Meatball Recipes are great to have on hand if you make a lot of stuff with pasta or other noodles. I know it’s a lot easier to just buy some pre-made, but it’s actually pretty fun to put these together and you can experiment with adding different types of meats or seasonings.
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What You’ll Need to Make This Meatball Recipe
What it is | Name | Where to Buy |
Cookware | Skillet | Amazon |
Cookware | Big mixing bowl | Amazon |
Cookware | Kitchen scale | Amazon |
Cookware | Measuring spoons | Amazon |
Cookware | Small kitchen knife | Amazon |
Cookware | Cutting board | Amazon |
Cookware | Baking sheet | Amazon |
Cookware | Aluminum foil | Amazon |
Cookware | Parchment paper | Amazon |
Cookware | Meat thermometer | Amazon |
Ingredients | 1 LB ground pork, 72% lean/28% fat | Store |
Ingredients | 1 LB ground beef, 80% lean/20% fat | Store |
Ingredients | 1/4 tsp oregano | Store |
Ingredients | 1/4 tsp parsley | Store |
Ingredients | 1 clove of garlic, minced or 3/4 teaspoon of minced garlic | Store |
Ingredients | 1 large egg | Store |
Ingredients | 1/4 cup breadcrumbs | Store |
Ingredients | 30 grams/about 1 ounce Parmesan cheese | Store |
Ingredients | 1 to 1.5 tablespoons olive oil (for the skillet part) | Store |
Ingredients | Salt/Pepper to Taste | Store |
If I made this over again, I might go actually hunt down some veal instead of the meat I used. Technically, true Italian meatballs would use that but it’s way cheaper to go with pork and beef.
The other thing is that I used a little too much olive oil (2 tbsp’s) in the skillet and so all the meatballs were kind of coated in it when they were done baking.
At the same time, if I threw these into some pasta with red sauce, butter, and cheese, it wouldn’t really matter. The other thing is that I didn’t really use any salt and pepper and that took away from the taste but otherwise these were great.
Let’s get start with step 1 of this meatball recipe. First, grab a big mixing bowl.
![big mixing bowl](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_103851-1024x576.jpg)
Then, grab the ground pork. You don’t have to have the exact same kind, although going extra lean might not be as good.
![ground pork](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_103913-1024x576.jpg)
Throw all of that into the bowl. Unless you don’t want to make as many meatballs.
![ground pork in a bowl](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_104013-scaled-e1648147561756-1024x576.jpg)
Next, grab your ground beef for the meatball recipe. This whole process is kind of similar to making meatloaf.
![ground beef](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_104037-1024x576.jpg)
Throw that in the bowl, too.
![](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_104200-scaled-e1648147793492-1024x576.jpg)
You could mash it around at this point if you want, but I’m waiting until all the other ingredients are in there to mix it around.
Next, grab some minced garlic. You can also chop up a clove, but I figured it’d be easier to just buy some like this and save the time.
![minced garlic](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_104302-1024x576.jpg)
If you do what I did, measure out 3/4 teaspoon of the pre-minced garlic. You’ll need a measuring spoon for that.
![measuring spoon](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_104404-1024x576.jpg)
Measure out 3 of those 1/4 teaspoons of the minced garlic. Dump them into the bowl with the meat.
![meatball recipe](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_104455-1024x576.jpg)
Next, grab an egg for this meatball recipe.
![egg](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_104631-576x1024.jpg)
Crack the egg into the bowl with the meat. Be careful not to let any shell get in there.
![cracking an egg for meatball recipe](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_104647-1024x576.jpg)
Next, get your bread crumbs.
![bread crumbs](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_104744-1024x576.jpg)
Grab a 1/4 cup measuring cup.
![](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_104817-scaled-e1648148525762-1024x576.jpg)
Measure out 1/4 cup of the breadcrumbs and dump those into the bowl.
![dumping breadcrumbs for meatball recipe](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_104842-scaled-e1648148842837-1024x576.jpg)
Next, grab the parsley
![parsley](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_104959-1024x576.jpg)
I bought waaaaaaay too much for this meatball recipe. But we’ll get to that part in a minute.
Wash it properly
![parsley about to be chopped](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_105110-scaled-e1648149067787-1024x576.jpg)
Yea, I could take about 20% off that parsley. Maybe more like 99%.
Chop and measure out your 1/4 tsp of parsley.
![chopping parsley](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_105326-scaled-e1648149666396-1024x576.jpg)
Throw it into the bowl for mixing so you get that good parsley taste.
![meatball recipe](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_105658-1024x576.jpg)
Next, grab your oregano. You don’t need it to be super fresh or anything like I had. I actually had some dry oregano in the cabinet but didn’t see it so this one in the picture accidentally went on the shopping list.
