Description
Delicious and easy baked meatballs made with a blend of ground beef and pork, seasoned with garlic, onion, parsley, and spices, baked to perfection and finished under the broiler for a crispy crust.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Mixture
- ½ cup dry breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced (optional)
- ¼ cup finely chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ lb ground beef
- ½ lb ground pork
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray it lightly with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Set this aside for later.
- Mix Dry Ingredients and Seasonings: In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry breadcrumbs, egg, finely chopped onion, minced garlic (if using), chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to create an even mixture.
- Add Ground Meat: Incorporate the ground beef and ground pork into the breadcrumb mixture. Mix just until everything is combined, being careful not to overwork the meat to keep the meatballs tender.
- Shape Meatballs: Form the mixture into 1-inch diameter balls using your hands. Place each meatball evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until the inside is no longer pink and fully cooked through.
- Broil for Crispiness: Turn the oven broiler on and position the meatballs 6-8 inches from the heat. Broil the meatballs for 4-5 minutes, turning halfway through to brown and crisp both sides evenly. Remove from oven once done.
Notes
- Using a mixture of beef and pork gives meatballs great flavor and moisture.
- Do not overmix the meat mixture; it can make meatballs tough.
- Broiling at the end gives a wonderful crispy exterior.
- Optional garlic can be omitted for a milder taste.
- Make sure to use a thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 160°F for ground pork/beef combinations to ensure safety.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: baked meatballs, Italian meatballs, easy dinner recipe, ground beef meatballs, oven meatballs, homemade meatballs
