| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 1 hr |
| Prep: | 10 min |
| Cook: | 50 min |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
- 3 1/2 cups torn stale Italian bread (about 1/4 loaf)
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 pounds ground beef chuck
- 1 small bunch parsley, chopped(about 1 cup)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 mini mozzarella balls (bocconcini)
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 3 to 4 sprigs basil, plus chopped leaves for topping
- Kosher salt
- Ricotta cheese, for topping
Instructions
- Make the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and brush a baking sheet with olive oil. Pulse the bread in a food processor to make coarse crumbs. Transfer to a small bowl, add the milk and set aside to soak. Lightly beat the eggs in a large bowl, then add the beef, parsley, parmesan, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and the red pepper flakes; mix with your hands to combine. Add the bread-milk mixture and mix until just combined (do not overmix).
- Dampen your hands and shape the meat mixture into 4 large balls. Make an indentation in the center of each with your thumb and stuff with a mini mozzarella ball, then mold the meat around the cheese. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet and bake until browned and firm, 25 to 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, 1 cup water, the basil sprigs and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes.
- Remove the meatballs from the oven and add to the sauce, spooning some of the sauce on top. Continue cooking, occasionally spooning the sauce over the meatballs, until tender and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Serve with ricotta and chopped basil.
- You can form all of these meatballs a day ahead; cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 4 servings |
| Calories | 1048 |
| Total Fat | 63 g |
| Saturated Fat | 27 g |
| Carbohydrates | 33 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 14 g |
| Protein | 91 g |
| Cholesterol | 343 mg |
| Sodium | 1700 mg |
Reviews
Super good, great idea with the mozzarella balls in the middle. I did add a little dry oregano to the meatball mixture, and I made eight meatballs instead of four: they turned out great. The pepper flakes add a little zing, which is really nice. Will be making again!
Can you brown these first before baking? Just so they have a bit of color?
I have been trying for years to get great meatballs my family thanks you
OMG!!!!!! BEST. MEATBALLS. EVER. I followed the recipe almost exactly, but did use San Marzano tomatoes, and did make them smaller. This is a FABULOUS KEEPER!!! Thank you!!!!!!
This was a very quick spaghetti and meatballs recipe that my family loved.
Very easy but very bland. My husband and I don’t like really spicy foods so I was really surprised that these did not have more flavor. It does make huge meatballs. I made four large and for medium. Just so so for us.
Really great and easy! I was concerned about cooking the meatballs in the oven first but they held together and came out well. I didn’t use ricotta because I don’t care for it; I could have used cream cheese instead but it honestly didn’t need it. I added fresh basil to the meatballs and wished I had some left to add to the sauce. I used cherry-sized fresh mozzarella because that was what was available. I made the meatballs smaller than the recipe called for and less oven time and simmered the meatballs in the sauce for an hour or so. Really great and even better the next day. Perfect amount of heat. I will make often with more basil and other herbs; personal preference.
Excellent!! Easy recipe to follow and came out really well. Served with fresh bread and fresh ricotta, delicious!
Good deal
Amazing !