![](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_105734-1024x576.jpg)
You’ll need 1/4 tsp of this, too. So, just like the last thing we did, eyeball the number of leaves that look like that much and wash them.
![washing leaves for meatball recipe](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_105829-1024x576.jpg)
Cut those up as finely as you can.
![chopping greens](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_110032-scaled-e1648150135253-1024x576.jpg)
Throw them into the bowl, too.
![throwing oregano into the bowl for the meatball recipe](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_110257-scaled-e1648150194116-1024x576.jpg)
Again, you can always mix this around while you’re prepping it. Next, grab your kitchen scale.
![kitchen scale](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_110403-1024x576.jpg)
Then, get the Parmesan cheese.
![parmesan cheese](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_110414-1024x576.jpg)
Measure out about 1 ounce of that.
![measuring cheese on a kitchen scale](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_110507-1024x576.jpg)
Dump it into the big bowl
![dumping cheese in bowl for meatball recipe](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_110513-1024x576.jpg)
Once that’s in there, it’s time to mix things around.
![hand mixing a meatball recipe](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_110729-1024x576.jpg)
This is probably a good part to add at least a teaspoon of salt. I didn’t do that, but I wish I had. You can also preheat your oven to 350 degrees F at this point.
Alternatively, it’s safe to wait until the meatballs are in the skillet before setting the oven.
![preheat oven to 350](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_110805-1024x576.jpg)
My meat kind of looked like a human brain after mixing it around in the bowl. As funny as that looks, it’s time to start breaking it up into the meatballs.
![meat](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_111211-scaled-e1648151273106-1024x576.jpg)
The size of the balls of meat for this meatball recipe can vary. I went with small-medium sized ones.
![meatball recipe balls of meat](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_112209-1024x576.jpg)
Next, get some olive oil.
![olive oil](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_112305-1024x576.jpg)
You’ll also need to get a tablespoon measuring spoon for this meatball recipe
![tablespoon](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_112308-1024x576.jpg)
Measure out 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil and pour it into a skillet that’s at medium to low heat. That’s so you can basically brown the meatballs but not go over the top with cooking them. That’s the oven’s job.
![pouring olive oil into skillet](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_112337-1024x576.jpg)
Next, put the meatballs into the skillet. After 3 minutes, flip them and cook on the other side.
![meatball recipe](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_112456-1024x576.jpg)
Use a fork to flip them over and make sure none get too stuck to the skillet.
![](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_112528-1024x576.jpg)
After those are done, put them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and aluminum foil for this meatball recipe. They were halfway (just flipped) in the below picture.
![](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_112910-1024x576.jpg)
It’s okay if they get a little bunched up on the baking sheet.
![baking sheet with meatballs](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_113854-1024x576.jpg)
Put them into the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F
![meatballs](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_113903-1024x576.jpg)
When the timer goes off, make sure that they’re at least 165 degrees F with a meat thermometer.
![](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_120032-1024x576.jpg)
As you can see, there’s a lot of excess olive oil goin’ on there. Mine got a little overdone but for the most part they were good.
![meatball recipe with thermometer](https://www.thiscollegelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20220324_120041-1024x576.jpg)
That’s pretty much it! It wouldn’t hurt to check the temperature on a few of them in this meatball recipe just in case one didn’t quite get as done as the others.
Notecard Version
Meatball Recipe That's Easy to Make
Course: DinnerCuisine: Italian/RomanDifficulty: Medium15
minutes20
minutesIngredients
1 LB ground pork, 72% lean/28% fat
1 LB ground beef, 80% lean/20% fat
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp parsley
1 clove of garlic, minced or 3/4 teaspoon of minced garlic
1 large egg
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
30 grams/about 1 ounce Parmesan cheese
1 to 1.5 tablespoons olive oil (for the skillet part)
Salt/Pepper to Taste
Directions
- Mix 1 LB of ground pork, 1 LB of ground beef, 1 ounce of parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon of oregano, 1/4 teaspoon of parsley, 1 egg, 3/4 teaspoon of minced garlic, about 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 cup of breadcrumbs in a large mixing bowl.
- Mix together by hand and create small balls of meat. Set them on a plate and put a skillet on medium-low heat.
- Put 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the skillet and put the meatballs in. Cook for 3 minutes and flip with a fork, cooking the other side for 3 minutes. Use the fork to make sure they don't stick to the skillet, too.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and the foil with parchment paper. Put the partially cooked meatballs on the sheet and baking in the oven for about 20 minutes. 20 was plenty for me, as you can see in the above pics.
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