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Home » Course » Main Dish » Classic Italian Meatballs

Classic Italian Meatballs

By: Rosemary Published: February 19, 2021 Updated on: October 30, 2021

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This easy and simple recipe produces a soft and tender meatball. One of the best Classic Italian Meatball Recipes. Serve them the Italian way as a Main Dish or topped on a big bowl of pasta. Perfect either way!

meatballs in a white bowl

Meatballs are one of our favourite meals in my family. My daughters would love when I served them with a side dish of Peas. I would usually serve them the Italian way as a Main dish or second plate. and sometimes a simple pasta or risotto as a first plate.

Table of Contents

  • How to make them
      • Never Miss a Recipe!
  • What is the best meat to use?
  • Ingredients for the Best Meatballs
  • What does Meatball mean in Italian?
  • How to store them
  • More Meatball Recipes
  • Classic Italian Meatballs
    • Ingredients  1x2x3x
      • FOR THE MEATBALLS
      • FOR THE SAUCE
    • Instructions 
      • FOR THE MEATBALLS
      • FOR THE SAUCE
    • Notes
    • Nutrition

How to make them

In a large bowl mix together the ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt and pepper.

Slowly add the milk until you have a soft compact mixture.

meatball mixture in a white bowl milk added to make a soft mixture

Form the mixture into small balls.

meatballs formed on a black plate

In a large pan add the olive oil, garlic, tomato puree/passata or a can of peeled tomatoes, salt, fresh basil, oregano and water. Mix to combine. Add the meatballs and gently mix to cover them in sauce.

the sauce mixed in the pan and the meatballs added

Cover the pan and cook for about 20 minutes, uncover and continue to cook for about 15 minutes or until cooked through and the sauce has thickened. Serve as a main dish or over a bowl of your favourite al dente pasta. Don’t forget a sprinkle of Parmesan Cheese.

meatballs before and after cooked

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    What is the best meat to use?

    This recipe (and also the way my mother-in-law made them) is with one pound of 80% lean ground beef, if you prefer you can add half ground beef and half ground pork or even Italian sausage with the casing removed.

    Ingredients for the Best Meatballs

    • Be sure to use freshly grated Parmesan Cheese and not the cheese sold in plastic packages, cans or jars.
    • Ground beef with 15-20 % fat. A little fat content helps the meatballs stay juicy.
    • For the Tomato sauce be sure to use tomato puree/passata,  just the tomatoes with nothing added.
    • Use fresh parsley and fresh basil.

    meatballs in a black pan

    What does Meatball mean in Italian?

    In Italian meatballs are called polpette and they are usually made from beef or sometimes an addition of ground pork, they contain ingredients such as garlic, eggs, parsley, bread or bread crumbs and usually Parmigiana. Polpette in Italian is also used as a term of endearment, used to express affection.

    How to store them

    The cooked meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three to four days. They can also be frozen cooked in a freezer safe container for up to three months. If you prefer you can even freeze them uncooked. Place on a cookie in the freezer until firm then transfer to a freezer safe container or bag. They will keep for three to four months.

    More Meatball Recipes

    • Double Cheese Meatballs 2 Ways
    • Italian Eggplant Meatballs
    • Little Meatballs with Parmesan Garlic Rice

    So if you are looking for a delicious way to make meatballs then I hope you try this Classic Italian Meatball Recipe. Buon Appetito!

    meatballs with parmesan cheese on top of pasta in a white bowl

    meatballs in a white bowl

    Classic Italian Meatballs

    Rosemary Molloy
    This easy and simple recipe produces a soft and tender meatball. One of the best Classic Italian Meatball Recipes.
    5 from 15 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
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    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Main Dish
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 26 meatballs
    Calories 71 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    FOR THE MEATBALLS

    • 1 pound ground beef (500 grams)
    • 1 large egg
    • 3 tablespoons bread crumbs
    • 3 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • ½-1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1-2 dashes black pepper
    • ¼ cup milk (I used 2%) (60 grams)

    FOR THE SAUCE

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1-2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1½ cups tomato puree/passata (338 grams)
    • ¼-½ teaspoon salt
    • 4-5 fresh basil leaves (chopped)
    • ½ teaspoon oregano
    • ¼ cup water (60 grams)

    Instructions
     

    FOR THE MEATBALLS

    • In a large bowl mix together the ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt and pepper.  Slowly add the milk until you have a soft compact mixture.
      Form the mixture into small balls.

    FOR THE SAUCE

    • In a large pan add the olive oil, garlic, tomato puree/passata, salt, fresh basil, oregano and water. Mix to combine.
    • Add the meatballs and gently mix to cover them in sauce. Cover the pan and cook on low/medium (more low than medium) heat for approximately 15- 20 minutes, uncover and continue to cook for another 15-20 minutes or until cooked through and the sauce has thickened. If you find the sauce thickening too much then add a little more water.
    • Serve immediately as a main dish or over your favourite al dente pasta. Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese before serving. Enjoy!

