Italian Meatballs

Total Time: 35 minutes | Servings: 8 | Calories per Serving: 494

Handcrafted artisanal Italian meatballs - a combination of succulent ground beef and ground pork mixed with Italian herbs and delicately slow-cooked to perfection.

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INGREDIENTS

1 lbs ground beef
1 lbs ground pork (or addt'l 1lbs ground beef)
4 oz pancetta (minced)
1 large yellow or sweet onion (diced)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
2 large eggs
1 cup parmesan (grated)
1.5 cups breadcrumbs
1/4 cup whole milk (or more, as needed)
32 oz marinara sauce
2 tbsp olive oil

SEASONINGS
2 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1
Add the diced onion and 1 tbsp olive oil to a large pan. Sauté the onions until translucent and fragrant. Add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

STEP 2
In a large bowl, combine the following ingredients: ground beef, ground pork, pancetta, breadcrumbs, grated parmesan, eggs, milk, and seasonings (Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, salt/pepper). Add the onion and garlic to the mixture once cooled down. Mix the ingredients together - adding more milk as needed.

STEP 3
Roll the meat mixture into balls and set aside.

STEP 4
Heat remaining 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pan. Add the meatballs to the pan (be careful not to overcrowd the pan) and brown on all sides, turning frequently. 

STEP 5
While the meatballs are browning, preheat the oven to 350°F. Add the marinara sauce to a large pot and bring to a simmer.

STEP 6
Once the meatballs are browned on all sides, remove from pan and transfer to a lined baking sheet >1 inch apart. 

STEP 7
Bake the meatballs for ~10 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from oven, transfer to the pot with the marinara sauce, and let the meatballs simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

STEP 8
Turn off heat, garnish meatballs with fresh parsley and grated parmesan, and serve over your favorite pasta dish.

Nurition Facts (Per Serving)

494 calories | 25.3g protein | 22.4g carbs | 35.2g fat