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meatball parmesan in a bowl

Meatball Parmesan

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
cool: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 532kcal
Author: Becky Hardin
This Meatball Parmesan is a 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!
Print Recipe

Equipment

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
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese divided in thirds
  • teaspoon dried parsley
  • teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 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, ⅓ 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, ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1½ teaspoon dried parsley, 1½ teaspoon 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).
    2 cups marinara sauce
  • Brush a 12-inch skillet with canola oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Place 1-cup sauce in the prepared skillet and sprinkle with ⅓ of the grated Parmesan. Set the meatballs in the skillet, leaving a little space between the meatballs. Pour the remaining sauce over the meatballs and sprinkle with another third of the 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 the remaining ⅓ 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

*Note – If there are extra meatballs, freeze for later use.
 
Any ground meat would work. Ground beef would work great as well. You can also combine meats like ground pork and ground beef together.
You can fry the meatballs. Heat about a tbsp of oil in a skillet then add the meatballs and fry until golden all around, 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