Description
This classic Baked Italian Meatballs recipe features tender, flavorful meatballs made with lean ground beef, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasonings. Perfectly baked to juicy perfection and easily paired with your favorite pasta sauce and noodles or zucchini noodles, this dish is a family-friendly, high-protein meal ideal for quick dinners and meal prep.
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
- Additional grated Parmesan cheese
For Serving
- Favorite pasta sauce
- Cooked pasta or zucchini noodles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400℉ and line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the lean ground beef, egg, milk, crushed crackers, Parmesan cheese, minced onion, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into 12 golf-ball-sized meatballs by hand or using a cookie scoop for even sizing.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the formed meatballs evenly spaced on the prepared parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake Meatballs: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165℉, ensuring they are fully cooked and juicy.
- Optional Sauce Toss: While the meatballs are baking, warm your favorite pasta sauce in a skillet over medium heat. After baking, transfer the meatballs to the skillet and gently toss with the sauce to coat and heat through.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve the meatballs over cooked pasta or zucchini noodles for a complete meal.
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- This recipe yields tender and flavorful meatballs that are a hit with the whole family, including children.
- Meal prep by making a batch ahead and reheating with pasta sauce for quick, nourishing dinners.
- Use crushed crackers or breadcrumbs interchangeably based on your pantry availability.
- For a lower-carb option, serve with zucchini noodles instead of traditional pasta.
- Make sure to cook meatballs to an internal temperature of 165℉ to ensure food safety.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs
- Calories: 239 calories
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 594 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
