Description
Hearty Italian Giant Lazy Meatballs promise comfort and flavor in one delectable dish. Rich ground beef, herbs, and cheese combine to create a meal that brings Mediterranean warmth directly to your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
Dairy and Eggs:
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 slices of bread, crumbled
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Soak bread crumbs in milk for 10-15 minutes, allowing them to absorb liquid and soften completely.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, gently combine ground beef and pork using two forks to maintain a light texture, avoiding compacting the meat.
- Incorporate all seasonings including salt, black pepper, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, olive oil, Parmesan, and chopped parsley into the meat mixture.
- Fold in eggs and moistened bread crumbs, mixing thoroughly but delicately to ensure even distribution of ingredients.
- Cover the meat mixture and refrigerate for 1 hour to enhance flavor melding and improve structural integrity.
- Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease a roasting pan to prevent sticking.
- Using dampened hands, form four generously sized meatballs, ensuring uniform size for consistent cooking.
- Arrange meatballs in the prepared pan, maintaining space between them for even heat circulation.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes until internal temperature reaches 160-165°F, guaranteeing safe and thorough cooking.
- Remove from oven and generously ladle tomato sauce over the meatballs.
- Sprinkle Monterey Jack cheese followed by Parmigiano-Reggiano, creating a multi-layered cheese topping.
- Return to oven for 5-10 minutes until sauce is bubbling and cheese melts completely.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately while hot and aromatic.
Notes
- Swap bread with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs for celiac or gluten-sensitive diets.
- Reduce cayenne pepper quantity or omit completely for milder flavor profiles and kid-friendly versions.
- Opt for leaner ground meats like turkey or chicken to create a lighter, lower-fat meatball option without compromising texture.
- Ensure thorough mixing using forks prevents overworking meat, maintaining tender and juicy meatball consistency.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-55 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 412
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 138 mg