmesan
This Meatball Parmesan is hearty, rich, and delicious. Perfect for cozy winter weeknights! It features juicy meatballs smothered in a delicious marinara sauce and topped with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. A simple dish that is beautiful and oh so tasty!
Servings: 6 people
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- ½ cup dry breadcrumbs or 4 slices stale white bread
- 2 tablespoons milk or cream or buttermilk
- 3 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese divided in half and more for garnish
- 1½ teaspoons dried parsley
- 1½ teaspoons dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1½ pounds ground chuck or a blend of ground pork, ground sirloin, and ground chuck
- 2 cups marinara sauce store-bought or homemade
- ½ pound fresh mozzarella cheese cut into 2-inch pieces
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the breadcrumbs (if using bread slices, cut off the crust and tear bread into bite-size pieces) and milk in a large mixing bowl and stir until breadcrumbs are completely coated. Set aside for 5 minutes or until liquid is almost absorbed.½ cup dry breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons milk
- Add eggs, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, parsley, basil, and oregano to the breadcrumbs/milk mixture and stir well.3 large eggs, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1½ teaspoons dried parsley, 1½ teaspoons dried basil, ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Add ground meat and mix, gently, just until incorporated and form into 2½-inch balls.1½ pounds ground chuck
- Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes or until brown & cooked through. If more color on the outside of the meatballs is desired, set the oven to broil and broil the meatballs 2-3 minutes or until a darker brown.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F. While the meatballs cook, prepare the sauce (if making homemade).
- Brush a 12-inch skillet with canola oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place 1-cup of sauce in the prepared skillet. Set the meatballs in the skillet, leaving a little space between the meatballs. Pour the remaining sauce over the meatballs and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake at 375°F for 20-30 minutes, or until the sauce is hot and bubbly. Top each meatball with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese and a sprinkling of Parmesan. Cook just until the cheese is melted and starting to lightly brown.½ pound fresh mozzarella cheese
- Allow the Meatball Parmesan to cool 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with a toasty Italian baguette and a side salad.
Video
Notes
- Any ground meat would work. Ground beef would work great as well.
- You can also fry the meatballs: Heat about a tbsp of oil in a skillet, then add the meatballs and fry until golden all around, which should take about 7 to 10 minutes.
- For easier prep, make meatballs ahead of time and keep refrigerated until ready to use.
- In a pinch, you could substitute your favorite frozen meatball, partially thawed, and cook as directed, starting with the sauce step.
Nutrition
Calories: 532kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 211mg | Sodium: 1337mg | Potassium: 663mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 830IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 342mg | Iron: 4mg