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You are here: Home / Dinner / Cheesy Meatballs

By Karina 25 Comments Filed Under: Beef

Cheesy Meatballs

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Cheesy Meatballs are juicy and tender, simmered in a rustic homemade tomato sauce. Topped with melted mozzarella cheese and serve over spaghetti for a delicious dinner!

The best meatball recipe starts with the most tender meatballs, browned in a hot skillet to seal in the juices and get crispy, golden edges. Soaking up rustic tomato sauce flavours underneath a golden blanket of melted mozzarella cheese, Cheesy Meatballs is an easy dinner recipe that will be a hit with your family!

Cheesy Meatballs are soft, juicy and tender, simmered in a rustic homemade tomato sauce. Topped with melted mozzarella cheese and serve over spaghetti for a delicious dinner!
MEATBALL RECIPE

Dry meatballs are a thing of the past with our recipe. While most nonna’s hold a secret to get the perfect meatballs, some people just can’t seem to get it right. Cooking dry meatballs that are often times flavourless and hard to swallow, I agree with most in that meatballs can be hard to master. It’s easier to buy cooked meatballs in throw them in a sauce.

Even though it can be hard to get the texture and taste right out of a humble meatball, I’m here to tell you it’s super easy. All you need is the right meatball recipe!

We have a trick up our apron sleeves (or straps), that make these meatballs so moist and juicy and absolutely the best meatballs we’ve ever eaten. You will love our cheesy meatballs!

HOW TO MAKE MEATBALLS

It all starts with your meat mixture. There are two key elements crucial to a good meatball recipe:

  • Texture
  • Flavour

Without these two details, meatballs are bland, dry and not worth the effort that goes into making them.

Bread soaked in milk instead of dry breadcrumbs is the secret to getting juicy, moist meatballs every single time. The same method we use for our Meatloaf recipe.

Meatballs also need to be well-seasoned. We use salt and a crushed bouillon cube to get the flavours going, as well as aromatics like onion and garlic.

Herbs are just as important to get those classic Italian flavours in each bite. Our recipe calls for fresh parsley and dried oregano and basil, purely taking seasonal availability into account. Feel free to mix it up with your own favourite combination. Mint, tarragon, thyme or marjoram, plus a pinch or two of nutmeg adds a subtle flavour. You decide.

Eggs are also added to bind the meat, bread and parmesan together, making them light and spongy.

Delicious Meatballs are soft, juicy and tender in a homemade tomato sauce!

HOMEMADE MEATBALLS

The next step to incredibly tender meatballs is mixing your meat mixture until the ingredients are just incorporated, with your hands. Use gloves if you have an aversion to touching raw meat, or mix lightly a wooden spoon. Full pieces of ground meat should still be visible.

Roll your meatballs with lightly oiled hands to prevent the meat from sticking to your fingers, while adding a little extra moisture into each meatball. Then place each meatball onto a lined plate or baking sheet. This just helps keep your kitchen stay clean without creating too much of a mess, and prevents your balls from rolling all over your bench top.

HOW TO COOK MEATBALLS

If there’s one thing my father passed down to me from the Italian side of his family, it’s never to poach or boil beef. There’s nothing like the aromas and flavours of meat hitting a hot skillet or pan. Sizzling first to get a perfect browned crust before adding in sauce. You won’t be cooking them all the way through in this step.

Space the meatballs out evenly into your skillet or pan by cooking in batches of three, instead of throwing them all in the pan together. This avoids the meat poaching or simmering in its own juices.

Rustic, homemade meatballs are never perfectly rounded, especially when seared first. Don’t worry if they begin to flatten in the pan. The blanket of melted cheese will cover them.

Meatballs in sauce for spaghetti!

MEATBALL SAUCE

Our sauce recipe is easy, starting with onion and garlic to get those aromatics in. Tomato sauce, puree or passata is simmered with tomato paste, herbs, chili flakes (if using), salt and pepper. Add a pinch of sugar to cut through some of the bitterness, or use 1/4 teaspoon of aluminium free baking soda to help neutralise the acid.