    Notes

    Makes 26-27 meatballs.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 71kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 127mgPotassium: 82mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 76IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword classic Italian meatballs, Italian meatballs, meatballs
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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      Beef, Main Dish, Pasta

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      1. Sophie says

        January 17, 2023 at 1:53 pm

        Quick question for you…Do you use plain breadcrumbs or Italian flavored breadcrumbs?

        Reply
        • Rosemary says

          January 17, 2023 at 2:46 pm

          Hi Sophie, I use plain breadcrumbs. Take care!

          Reply
      2. eileen says

        April 26, 2022 at 1:29 pm

        i love to make for my grandkids
        But they always come ou heavy How do I get them lighter and fluffier?
        Thank You
        Love reading your website
        For those that do not eat meat could I make the meatballs with ground turkey breast?

        Reply
        • Rosemary says

          April 27, 2022 at 9:23 pm

          Hi Eileen, make sure you don’t handle or mix the meat too much, that can cause heavier meatballs, or maybe use a fattier ground beef, that should help also. And yes you could use ground turkey. Thanks so much, so glad you enjoy the site. Take care.

          Reply
      3. Claudette says

        January 29, 2022 at 5:46 pm

        5 stars
        I’m not one to rate recipes I find online but this was amazing! I substituted the milk for equal parts ricotta cheese… These were so so good. Will definitely make again!

        Reply
        • Rosemary says

          January 29, 2022 at 9:45 pm

          Hi Claudette, thanks so much, so glad you liked them.

          Reply
      4. linda bianco says

        June 7, 2021 at 12:16 am

        5 stars
        Excellent recipe!

        Reply
        • Rosemary says

          June 7, 2021 at 6:45 pm

          Hi Linda, thanks so much so glad you enjoyed it. Have a great week.

          Reply
      5. Sandra Vazquez says

        March 30, 2021 at 3:29 pm

        5 stars
        I use Romano cheese in my meatballs, and I grate my garlic rather than mince, it seems to bland better. What are your thoughts on this?

        Reply
        • Rosemary says

          March 31, 2021 at 7:36 pm

          Hi Sandra, sure Romana is a good cheese to use, a stronger flavour, and grating your garlic is a good idea. 🙂

          Reply
      6. Stephen Faccenda says

        March 3, 2021 at 7:25 pm

        5 stars
        Hey again Rosemary, I’ve got your Classic Italian Meatballs underway at this present moment.
        I’ve put them into my Slow Cooker so that they cook nice and slow.
        My only query is this, you don’t say to brown off the meatballs in this recipe. Am I reading that correctly? In all the years that I’ve made Meatballs I’ve always browned them off and find it strange not to do so.
        As I said, they are cooking away now so we’ll see how they turn out.
        Many thanks as always.
        Stephen.

        Reply
        • Rosemary says

          March 3, 2021 at 7:30 pm

          Hi Stephen, no browning of the meatballs in this recipe, that’s what makes them extra soft. Let me know how it goes. 🙂

          Reply
          • Stephen Faccenda says

            March 4, 2021 at 6:13 pm

            5 stars
            Hi Rosemary, The Meatballs we’re well received. My wife loved the sauce, she said it was nice to have a home made sauce instead of the jars that I’ve used before. I think I’ll be making it as a staple for some of my future pasta dishes. The meatballs were absolutely delicious, lovely & soft. Shirley (my wife) loved them too.
            Slow cooker method on Low took 4 hours tho, well worth the wait.
            Thanks again Rosemary.
            Regards, Stephen.

          • Rosemary says

            March 4, 2021 at 8:47 pm

            Hi Stephen, thanks so glad to her you both liked the recipe and that turned out well with the slow cooker also. Take care.

      7. DOUGLAS B says

        February 27, 2021 at 1:24 pm

        5 stars
        Just love all your recipes, and the meatballs are grand, almost the same recipe as mine. Thanks so much Rosemary

        DB

        Reply
        • Rosemary says

          March 2, 2021 at 5:05 pm

          Hi Douglas, thanks so much. Have a great week.

          Reply
      8. Angelina says

        February 26, 2021 at 6:45 pm

        These sound super delicious! I’ll make them soon, & serve ’em with a loaf of crusty bread w/olive oil, & a huge Italian Salad. We adults will love this, but I’m sure my little ones will want some ‘Pazghetti’ with their Meatballs. That’s ok with me. I’ll cook-up some whole wheat Angel Hair pasta for them. Thank you.

        Reply
        • Rosemary says

          February 26, 2021 at 7:23 pm

          Hi Angelina, thanks so much, let me know how it goes. Have a great weekend.

          Reply

      Hi, I'm Rosemary.

      Living in Italy I learned to cook authentic Italian dishes using whole ingredients, fresh veggies and delicious spices. So take a seat and have a taste! Read More

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