The Best Baked Italian Meatballs

Good morning! How was your weekend? Here it actually felt like Summer, it was hot, humid and sunny. We went to the beach, spent afternoons on the porch with an aperitif and a pile of books and relaxed. We have a busy couple of months coming up so it was nice to slow down this weekend.

Typically on Sunday we have pasta for dinner because its easy to make and hearty, not to mention a great way to end the weekend. 

My husband loves meatballs, although we often make his family recipe we do like to branch out and try new recipes. This week we found what we like to call, “the best baked meatballs ever”!

Baked Meatballs

Recipe from Recipes of Italy

1 1/2lb ground sirloin

1 lbs of ground sausage

4 cloves garlic. minced

1 tablespoon parsley, minced

1 tablespoon minced celery leaves

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

2 large eggs

1/3 bread crumbs

1/2 cup Parmigiana Reggiano cheese, grated

2 teaspoons milk

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with foil, parchment paper, or Silphat, spray with cooking spray. 

In a mixing bowl, add the eggs, nutmeg, milk, olive oil, parsley, celery and the pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk all the ingredients together then add the meats, breadcrumbs, cheese, and garlic. 

Using your hands mix together all of the ingredients so that everything is evenly distributed in the mix. If the mix seems too wet add a little more bread crumbs and grated cheese. 

Roll the meat mixture into balls using about 2 tablespoons of meat. Place the meatballs on the baking sheets. Continue until all of the meat mixture is used up. 

Place the pans on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Then turn the meatballs and rotate the pans, bake for another 12- 15 minutes  or until the meatballs are golden and cooked through. When finished serve hot or at room temperature with your favorite pasta and sauce. 

Are you a pasta lover? Do you have a favorite meatball recipe? Or pasta recipe? If so I would love to try one of your recipes so please share. I am partial to cheese sauces, like gorgonzola. 

Have a great week!