Meatballs Recipe
Make Meatballs Recipe in just 1h . Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Meatball mixture
For cooking
Sauce (optional)
Method
Meatball mixture
- 1
Soak breadcrumbs
Place the fresh breadcrumbs in a small bowl and pour the milk over them. Let sit for 5 minutes until the crumbs absorb the milk and become moist.
- 2
Combine ingredients
In a large bowl, add the ground beef, ground pork, soaked breadcrumbs (including any excess milk), grated Parmesan, chopped parsley, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Crack in the egg.
- 3
Mix gently
Using your hands or a fork, mix just until combined. Do not overwork — overmixing makes meatballs dense. The mixture should be evenly combined and slightly sticky.
- 4
Portion
Form the mixture into meatballs about 1 1/4 inches (roughly 1.5 oz each) using a scoop or your hands. You should get about 20–24 meatballs depending on exact size.
For cooking
- 5
Preheat pan
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil and butter. Allow the oil to shimmer and the butter to melt but not brown.
- 6
Brown meatballs
Add meatballs in a single layer without crowding (work in batches if necessary). Cook, turning occasionally, until all sides are nicely browned, about 6–8 minutes total. They will not need to be fully cooked through at this stage.
- 7
Finish cooking
If serving immediately without sauce, lower heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and cook for another 6–8 minutes, turning once, until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
Sauce (optional)
- 8
- 9
Build sauce
Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, dried basil, sugar (if using), salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
- 10
Simmer with meatballs
Add the browned meatballs to the sauce, nestling them into the tomatoes. Add up to 1/4 cup water or red wine if the sauce is too thick. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 20–25 minutes, turning meatballs once, until meatballs are cooked through and sauce has thickened.
- 11