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Juicy Homemade Meatballs

These juicy homemade meatballs are packed with flavor and tenderness, thanks to a mix of meats, fresh breadcrumbs soaked in milk, and a touch of Parmesan. Perfect for simmering in sauce or serving on their own.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 1 pound ground beef 80 percent lean
  • 1/2 pound ground pork
  • 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil for frying

Method
 

  1. Add the fresh breadcrumbs and whole milk to a small bowl and let them soak for a few minutes to absorb the liquid.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, chopped parsley, the soaked breadcrumb mixture, and the egg.
  3. Mix the ingredients with your hands just until they are combined. Do not overmix to maintain a tender texture.
  4. Roll the mixture into golf ball sized meatballs and place them on a plate.
  5. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
  6. Add the meatballs to the skillet and brown them on all sides for about 6 minutes total. Do not fully cook through if you plan to simmer them in sauce.
  7. Transfer the browned meatballs into a simmering pot of sauce and cook gently for 20 minutes, until fully cooked through.

Notes

Use day-old bread for better breadcrumbs, freshly grated Parmesan for deeper flavor, and cook a test meatball to adjust seasoning before frying the whole batch. Meatballs can also be frozen after cooking for easy storage and reheating.