Simple Italian Meatballs
Updated on August 2, 2024 by Rodney • This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. • 1 Comment • Jump to Recipe
Looking for a simple and tasty Italian Meatballs recipe? Try this quick and easy version, ready in just 30 minutes.
If you are looking for a quick and simple way to make Italian Meatballs then this recipe is for you. Fresh Italian Meatballs in less than 30 minutes!
These delicious Meatballs can be used in a variety of ways. Serve them as an appetizer, use them to make a Meatball Sub, or add them to your favorite Pasta Dish.
While the recipe itself is pretty straightforward, you can easily modify it for your needs. I like to use a little more parmesan cheese in some situations and in a pinch if I don’t have any fresh parsley on hand I will use dried parsley.
How to Handle Raw Beef
- Thaw frozen ground beef on a plate on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator, to avoid dripping onto other foods.
- Keep raw and ready-to-eat meats separate.
- Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw ground beef. Wash cutting boards, bowls, and utensils used to prepare raw ground beef with hot soapy water and rinse well.
- Use separate plates to carry raw ground beef patties to the cooking area and cooked patties to the serving area.
- Use a Thermometer to ensure Ground Beef Reaches the Safely Cooked Internal Temperature of 160°F.
You can also make the meatballs a little smaller if you need or want more than 12 meatballs. Either way, just make sure the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 160°F.
Equipment Needed
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this recipe.
Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Italian Meatballs recipe. For ingredient amounts please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Lean Ground Beef
- Panko Bread Crumbs – regular bread crumbs will work as well
- Parmesan Cheese – shredded or grated
- Fresh Parsley – if you don’t have any fresh parsley on hand you can use dried parsley in a pinch ~ 1 tablespoon of dried
- Whole Milk – or any kind of milk you have on hand
- Eggs
- Garlic Cloves
- Kosher Salt – regular salt is fine too
- Ground Black Pepper
How to Make Italian Meatballs
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the beef, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, milk, eggs, garlic, salt and pepper.
- Form 12 (1 1/2 inch) balls. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake until cooked through, approximately 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches approximately 160°F.
Printable Recipe Card
Simple Italian Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb Lean Ground Beef
- ½ cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
- ¼ cup Fresh Parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup Whole Milk
- 2 Eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 Tbsp Garlic Cloves, minced
- 2 tsp Kosher Salt
- ¼ tsp Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the beef, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, milk, eggs, garlic, salt and pepper.
- Form 12 (1 1/2 inch) balls. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake until cooked through, approximately 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches approximately 160°F.
Nutrition
Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.
These meatballs were delicious. The Parmesan cheese gave it that extra flavor that you look for in meatballs.