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The best thing about cooking is coming up with your own original recipes. A great meatball recipe is a must for any cook. Meatballs are extremely versatile and go well with damn near anything. You can pair these meatballs with a shoe and they would still be amazing – lol.

Meatballs should be packed with flavor, they should be simple and really juicy! Keeping your meatballs juicy is all about the meat. I’ve found that ground beef and ground pork at a ratio of 80% meat to 20% fat is the perfect balance. Dealing with ground meat – or any meat for that matter, I always suggest choosing the highest quality you can find. A lot of times, the food industry focuses more on quantity than quality, so knowing where and how your meat was treated before it reaches your plate is very important!

This recipe is super simple and foolproof! The meatballs come out juicy every single time, and with very little effort. You can go all the way classic and serve them over pasta for a simple spaghetti and meatballs dish. Or you could also top them with your favorite marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese, and enjoy with a side of toasted french bread. Either way, you can’t go wrong. The possibilities are truly endless! Once you give this recipe a try, I promise you’ll never go back to pre-packaged or frozen meatballs… EVER! 🙂

served over creamy cauliflower puree....so good!

served over creamy cauliflower puree with my favorite marinara sauce….so good!

 

Print Recipe

The Classic Meatball

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Author: Kingcooks

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. of ground beef highest quality (80/20)
  • 1 lb. of ground pork highest quality (80/20)
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp. salt
  • 1 tbsp. pepper
  • 1 tbsp. dried oregano
  • 1/2 tbsp. onion powder
  • 1/2 tbsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tbsp. paprika
  • 1/3 tbsp. red pepper flakes
  • 1 large egg

Instructions

  • Pre-heat your oven to 400F.
  • Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside. (This step is optional but great for easy clean up!)
  • Add all the ingredients listed into a large mixing bowl.
  • Using your hands, mix until everything is evenly combined, being careful not to over work your meatballs.
  • Note: Over mixing may cause your meatballs to come out tough and rubbery. So handle with care!
  • Once everything is fully incorporated, roll about 2 tbsps. at a time into balls. They don’t have to be perfectly round but you want to make sure there aren’t any cracks in your meatballs. You should get 20-24 meatballs total.
  • Set your meatballs about an inch apart on your aluminum lined baking sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until juices run clear.

Notes

At this point, you can add them to your favorite marinara sauce and let it cook for an additional 10-15 minutes. You can serve them over spaghetti for a simple spaghetti and meatballs dish, or serve it over some delicious creamy cauliflower puree. You can also top them with marinara and mozzarella cheese and broil them in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Either way, you can’t go wrong!

Looking for sides? Check out this recipe for Creamy Cauliflower Puree! Paleo friendly and healthier alternative to mashed potatoes and goes extremely well with this meatball recipe. Guaranteed to please any and everyone in the family :)!

Enjoy! Drop a comment and share your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by!