Description
Tender, juicy meatballs filled with gooey mozzarella cheese and simmered in marinara sauce, packed with fresh herbs for an irresistible comfort food dish.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or minced
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese (or more if desired)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil (for browning)
- 2 cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- Mix the Meatball Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, chopped onion, minced garlic, Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, egg, chopped parsley, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix everything together until well combined.
- Stuff the Meatballs: Take a small portion of the meatball mixture and flatten it in the palm of your hand. Place a small cube or ball of mozzarella in the center and carefully form the meat around the cheese, sealing it tightly. Repeat with the rest of the mixture and mozzarella.
- Brown the Meatballs: Heat 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook them for about 3-4 minutes on each side until browned. They don’t need to be fully cooked at this point.
- Simmer in Sauce: In a large pan, pour in the marinara sauce. Add the browned meatballs to the sauce, spooning a little sauce over the top. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, occasionally spooning sauce over the meatballs. The meatballs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) and the mozzarella is melted inside.
- Serve and Garnish: Once the meatballs are fully cooked, serve them with extra sauce over pasta, on their own, or in a sub roll. Garnish with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- If you prefer spicy meatballs, add red pepper flakes to the mixture or sprinkle on top of the sauce.
- You can bake the meatballs instead of frying them. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes.
- To freeze the meatballs, arrange them on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer them to a freezer bag. Brown and cook from frozen later.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking, Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball with sauce
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
