Updated on June 26th, 2022
If you’ve been searching the net for the perfect recipe for Italian meatballs, your search has officially come to an end. Look no further because today I have for you the best Italian meatball recipe on the face of this earth.
Now before I continue I already know what your thinking, “but Bobby everyone claims to have the best meatball recipe,” and as true as that may be, these meatballs really are the best!
With their amazing flavor, they are sure to impress anyone, and they are great for eating for a casual dinner or to make on any special occasion. If you’re feeding a large crowd, make sure to make a lot because these are going to disappear.
I usually bake these in the oven, but you can also simmer them in pasta sauce for about 40 minutes and you will be amazed at the perfect texture it gives them. These meatballs can also be pre-made and then frozen, so you can just pull them out of the freezer and cook them whenever you like.
They go great with noodles and pasta sauce topped with mozzarella or parmesan cheese. Enjoy.
Italian Meatball Recipe
Ingredients
- 750 grams of beef or pork mince (you can mix)
- 1/4 cup crushed parmesan cheese
- 1 chicken egg
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons salt (can be less)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (oregano)
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients in one large bowl.
- Mold small meatballs from the mixture. If you are not going to cook them right now, put them in the freezer to cook later.
- Preheat your oven to 175 ° C and place the meatballs on a baking sheet (I used the pizza shape as a baking tray).
- Place the baking tray in the oven and bake for 25 minutes.
What type of parmesan do you recommend? My bf is very simplistic…does the grated stuff that comes in the green can work ok? Or should I get the good stuff in the tub in the refrigerated section?
Jessica Kimball – I use the grated stuff in the gren can myself 🙂
I am making these for Christmas Eve. By the other comments I am so excited and jsut know they will taste amazing. Thanks for posting it and the excellent pics!
the best ever. what a meatball sandwich these make!
These are the most amazing meatballs!!! Thank you for the recipe! I make what I call two bite meatballs. I keep the oven at the same temperature but I cook them for 40 minutes (fully cooked) and then let them simmer in a jar tomato sauce for about 20.
Your meatballs were excellent. I am a guy, and i am keeping the recipe to charm the ladies and make them think i can cook lol!
I was looking for a meatball recipe when I came across this one. After reading your intro to your recipe, I told my son even if they are not good I have to try them ,because he sounds so positive they are the best. I made them last week and needless to say, you are right ,they are the best!!
We will definitely keep this one. Thanks
after a little browsing i came across your recipe and decided i would try it. Turned out Excellent! Thanks for posting it.
WONDERFUL!!! They were so good, that my boyfriend made me make them twice in the last month.
I saved this recipe a very long time ago, and I have been making these meatballs ever since! They are by far the best meatballs. I am such a picky meatball eater, and I kid you not, these are the only ones I love! My husband loves them too. Now I just need to find a way to make fresh marinara sauce…
Thank you so much for your meatball recipe!
Thanks this was one of the best recipes i tried for meatballs it turned out great and my friends like it as well
OMG! They are still finishing in the oven but I snuck a try and they are marvelous I think the milk and parmesan really make it stand apart.
I just made these…delicious!! great recipe, thank you!
This recipe is pretty close to my Sicilian grandmother’s recipe that I use. But her recipe also has finely chopped onion, which I highly recommend. Also I double the amount of cheese and use pecorino romano which has a sharper flavor than parmesan. Also I add a small can of roasted garlic flavored tomato sauce to the meat mixture for extra moistness and flavor. The key to tender meatballs is to have enough moisture in the meat mixture.
(wooh! so many comments)
I love love love the recipe, especially with the touch of parmesan. I made these for an intimate gathering over spaghetti and meatballs. Normally I like my meat inside my spaghetti sauce, but I was serving vegetarians.
I prefer making them in a pan on the stove rather than in the oven, because with the oven method, the parmesan cheese melted outside of the meatball. However, I think that when I get the chance I will wholly prefer cooking these babies inside some spaghetti sauce 😉
I got divorced after 25 years of marriage. One of my worries was learning how to cook and not just do takeout or rely on my microwave. I took a look at this recipe and figured “well there’s no time like the present”. I thought that if it does not turn out well my dog will enjoy it. My dog did not get to try them – they came out great !
I happened to come across this recipe recently. These meatballs rock! They go great with my homemade sauce! Lol, I got approval from my picky Italian boyfriend, which is big in my book. He can’t get enough of these! Thanks for sharing this easy and yummy recipe!
I LOVE this recipe! I made it once for my family and they loved it so much, that I had to make the meatballs almost once a week. To change things up a bit, I used this exact recipe to make burgers instead. The best homemade burgers ever.
I have searched high and low for a delicious, yet healthy meatball recipe. I LOVE to cook for my husband and myself (empty-nesters) sometimes spending 3 hrs making a meal! We had meatballs in a restaurant some time ago and he thought they were great…I was not impressed and said I could do better! Whoops! So for Christmas I gave him (2) “coupons” for “Meatballs”. Wasn’t happy with my first attempt but he cashed in his last coupon yesterday and I tried your recipe…Thank you!!!! Love it as you use only one egg and no oil to brown the meatballs. Only change I made was to use 3/4 lb lean turkey and 3/4 lb buffalo. Awesome! Thanks again!
