Jul 13 2026
Restaurants›Salvatori's Fort Wayne Southwest›Meatball Appetizer Recipe

Meatball Appetizer Recipe

Inspired by Salvatori's Fort Wayne Southwest
Time1h
Serves4

Two of our hand-rolled meatballs, Mancini peppers & onions, and meat sauce baked under a blanket of mozzarella blend; served with toasted garlic bread

Jump to Recipe

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Meatballs

Peppers and Onions

Meat Sauce

Toppings and Bread

Method

Meatballs Preparation

  1. 1

    Prepare the Meat Mixture

    In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until just combined.

  2. 2

    Form the Meatballs

    Roll the meat mixture into 2-inch meatballs and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Cooking Peppers and Onions

  1. 3

    Sauté Peppers and Onions

    In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced Mancini peppers and sliced onion, and sauté until they are soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Making Meat Sauce

  1. 4

    Prepare the Sauce

    In the same skillet, add crushed tomatoes, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt. Stir to combine and simmer for about 10 minutes until slightly thickened.

Baking

  1. 5

    Bake the Meatballs

    Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the meatballs in a baking dish. Pour the sautéed peppers and onions over the meatballs, then cover with the meat sauce. Finally, sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top.

  2. 6

    Cook in the Oven

    Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serving

  1. 7

    Prepare Garlic Bread

    While the meatballs are baking, toast the garlic bread slices in the oven for about 5-7 minutes until golden brown.

  2. 8

    Serve

    Remove the meatballs from the oven, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve hot with toasted garlic bread on the side.

More from Salvatori's Fort Wayne Southwest