Description
Succulent mozzarella stuffed meatballs bring Italian comfort straight to dinner tables with melty cheese hidden inside each savory bite. Hearty protein meets creamy indulgence, promising a delicious meal that satisfies hunger and delights taste buds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 lb (453 g) ground chicken, turkey, or lean ground beef
Cheese and Binding Ingredients:
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 20 baby mozzarella balls (bocconcini)
- 1 raw egg, beaten
Herbs, Spices, and Additional Ingredients:
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ⅓ cup (40 g) plain breadcrumbs (plus more for rolling)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 cup (30 g) fresh chopped parsley
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 25 ounces (708 g) pasta sauce (homemade or store-bought marinara)
Instructions
- Craft a robust mixture by thoroughly blending ground meat with minced garlic, whisked egg, grated Parmesan, dried breadcrumbs, aromatic herbs, and complementary spices until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Heat the cooking chamber to a precise 400°F, ensuring an optimal roasting environment.
- Create a dedicated station with additional breadcrumbs for coating the protein parcels.
- Carefully construct spherical meat formations, creating a central cavity to nestle a creamy mozzarella nucleus, then meticulously seal the cheese within the meat’s protective embrace.
- Delicately roll each meat sphere through the breadcrumb landscape, achieving a uniform, crisp exterior coating.
- Warm olive oil in a cast-iron skillet, developing a golden-brown crust on the meatballs through strategic rotation, generating rich caramelized surfaces.
- Eliminate direct heat and cascade marinara sauce over the bronzed protein globes, optionally interspersing additional mozzarella fragments for enhanced creaminess.
- Shield the skillet with a protective lid or aluminum barrier, then transfer to the heated chamber to complete the culinary transformation, ensuring thorough internal cooking and molten cheese centers.
Notes
- Maintain moisture by using a mix of ground meats like beef and pork for richer flavor and juicier texture.
- Chill the mozzarella balls before stuffing to prevent cheese from melting too quickly during cooking.
- Avoid overmixing the meat mixture to keep meatballs tender and prevent them from becoming tough.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure meatballs reach 160°F internally for safe consumption while
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg