Description
These Cheesy Italian Baked Meatballs are juicy, tender, and packed with flavor. If you’re looking for a cozy one skillet recipe then it doesn’t get better than this. Each meatballs is seared until golden, topped with cheese, and then baked in delicious marinara sauce for the perfect cheesy saucy meatball that I know you’re going to love!
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1/4 cup finely diced yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped basil, plus more for serving
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 25 oz marinara sauce, plus more for serving
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Make the meatballs: Add the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, whisked egg, almond milk, onion, parsley, basil, garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to a large mixing bowl. Gently mix together until well combined. Use a tablespoon measure to scoop and roll the meat mixture into meatballs. You should be able to make around 20 meatballs.
- Sear the meatballs: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot add the olive oil and then add the meatballs to the skillet and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. You may have to do this in batches depending on the size of your skillet. Once the meatballs have browned, remove them from skillet.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and wipe down or rinse to remove any browned bits. Return the meatballs to the skillet and pour the marinara sauce over the meatballs. Top the meatballs with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake the meatballs: Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and the edges of the skillet are bubbly. If desired, turn the oven to low broil and let cook for 2-3 minutes to help the cheese brown a bit.
- Remove the skillet from the oven and top with grated parmesan and additional fresh parsley and basil.
- Serve the meatballs and sauce with the cooked pasta of your choice. Enjoy!
Notes
Ingredient Substitutions
Ground Beef and Pork – you can easily swap the ground beef and pork blend in this recipe for ground turkey or ground chicken if you prefer. You could also use all ground beef and skip the pork if needed.
Breadcrumbs – if you need to keep this recipe gluten free, swap the breadcrumbs for your favorite gluten free brand. You could also use almond flour if needed.
Almond Milk – you could substitute the almond milk for another non-dairy milk like cashew milk or oat milk if needed. You could also use regular whole milk instead of the almond milk if you prefer.
Cheese – dairy free versions of the grated parmesan and mozzarella can both be subbed for traditional dairy cheeses if needed.
Ashlea’s Make-Ahead Tips
Make a double batch of the meatball mixture – you can easily make a double batch of the meatball mixture and then freeze half for a later date. When you’re ready to make a batch of meatballs, allow the mixture to thaw in the fridge and then scoop, roll, and cook the meatballs.
Prep and freeze the meatballs – want to save even more time in the kitchen? You can prepare and roll the meatballs in advance then place them on a large sheet pan and flash freeze for 30-45 minutes. Once the meatballs have hardened, transfer them to a freezer safe storage container. When it’s time to cook a batch of meatballs you can either cook the meatballs from frozen or let them thaw completely before cooking.
Cook and freeze the meatballs – another great option is to prep and fully cook your meatballs in advance before freezing. When it’s time for dinner, just remove from the freezer and let the meatballs simmer in the marinara sauce until heated through. Once hot, transfer the meatballs, to the oven and top with cheese to finish baking.
Storage and Reheating
Store the meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. You can reheat in the microwave or simmer on the stove top until the meatballs are heated through.
