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Homemade Meatballs (Easy & Never Dry)

These juicy, tender homemade meatballs are made with ground beef, Parmesan, Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs, sautéed onion and garlic, then browned and simmered in marinara sauce for an easy and flavorful dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Ingredients Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 24 oz marinara sauce
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/4 white onion diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese plus more for garnish
  • ½ cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1½ tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¾ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil for sautéing
  • parsley garnish

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions until soft, then add garlic and cook until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, parmesan cheese, Italian bread crumbs, milk, egg, seasonings, and the sautéed onions and garlic. Mix just until combined.
  3. Form the mixture into small to medium-sized meatballs.
  4. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear meatballs on all sides until browned.
  5. Reduce heat to low. Add marina sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Cover and simmer for 25- 30 minutes, or until fully cooked.
  6. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve and enjoy!

Video

Notes

For tender meatballs, mix the ingredients only until combined and shape them gently rather than tightly packing the meat.
The meatballs only need to be browned during the first cooking stage. They’ll finish cooking while simmering in the marinara sauce.
If you make larger meatballs, they may need additional cooking time. Use an internal temperature of 160°F to determine doneness.
For a milder recipe, reduce or omit the crushed red pepper flakes.