Description
Sink your fork into these homemade Italian Meatballs — juicy, tender, and simmered in a flavorful marinara sauce. This easy recipe is perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner or a comforting family meal. Whether you’re searching for quick dinner ideas, a freezer-friendly option, or a satisfying protein for pasta night, these Italian meatballs check all the boxes. Ideal for meal prep, sandwich stuffing, or holiday spreads. A must-have for any collection of easy recipes, dinner ideas, or comfort food favorites.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground pork
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup milk
2 large eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely grated
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tbsp olive oil
3 cups marinara sauce
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix the breadcrumbs and milk. Let sit for 5 minutes.
2. Add the ground beef, ground pork, eggs, Parmesan, garlic, onion, parsley, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to the breadcrumb mixture. Gently mix until just combined.
3. Shape into 1.5-inch meatballs using your hands or a scoop.
4. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Brown the meatballs in batches on all sides.
5. Transfer the browned meatballs to a simmering pot of marinara sauce. Cover and cook for 25–30 minutes on low heat until cooked through.
6. Serve hot over pasta, in rolls, or on their own with extra sauce.
Notes
For lighter meatballs, substitute ground turkey or chicken.
Don’t skip the breadcrumb and milk soak — it’s the secret to tender texture.
These meatballs freeze beautifully. Let cool, freeze in a single layer, then transfer to bags for future meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3–4 meatballs
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: Italian meatballs, easy dinner, quick meatballs, freezer-friendly meatballs, marinara meatballs, comfort food