Description
This Meatball Parmesan Recipe features tender, juicy meatballs made from a blend of ground beef and pork, combined with Italian herbs, Parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs. Seared to perfection and baked in a rich marinara sauce topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, this classic Italian-American dish is perfect for a comforting main course. Serve it over spaghetti, as a hearty meatball sub, or alongside garlic bread for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/2 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup milk
Sauce and Topping
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the meatballs with sauce and cheese.
- Mix Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, Italian-style breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, egg, and milk. Mix gently until just combined; avoid overmixing to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs: Roll the meat mixture into 1 1/2-inch sized meatballs, ensuring they are evenly sized for uniform cooking.
- Sear Meatballs: Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning to brown all sides evenly, for about 6–8 minutes. This step locks in juices and adds flavor.
- Add Sauce and Cheese: Pour the marinara sauce over the browned meatballs in the skillet, spooning some sauce over to coat them thoroughly. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese and the additional grated Parmesan cheese evenly on top.
- Bake: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden, and the meatballs are cooked through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with extra fresh parsley before serving. Serve hot over cooked spaghetti, on hoagie rolls for subs, or alongside garlic bread.
Notes
- For a different texture, you can substitute all ground beef instead of mixing beef and pork.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with spaghetti, hoagie rolls for meatball subs, or a side of garlic bread.
- Make sure not to overmix the meatball mixture to keep the meatballs tender and juicy.
- Use an oven-safe skillet to avoid transferring meatballs to another dish before baking.
