Oven Baked Italian Meatballs
Total Time
50 minutes
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Rating
4.93 out of 5 stars
(41)
Ingredients
4 servings
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 24 oz / 800 g crushed tomato (2 x standard cans)
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp red pepper (chili) flakes (optional)
- 2 tsp dried Italian herb mix (parsley, basil, thyme, oregano)
- 1 tsp salt + black pepper
- 1 lightly packed cup of sliced white sandwich bread, torn into small pieces, crusts removed (Note 1)
- ½ onion, grated - including juices (yellow, brown or white)
- 14 oz / 400 g ground beef (beef mince)
- 3 oz / 100g ground pork (mince) or substitute with ground beef (beef mince) (Note 2)
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped (Note 3)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano (or parmesan), freshly grated
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Olive oil spray (or other oil spray)
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Parmigiano-Reggiano or parmesan, freshly grated
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Preparation
Step 1
Sauce:
Step 2
Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
Step 3
Place onion, garlic and olive oil in a (approx) 30 x 25 cm / 12 x 10" pan (Note 4). Mix, spread out, then bake for 8 minutes. (Start the meatballs)
Step 4
Remove from oven, add remaining Sauce ingredients. Mix.
Step 5
Place rack on top of pan.
Step 6
Meatballs:
Step 7
Turn oven up to 200C/390F.
Step 8
Place the bread and onion in a large bowl. Mix to combine so the onion juice soaks the bread, set aside for 3 minutes. Bread should disintegrate into mush - if not, add a splash of milk or water to help it along.
Step 9
Add all the remaining Meatball ingredients except oil spray. Use you hands to mix well.
Step 10
Measure out very generously heaped tablespoons and roll into firm balls. It should make around 20 - don't make them too small, they will cook too quickly.
Step 11
Place meatballs on the rack, ensuring they are positioned over the pan so the juices will drip into the Sauce.
Step 12
Spray generously with oil.
Step 13
Bake for 20 minutes. Optional: flick to grill/broil on high for 2 minutes at the end, to get better browning.
Step 14
Transfer meatballs from rack into the Sauce. Stir to coat meatballs in Sauce.
Step 15
Serve with spaghetti or other pasta of choice, garnished with fresh parsley and parmesan.
Step 16
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