Best Classic Beef Meatballs Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

CLASSIC BEEF MEATBALLS



Classic Beef Meatballs image

Ricotta cheese helps to make these meatballs moist and delicious in this popular recipe from Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow's "The Meatball Shop Cookbook."

Provided by Martha Stewart

Yield Makes about 2 dozen 1 1/2-inch meatballs

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds 80 percent lean ground beef
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or 1 teaspoon dried)
2 teaspoons coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel
4 cups Classic Tomato Sauce

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Drizzle olive oil into a 9-by 13-inch baking dish; using your hand, evenly coat entire surface. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, use your hands to mix together beef, ricotta, eggs, breadcrumbs, parsley, oregano, salt, red-pepper flakes, and fennel until fully incorporated. Roll mixture into firmly packed 1 1/2-inch balls.
  • Place meatballs in prepared baking dish, taking care to line them up snugly so that they are touching one another in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid. Transfer baking dish to oven. Bake until meatballs are firm and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball reads 165 degrees.
  • Meanwhile, heat tomato sauce in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.
  • Remove meatballs from oven and carefully drain excess grease from pan. Pour heated sauce over meatballs and return to oven; cook for 15 minutes more. Serve.

CLASSIC BEEF MEATBALLS



Classic Beef Meatballs image

Here they are-the top sellers at The Shop and sure to be a big hit at home. Most traditional meatball recipes call for Parmesan or pecorino cheese. While we're big fans of these stronger cheeses, we prefer ricotta. It's our secret weapon. The mild and creamy consistency of this fresh cheese gives the meatballs a unique light texture. Beef has a subtle flavor, and the ricotta is a great way to add fat and moisture to the recipe without the overpowering flavor of a sharper cheese. These are quick to prep, and baking rather than frying makes this a fast comfort food even during the busiest of weeks.

Provided by Daniel Holzman

Categories     Cheese     Egg     Tomato     Bake     Super Bowl     Father's Day     Dinner     Ground Beef     Family Reunion     Poker/Game Night     Party     Breadcrumbs     Sugar Conscious     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free

Yield Makes about 2 dozen 1 1/2-inch balls

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds 80% lean ground beef
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel
4 cups Classic Tomato Sauce

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F. Drizzle the olive oil into a 9×13-inch baking dish and use your hand to evenly coat the entire surface. Set aside.
  • Combine the ground beef, ricotta, eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, oregano, salt, red pepper flakes, and fennel in a large mixing bowl and mix by hand until thoroughly incorporated.
  • Roll the mixture into round, golf ball-size meatballs (about 1 1/2 inches), making sure to pack the meat firmly. Place the balls in the prepared baking dish, being careful to line them up snugly and in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid. The meatballs should be touching one another.
  • Roast for 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are firm and cooked through. A meat thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball should read 165°F.
  • While the meatballs are roasting, heat the tomato sauce in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring often.
  • When the meatballs are firm and fully cooked, remove them from the oven and drain the excess grease from the pan. Pour the tomato sauce over them. Return the meatballs to the oven and continue roasting for another 15 minutes.

CLASSIC BEEF MEATBALLS



Classic Beef Meatballs image

I got this from "The Meatball Shop" book.

Provided by Krystal McDow

Categories     Beef

Number Of Ingredients 21

MEATBALLS
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 lb 80% lean ground beef
1 c ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
1/2 c bread crumbs
1/4 c chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano or 1 tsp dried
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp crushed red peppers
1/2 tsp ground fennel
4 c classic tomato sauce (see below for recipe)
CLASSIC TOMATO SAUCE (MAKES 7 CUPS)
1/4 c olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 bay leaf
1 tsp chopped fresh oregano or 1/2 tsp dried
2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
2 tsp salt or to taste
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 26 oz boxes pomi chopped tomatoes or two 28 oz cans whole plum tomatoes, chopped with their liquid

Steps:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Drizzle the olive oil into a 9x13-inch baking dish and use your hand to evenly coat the entire surface. Set aside.
  • 2. Combine the ground beef, ricotta, eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, oregano, salt, red pepper flakes, and fennel in a large mixing bowl and mix by hand until thoroughly incorporated.
  • 3. Roll the mixture into round, golf ball-size meatballs (about 1 1/2 inches), making sure to pack the meat firmly. Place the balls in the prepared baking dish, being careful to line them up snugly and in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid. The meatballs should be touching one another.
  • 4. Roast for 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are firm and cooked through. A meat thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball should read 165 degrees F.
  • 5. While the meatballs are roasting, heat the tomato sauce in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring often.
  • 6. When the meatballs are firm and fully cooked, remove them from the oven and drain the excess grease from the pan. Pour the tomato sauce over them. Return the meatballs to the oven and continue roasting for another 15 minutes.
  • 7. *CLASSIC TOMATO SAUCE:
  • 8. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, bay leaf, oregano, garlic, and salt and cook,stirring often, until the onions are soft and ranslucent, about 10 minutes.
  • 9. Add the tomato paste and continue cooking for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and stir constantly until the sauce begins to boil. Lower the heat ad simmer for 1 hour, stirring every 5 minutes or so to prevent the sauce on the bottom of the pot from burning. Taste and season with additional salt, if desired. Remove the bay leaf befoe serving.

CLASSIC BEEF MEATBALLS



Classic Beef Meatballs image

Categories     Bread     Sauce     Beef     Roast

Yield Makes about 2 dozen 1 1/2-inch meatballs

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds 80% lean ground beef
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel
4 cups Classic Tomato Sauce (page 56)

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F. Drizzle the olive oil into a 9 × 13-inch baking dish and use your hand to evenly coat the entire surface. Set aside.
  • Combine the ground beef, ricotta, eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, oregano, salt, red pepper flakes, and fennel in a large mixing bowl and mix by hand until thoroughly incorporated.
  • Roll the mixture into round, golf ball-size meatballs (about 1 1/2 inches), making sure to pack the meat firmly. Place the balls in the prepared baking dish, being careful to line them up snugly and in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid. The meatballs should be touching one another.
  • Roast for 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are firm and cooked through. A meat thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball should read 165°F.
  • While the meatballs are roasting, heat the tomato sauce in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring often.
  • When the meatballs are firm and fully cooked, remove them from the oven and drain the excess grease from the pan. Pour the tomato sauce over them. Return the meatballs to the oven and continue roasting for another 15 minutes.

Related Topics