Description
A simple and delicious recipe for baked Italian meatballs made with lean ground beef, seasoned with Italian herbs, Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder. These meatballs are baked to perfection, offering a healthier alternative to frying, and can be served with your favorite pasta sauce over pasta or zucchini noodles for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup milk (2%)
- ½ cup crushed crackers or breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup finely minced yellow onion
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Optional Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Additional grated Parmesan cheese
To Serve
- Any favorite pasta sauce
- Cooked pasta or zucchini noodles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper to prepare for baking the meatballs.
- Mix Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, milk, crushed crackers, Parmesan cheese, minced onion, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into 12 equal-sized meatballs, about the size of a golf ball, using your hands or a cookie scoop.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the meatballs evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 16-20 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F, ensuring they are fully cooked.
- Remove from Oven: Carefully remove the meatballs from the oven once baked through.
- Optional Sauce Toss: If desired, heat your preferred pasta sauce in a skillet over medium heat. Transfer the baked meatballs to the skillet and gently toss them in the sauce to heat through and absorb flavor.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and additional grated Parmesan cheese, then serve over cooked pasta or zucchini noodles for a complete meal.
- Store Leftovers: Place any leftover meatballs in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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Notes
- Using lean ground beef reduces fat content for a healthier meal.
- Crushed crackers or breadcrumbs both work well as binders, choose based on preference or dietary needs.
- Internal temperature should reach 165°F to ensure meatballs are safely cooked.
- Optional tossing in sauce adds flavor and moisture to the meatballs.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days or can be frozen for longer storage.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free crackers or breadcrumbs.
- Zucchini noodles are a great low-carb alternative to pasta.
Keywords: Baked Italian Meatballs, Italian meatballs recipe, healthy meatballs, baked meatballs, easy dinner, Italian dinner, ground beef meatballs