It’s really hard to overcook meatballs in your sauce, since they’re simmering in liquid. Braise them for about 15-20 minutes, turning the meatballs in the sauce to get those flavours absorbing evenly into the meat while simmering. I also suggest stirring the sauce to prevent it from burning on the bottom.

Top with cheese and finish them off under the broiler in your oven.

If you don’t have a broiler, continue simmering them until he cheese has melted.

There you have it! Cheesy meatballs!

Cheesy Meatballs

WHAT TO SERVE WITH CHEESY MEATBALLS

Serve cheesy meatballs over spaghetti or zucchini noodles; mashed potatoes or buttery mashed cauliflower; or with crusty bread!

Looking for more meatball recipes? Try these!

Swedish Meatballs
Teriyaki Meatballs
Turkey Meatballs with Garlic and Pesto

MEATBALL RECIPE ON VIDEO!

Cheesy Meatball Recipe

Cheesy Meatballs are soft, juicy and tender, simmered in a rustic homemade tomato sauce. Topped with melted mozzarella cheese and serve over spaghetti for a delicious dinner!
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Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 1 hr 10 mins
Serves: 18 meatballs

Ingredients

MEATBALLS:

  • 3 slices white bread crust removed
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 17 oz (500 g) ground beef (or minced beef)
  • 17 oz (500 g) ground pork (minced pork)*
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 egg
  • 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon each dried basil and oregano
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon beef bouillon powder (or vegetable stock powder)
  • 1 teaspoon salt to taste
  • cracked black pepper, to taste

Tomato Sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 24 oz (700-gram) bottle of tomato sauce (puree or passata)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons each of dried basil and oregano
  • 1 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional)
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • fresh basil or parsley chopped to garnish

Instructions

  • PREHEAT oven grill on medium high heat, or main oven to 430°F (220°C).
  • Combine bread and milk in a large bowl. Press the bread down into the milk to fully submerse and soak into the bread. Set aside.
  • While the bread is soaking, get all of your meatball ingredients chopped and ready. Add all of the meatball ingredients in the bowl with the soaked bread and mix well.
  • Roll about three tablespoons worth of meat mixture into a ball. Set aside onto a plate and repeat until all meat is used.
  • Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large well-seasoned skillet or non stick pan over medium high heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides until golden (they won't be cooked all the way through, but you will finish them off in the sauce). Transfer to a warm plate.
  • Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the pan. Fry the onion until transparent (about 2 minutes), while stirring occasionally. Add in the garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. 
  • Stir through the puree (or passata), water, tomato paste, herbs, chili flakes (if using), salt and pepper. Mix together well with a wooden spoon; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat down to low and taste test. Add in the sugar if needed.
  • Transfer the meatballs back into the sauce, along with any juices released from the meatballs on the plate.
  • Cover and cook for 20 minutes, while stirring the sauce occasionally, until meatballs are cooked through. (Turn the meatballs a couple of times in the sauce while cooking.)
  • Top with the mozzarella cheese; transfer to the oven and grill or bake on the middle shelf of your oven, until the cheese has melted and is bubbling.
  • Garnish with the freshly chopped parsley and extra dried oregano and/or basil. Serve over pasta, mashed potatoes or rice.

Notes

*You can substitute ground pork for beef, chicken or turkey.
Use a 14-inch (35-cm) skillet. If you don't have an oven-proof skillet or pan large enough: transfer sauce and meatballs to a baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese and broil until cheese has melted.

Nutrition

Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 192mg | Potassium: 400mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 450IU | Vitamin C: 7.2mg | Calcium: 126mg | Iron: 2.1mg

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED APRIL 11, 2017.

ADAPTED FROM Sun Dried Tomato Cheesy Meatballs (Low Carb)

Mozzarella Meatballs In Tomato Sauce are juicy and soft meatballs, simmered in a homemade tomato sauce and topped with melted mozzarella! | https://cafedelites.com
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carla says

    May 11, 2020 at 10:58 am

    5 stars
    These are the best! Thank you for this recipe.

    Reply
  2. Mark says

    April 24, 2020 at 6:49 pm

    Can the meatballs be made the night before cooking and refridgerated?

