Description
Juicy meatballs with a gooey, cheesy center, baked to golden perfection and served over spaghetti with rich tomato sauce. A comforting twist on classic Italian comfort food!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (or mix beef & pork)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 6–8 cubes of mozzarella cheese (or provolone)
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
- 12 oz spaghetti, cooked al dente
- 2 cups marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet or oven-safe skillet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, onion, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined (but don’t overwork).
- Take a portion of the meat mixture, flatten it in your hand, and place a cube of mozzarella in the center. Wrap meat around cheese, sealing tightly to form a ball. Repeat with remaining mixture.
- Arrange meatballs in skillet or baking dish. Bake for 18–20 minutes, until cooked through and lightly browned.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and Parmesan over the meatballs. Broil for 2–3 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- While meatballs bake, cook spaghetti to al dente. Heat marinara sauce in a saucepan. Toss pasta with sauce before serving.
- Plate spaghetti, top with meatball bombs, and garnish with parsley. Serve hot and enjoy the cheesy surprise inside!
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add red pepper flakes to the meat mixture.
- Feel free to substitute the cheese with your favorite type.
- These meatballs can be made ahead and frozen before baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg