Italian Meatballs

Name: Italian Meatballs
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 piece white bread (crusts removed (Note 1)); 100 ml milk; 500 g ground beef (or half beef half pork (Note 2)); 1 onion (finely chopped or grated); 3 cloves garlic; 45 g parmesan or pecorino (finely grated); 1 egg; 2 tbsp fresh parsley ((Note 3)); 2 tsp dried oregano; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 2 tbsp oil (for frying if using pan frying cooking method)

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Super soft, juicy and oh so tasty Italian meatballs without the faff. If this sounds good to you, you've landed in the right place. Made with milk-soaked sandwich bread to get them nice and tender and generously seasoned with herbs and Parmesan so that they are practically bursting with flavour. Made with just 10 core everyday ingredients in less than 40 minutes and pan-fried, baked or air fried to perfection.

The post contains additional information and helpful tips to ensure the recipe turns out great the first time. Please use the link above to jump to the recipe card at the end if you are in a hurry!

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✅ 7 reasons why you'll love this recipe:
What is the secret to good meatballs?
🛒 What are traditional Italian meatballs made of?
🧑‍🍳 Meatballs in 4 easy steps
🍝 What to serve with meatballs
👍 Top tips
Other meatball recipes to try:
🙋 FAQs
⏰ Can you prepare meatballs ahead of time?
❄️ Can you freeze meatballs?
😋 Other easy and comforting dinner recipes
📖 Recipe
Italian Meatballs

✅ 7 reasons why you'll love this recipe:

Super soft and tender - with a panade of milk-soaked sandwich bread
Full of flavour - seasoned generously with fresh herbs and Parmesan
Quick and easy
Uses simple everyday ingredients
Versatile
Make ahead and freezer friendly
Includes stove, oven and air fryer cooking instructions

What is the secret to good meatballs?

After lots of experimentation, I identified 3 key things that make meatballs juicy, tender and tasty.

Sandwich bread panade: some recipes use milk-soaked panko breadcrumbs but the meatballs are noticeably softer and juicier with a humble slice of white bread (without the crusts)
Grated onion: because it blends really nicely with the other ingredients and reduces any risk of finding raw chunks of onion in your meatballs.
Generous seasoning: with lots of herbs and Pecorino/Parmesan cheese as well as garlic, onion, salt and pepper.

🛒 What are traditional Italian meatballs made of?

My meatball recipe uses simple ingredients that will be easy to find at your local store.

Ground Meat

After several attempts, I found that equal amounts of beef and pork is where it's at. All beef works well too, but I really like the savory flavor and juiciness the pork adds.

Top tip: Avoid lean ground meat. Whether your meatballs are all beef or a mixture of beef and pork, aim for a fat content of around 20% to ensure your meatballs are super soft and succulent.

What makes meatballs softer, breadcrumbs or bread?

My recipe uses milk, white bread and egg to hold the meatballs together.

I tested the recipe with breadcrumbs and white bread and found that the meatballs made with bread were a strong winner and significantly softer.

Seasoning

Fresh parsley, dried oregano, Parmesan, grated onion and garlic make the meatballs tasty and flavourful. I recommend using fresh parsley, but you can substitute it for dry, just ensure you use a third of the amount so it isn't overpowering.

🧑‍🍳 Meatballs in 4 easy steps

1. Soak the bread in milk

Pour milk over the bread and leave it to soak for 10 minutes while you prep the other ingredients. Then mash it into a smooth paste using a fork.

2. Mix

Add the other ingredients to the bowl and mix gently using your hands.

3. Form

Form the mixture into golf ball-sized balls using your hands, an ice cream scoop or a cookie scoop.

4. Cook

Bake the meatballs at 400°F or 200°C for around 20 minutes, broiling for a couple of minutes to brown them if needed, or pan fry on a medium to high heat for 10-15 minutes.

Can you make meatballs in the air fryer?

Yes, I can tell you from experience that air-fried meatballs are just as soft and juicy as oven baked and pan-fried. What's more, it's the quickest way to cook them. Simply spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray, set the air fryer to 400°F or 200°C and cook for 7-10 minutes turning halfway.

🍝 What to serve with meatballs

I love to eat these meatballs with spaghetti and my marinara sauce, but they can also be enjoyed as a meatball sub or with a creamy sauce and mashed potatoes (Swedish style).

👍 Top tips

Don't use lean meat - fat is needed to make the meatballs moist and juicy. Use meat that is around 20% fat.
Grate the onions - it might seem like a hassle and does create a little more washing up but it's well worth it if you're not a fan of discernable chunks of onion in your meatballs.
Use a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop to form the meatballs - these tools are great for getting perfectly round meatballs, otherwise wet hands also do the job.
Avoid overcooking- a perfectly soft and juicy meatball has an internal temperature of 165˚F or (74°C).

Other meatball recipes to try:

🙋 FAQs

What's the difference between regular meatballs and Italian meatballs?

American and Italian meatballs share many of the same ingredients. Italian meatballs are often made with a mixture of ground beef and pork, bread, milk, egg and seasoned with Parmesan and herbs like parsley and oregano.

Is it better to bake or pan-fry meatballs?

This depends on the type of meatball. For meatballs made from meat with higher fat content like beef or pork both baked and pan-fried meatballs will be soft and succulent. When it comes to meatballs made with leaner meats like chicken and turkey baking is likely to result in dryer meatballs.

Is it better to cook meatballs in the sauce or in the oven?

Although you can cook meatballs in sauce (if you simmer them for long enough). The best method is to brown them first and finish them off in the sauce to get meatballs that have a good texture on the outside that are still soft and juicy on the inside.

Where do meatballs originate?

Meatballs (or polpette as they are referred to in Italy) can be traced back to the Roman Empire and are traditionally served with bread. However, you won't find spaghetti meatballs in Italy. These were created by Italian immigrants in New York around 1880 when meat was abundant and spaghetti was cheap.

⏰ Can you prepare meatballs ahead of time?

Meatballs create tasty leftovers and freeze well so are an ideal candidate for a make-ahead meal and batch cooking. Cooked meatballs will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days and can be reheated on the stove or in the microwave.

❄️ Can you freeze meatballs?

Both cooked and raw meatballs can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Freezing cooked meatballs

My preference is to freeze the cooked meatballs in marinara sauce and reheat in a saucepan or the microwave. It's worth making a large batch and storing a few portions in the freezer for speedy weeknight dinners.

To freeze cooked meatballs without sauce, place them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Put them into the freezer when cool and transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container once frozen.

Freezing uncooked meatballs

Form the meatballs, place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place them in the freezer for a few hours. Once they are frozen, you can put them into a freezer bag or container.

😋 Other easy and comforting dinner recipes

Tasty, nourishing and easy to make, my comfort food recipes are guaranteed to warm your body and soul.

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