Your Basic Meatballs

Perfectly tender, flavorful, and easy to make, "Your Basic Meatballs" are a must-have recipe for any home cook. Combining ground beef and pork with pantry staples like breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasonings, these meatballs strike the ideal balance between simplicity and richness. A quick soak of the breadcrumbs in milk ensures a moist, light texture, while garlic and onion add aromatic depth. Gently browned in olive oil and optionally simmered in marinara sauce, these versatile meatballs are ready in just 40 minutes and can be served over spaghetti, in sandwiches, or as a hearty appetizer. Whether you're meal prepping or whipping up a crowd-pleasing dinner, this recipe is a classic you'll turn to time and time again.

Nutriscore Rating: 58/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground beef
• 0.5 lb Ground pork
• 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs
• 0.25 cup Milk
• 1 large Egg
• 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 0.25 cup Onion, finely chopped
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper
• 2 tbsp Olive oil

Directions

Step 1

In a small mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes until the breadcrumbs absorb the milk and soften.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, add the ground beef, ground pork, soaked breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, chopped onion, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.

Step 3

Using clean hands or a fork, gently mix the ingredients together until combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in dense meatballs.

Step 4

Form the mixture into meatballs approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, placing them on a plate or tray. You should get about 16-18 meatballs.

Step 5

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the meatballs in a single layer, ensuring they don’t overcrowd the pan.

Step 6

Cook the meatballs for 3-4 minutes on each side, turning them gently with tongs or a spatula, until they are browned on the outside. You may need to cook them in batches if your skillet is small.

Step 7

Once all meatballs are browned, transfer them to a plate. If you plan to serve them with sauce, simmer the browned meatballs in your favorite marinara sauce for 10-15 minutes until fully cooked (internal temperature of 165°F).

Step 8

Serve the meatballs hot with spaghetti, in a sub sandwich, or on their own with a dipping sauce.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	934.1 grams (934.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2128

Total Fat 145.50g	187%
Saturated Fat 57.00g	285%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.00g
Cholesterol 770mg	257%
Sodium 4124mg	179%
Total Carbohydrate 52.70g	19%
Dietary Fiber 3.50g	13%
Total Sugars 9.00g
Protein 159.90g	320%

Vitamin D 81IU	403%
Calcium 493mg	38%
Iron 14mg	77%
Potassium 1361mg	29%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 60.6%

Protein: 29.6%

Carbs: 9.8%