Many thanks! Great recipe, also appreciate comments on using ice cream scoop for forming-my hands don’t “work” too well anymore. Also, the ingredients are those I usually have on hand; fresh is great (for herbs etc.) if you have access, but I don’t all the time. I’ve always used parm, but I’m going to try some mozzarella if I’ve got some around. So, where else can I find more of your recipes? Again, many thanks, a great make-it-now-freeze-for later IF there’s any left over!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I had leftover ground beef and pork from making Korean potstickers (mandu) and thought I’d give this a try. So delicious! My sister and I gobbled them up without sauce or toppings – these are great on their own.
These are without a doubt the best meatballs I have ever experienced. I made some for a snack this afternoon.
I’m definitely going to make burgers using this recipe as layC mentioned above.
Absolutely wonderful, I do allot of entertaining and these meatballs are hit with everyone. Thank you so much..
I made these yesterday. I cut down on the salt and garlic and substituted Contadina thick and zesty tomato sauce for the milk. This is by far the best recipe for Italian meatballs that I have come across. Delicious.
once i bum an egg fr my neighbour i will be making these tonight;) i have to use whole wheat bread (but it is italian!) lol. i’m drying the crumbs in the oven now..will let u know how it goes:)
Thank you so much for this delicious meatball recipe. They are so tender and everyone in my family loves my meatballs now. Can’t thank you enough, couldn’t help but notice you have 2 yrs of positive posts… That’s impressive, and says it all ! Thanks again.
I make these ahead and freeze them in a zip lock bag. Then when I have surprise guests I put them in a pot with a jar of spagetti sauce and have a yummy meal fast.!
The best meatballs I’ve every made!! I did something different though because I couldn’t decide whether or not I wanted to cook them in sauce or not. I broiled them in the oven with some olive oil as stated but after 30 minutes I added sauce and cooked them until the sauce got that deep rich look with a little burn around the corners. Super delicious and so very juicy!!!! Thank you for the recipe.
Great recipe… I substitute 1 lb of ground turkey and 1 lb of Italian sausage (health reasons). Also, can’t have too much minced garlic.
These are fantastic!! My toddler ate six in one shot and constantly asks for meatballs now. Making them again this weekend – can’t wait!
These are so delicious!
I like to make them with my homemade gnocchi and sauce.
Yum!
I am trying these tonight. Do I need fresh grated parmesan or will the Kraft in the can do? I am looking forward to this!!!
Connie – Kraft in the can will work. Enjoy.
These ARE the best meatballs I’ve ever had. Added 1/2 pf a small onion, minced and cut back salt to 1/2 t. We couldn’t stop eating them as a snack. I have to make some more today.
Thanks for this post.
If I make the meatballs bigger than suggested do i have to adjust the time and will they still come out the same way? Im going to make these tonight the way you described but I was just curious because I like giant meatballs
Candace – Yes, bigger meatballs will have to cook a little longer depending on the size. Otherwise it should have no other effect.
I was looking for a quick meatball recipe tonight and stumbled upon this one. The meatballs turned out great! I like larger meatballs, so I used the above ingredients to make 6 meatballs. It didn’t require any additional cooking time, and they were delicious and juicy. Tasty and super easy recipe.
Am planning to make this recipe for a crowd. How about a recipe for the sauce, as well? Thanks!
Thanks so much! I usually cook them in a frying pan but I really like them done in the oven! Your recipe is very similar to mine.
Great. i did spice it up a bit, made two batches. added some italian seasons. the simmer method makes for a more tender meatball but both ways worked great. ty
hey!!! Just came to this recipe for quick delicious meatballs. I must say, it turned out GREAT! My family is enjoying them as I type this quick comment! THANKS!!!!
I really enjoyed reading all the feedback to this recipe! It inspired me to go ahead and try it myself. I was just about to get started, when I realized I got fresh parsley instead of dried!! Hope it turns out ok…Wish me luck!
yeah man good photos but i made thses meetballs and they were epic as my girlfriend loves them alot and so did i .
Great recipe!. But since I’m from the south and love seasoning so much I always put extra and also add lots of green onions…the flavor is awesome!!.
But of course I also love braised pigs feet pressure cooked about 10 minutes then dropped into my spaghetti sauce also,so delicious!.
I made these tonight, but I filled mine with Mozzarella cheese. Everyone loved them. Thanks for the recipe!
Made these fabulous, tasty meatballs, my tenants knocked on my door because of the aroma! Great hit! I made sandwiches, I feel like a celebrity!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Amazing ! Mmmmm made meatball sandwhiches !!
These meatballs are the BEST meatballs ever…
well i hope this recipe is worth wasting over thirty pieces of paper on my printer , too bad i couldnt have just printed out the recipe instead of a gazillian comments.
david- all you need to do is click “Print This Post” on the top by the recipe title and it will not print the comments. To answer your question, it is worth it! 🙂