Description
This easy meatball recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners or weekend comfort meals. Juicy meatballs seared to perfection and simmered in rich marinara make a cozy and crowd-pleasing dish. Whether you serve them over spaghetti, in hoagies, or on their own, this recipe is one of the best dinner ideas to keep in rotation. Simple ingredients, quick prep, and bold flavor make it a top choice for easy dinner, food ideas, and hearty comfort meals.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup milk
1 large egg
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup finely grated onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups marinara sauce
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix breadcrumbs with milk and let soak for 5 minutes.
2. Add ground beef, egg, Parmesan, parsley, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until combined.
3. Form into 16 evenly sized meatballs, about 1.5 inches each.
4. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Brown meatballs in batches for 5-6 minutes, turning to sear all sides.
5. Add marinara sauce to the skillet and bring to a simmer.
6. Return meatballs to the skillet, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until fully cooked and tender.
7. Serve hot over pasta, in sandwiches, or with veggies.
Notes
Do not overmix the meat to keep the meatballs tender.
Letting the breadcrumbs soak ensures extra moisture in every bite.
Freeze cooked or uncooked meatballs for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 meatballs
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 610mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: easy meatball recipe, dinner ideas, quick dinner, weeknight dinner, hearty meal