Best Classic Italian Meatballs Recipes

CLASSIC ITALIAN TURKEY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, basil, parsley, milk, ketchup if using, tomato paste, salt, pepper, eggs, garlic and onions. Using a wooden spoon, stir to blend. Add the ground turkey and sausage meat. Using fingers, gently mix all the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
• Using a 1-ounce cookie scoop or a small ice cream scoop, form the meat mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls (22 to 24 meatballs). Place the meatballs on a heavy nonstick baking sheet, spacing apart. Drizzle with olive oil and bake until cooked through, 15 minutes.
• For the tomato sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet with 2-inch-high sides over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, onions, salt and pepper. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the basil, the fennel, oregano and crushed tomatoes. Bring to a simmer. Cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup basil. Adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if desired.
• Add the meatballs to the tomato sauce and simmer until the meatballs are heated through, about 10 minutes. Thin the sauce with chicken stock, 1/4 cup at a time, if needed.
• Serve with grated Parmesan alongside.

CLASSIC ITALIAN TURKEY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• 1. Combine everything except Olive Oil in a large mixing bowl and knead ingredients together until well mixed
• 2. Roll golf ball sized pieces of the mixture in your palms until round and well formed.
• 3. Heat the Olive Oil on Medium-High Heat in a saute pan
• 4. Cook the meatballs until brown - about 3 mins in total, turning a couple of times
• 5. Once cooked - add these to your favorite tomato based sauce for a nice long simmer!! Yum!!

CLASSIC ITALIAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine eggs, water, buttermilk, and breadcrumbs in a bowl; let rest for 10 minutes. The mixture will thicken as the bread crumbs absorb the liquid. To this thickened mixture, add garlic, onion, parsley, cheese, oregano, salt, and pepper; stir until combined. In separate large bowl, combine ground meat. Mix meats with fingers or a large fork using a light touch until 2 meats are combined throughout. Add bread crumb mixture to meats. Mix these together, again using a light touch with fingers or large fork. Combine ingredients well, but do not overmix. Form meatballs with hands, or use a scoop. For larger meatballs, use 1/4 cup meat per meatball or use a generous 2" scoop. For mini meatballs, use 1 to 1-1/2 tablespoons per meatball or a generous 1-1/4" scoop. Place meatballs on baking sheets. Bake large meatballs for 30 minutes and mini meatballs for 15 minutes, until no longer pink in center.

CLASSIC ITALIAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the meat, egg, shallot, garlic, parsley, a pinch of salt, and ⅓ of the cheese and ¼ of the breadcrumbs. Mix until just barely combined, then add another ⅓ of the cheese and ¼ of the breadcrumbs. Repeat mixing and adding one more time. At this point, you may need to add the rest of the breadcrumbs or you may not - if the mixture still seems pretty wet, add them and finish mixing. Otherwise, reserve them for another recipe.
• Roll meatballs into golf ball-sized balls. You should be able to get around 20 meatballs.
• Add your favorite pasta sauce into a large saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cover.
• Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, add about ¼-inch of olive oil. Heat over medium-high heat, then add 5-6 meatballs. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until the bottoms are golden brown, then flip and repeat. Depending on the size of your meatballs and how much oil you have in your pan, you may want to do a third side. Once cooked, add the meatballs to the simmering pasta sauce and cover again. Repeat with the remaining meatballs.
• Once all meatballs are browned and simmering in the sauce, allow to simmer for 10-15 more minutes while you prep the rest of your meal. This will allow all of the meatballs enough time to finish cooking through.
• Serve warm over pasta or as a meatball sub.