    Reply
  3. Catherine says

    March 19, 2020 at 9:19 pm

    5 stars
    Best meatballs ever! I love all your recipes! I decided to bake half of the meatballs at 400 degrees F for 25 mins and they came out delicious and juicy as well! Just didn’t have as nice a crust as frying them. Thank you!

    Reply
  4. Lisa Warren says

    March 01, 2020 at 1:27 am

    How many meatballs is in a serving

    Reply
  5. Collette Mitrega says

    January 30, 2020 at 10:10 pm

    Best meatballs and sauce I have made, such depth of flavour and lovely tender meatballs. TFS

    Reply
  6. Opal says

    March 15, 2019 at 1:27 am

    5 stars
    Tried your recipe today and I must say it was the best Meatballs ever. Thanks to your site for making dinner life so easy..

    Reply
  7. Danielle Bell says

    March 04, 2019 at 9:09 am

    4 stars
    Love the taste! Any suggestions on how to keep the meatballs from falling apart when trying to flip them for next time?

    Reply
    • Wanda Boomhower says

      December 18, 2019 at 6:30 am

      Use tongs that are wide enough to hold the meatball as you turn it.

      Reply
  8. docluci says

    December 02, 2018 at 7:42 pm

    5 stars
    I plan to add some sun dried tomatoes to my sauce which I have (not oil packed, but dry, and with slice into sauce while cooking). I love the flavor of these tomatoes!!!

    Reply
    • Karina says

      December 06, 2018 at 9:20 pm

      That sounds great! Thank you so much! I am so glad that you enjoy them! Thank you for sharing and following along with me! XO

      Reply
  9. Sophie says

    November 30, 2018 at 3:43 am

    How can i freeze them, before frying them or after?

    Reply
    • Karina says

      December 02, 2018 at 12:16 am

      Either way is great! I like to freeze them after they are made then the warm up is a little easier. Hope that helps! Enjoy your meatballs! XO

      Reply
  10. Christie Gaines says

    November 26, 2018 at 2:09 am

    Trying to read the nutritional information. What is a serving size?
    Thank you and I just love your recipes!
    Everyone that I have made has been a hit!

    Reply
    • Karina says

      November 27, 2018 at 7:40 pm

      The serving size is one cup. Hope that helps! XO

      Reply
  11. Christina says

    August 20, 2018 at 9:56 am

    5 stars
    I’ve tried a few of your recipes love them all! Especially the honey mustard chicken salad.

    With the meatballs, what does 11/2 slices of bread mean?

    Reply
    • Karina says

      August 24, 2018 at 3:31 pm

      Sorry that reads 1 1/2 slices of white bread. Thank you for letting me know!

      Reply
  12. karey keever says

    August 09, 2018 at 11:13 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is DELISH!!

    Reply
  13. Lisa Noble says

    April 02, 2018 at 3:47 am

    5 stars
    These are absolutely delicious! So good that my husband requests them for his lunch everyday. I make a batch on Sunday, package them up in 5 containers and he is one happy guy. Love all of your recipes!

    Reply
  14. esraa says

    August 13, 2017 at 4:07 pm

    5 stars
    very tasty
    Thank you for being in my life

    Reply
  15. cherie says

    April 18, 2017 at 5:11 am

    5 stars
    I made this with my niece over the weekend and she loved helping to make the meatballs good for kids to learn about food. Was lovely dish for a family meal with have this again over the winter time.
    Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  16. Anne Gascoyne says

    April 17, 2017 at 11:48 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious!
    Thankyou for sharing this recipe, my family loved it!

    Reply
  17. Beth says

    April 15, 2017 at 1:14 pm

    Can you use just ground chicken? Or would the recipe need to be adjusted?

    Reply
    • Karina says

      April 15, 2017 at 1:18 pm

      Hi Beth! Ground chicken is fine 🙂

      Reply
  18. MaryAnn Zeigler says

    April 13, 2017 at 6:40 am

    5 stars
    I tried this recipe today, omg it is soooo good, the entire family raved over the taste if the sauce and the meatballs!! A recipe keeper for sure! Thank you for sharing this one!

    Reply
  19. Denise says

    April 12, 2017 at 11:13 pm

    5 stars
    I love Meatballs. Can’t wait to try these. BTW I love your beautiful photo’s of your creations.

    Reply

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