Oven-Baked Italian Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork (or use all beef if preferred)
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 2 tbsp dried parsley)
1 egg
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup finely chopped onion (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven:
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
Mix the meatball ingredients:
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, egg, minced garlic, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, milk, and chopped onion (if using). Mix until well combined, but don’t overmix to keep the meatballs tender.
Form the meatballs:
Using your hands or a cookie scoop, shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake:
Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
Serve:
Serve the meatballs with marinara sauce over pasta, on a sub roll for meatball subs, or alongside a salad for a lighter option.