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–+ servings
a bowl of italian baked meatballs in marinara

How to Bake Meatballs

4 from 4 votes
These classic Italian baked meatballs feature are perfectly golden brown on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. They’re done in 30 minutes!
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Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Molly

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs gluten-free if needed (Note 1)
  • 1/2 cup milk any kind
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 1/2 lb mild Italian sausage
  • 1 small shallot minced
  • 4 cloves minced garlic
  • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley plus more for topping
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup grated pecorino romano cheese plus more for topping
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Adjust the oven rack to the top position. Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Mix the breadcrumbs and milk in a large mixing bowl and allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes. This allows the breadcrumbs to absorb the moisture.
  • Add the ground pork, Italian sausage, shallot, garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and cheese. Use clean hands to mix everything together until all of the ingredients are well distributed.
  • Use a large cookie scoop or heaping Tablespoon to divide and roll the meatball mixture into about 14-16 meatballs 1 1/2 - 2 inches in diameter. Place them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Drizzle the meatballs with olive oil and bake them in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Start checking for doneness around 18 minutes if the meatballs are smaller. Cover the pan with foil if the meatballs are browning too much before the meatballs are done.

Recipe Equipment

Large baking sheet
Parchment paper

Notes

Note 1. Gluten-Free Meatballs. We also tested these with Aleia’s gluten-free breadcrumbs and they were delicious.
Dairy-free: swap the grated pecorino for nutritional yeast. The cheese adds more moisture, so you may need an extra splash of plant meal (1-2 Tablespoons)

Nutrition

Serving: 4meatballs | Calories: 537kcal | Carbohydrates: 14.1g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 40.2g | Cholesterol: 107.9mg | Sodium: 640.4mg | Fiber: 1.3g | Sugar: 2.8g | Vitamin A: 64.7IU | Vitamin C: 7.6mg
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