Description
These Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs are juicy, flavorful, and oozing with melted mozzarella in the center. Made with a savory blend of ground beef, fresh herbs, and parmesan, then pan-seared to a golden brown and simmered in a rich marinara sauce, these meatballs are perfect served over pasta for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Meatball Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 egg
- 1 small onion, diced finely
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
- 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- pepper, to taste
Filling
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
Cooking
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups marinara sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the meatball mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, egg, finely diced onion, minced garlic, chopped parsley, Panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly and evenly until all ingredients are incorporated.
- Prepare the mozzarella cubes: Cut the fresh mozzarella cheese into approximately 1/2 inch sized cubes to be used as the filling inside the meatballs.
- Form the meatballs: Take 2 tablespoon sized scoops of the meatball mixture and flatten them with your fingers. Place a mozzarella cube in the center, then carefully cover the cheese and roll into a smooth ball. Repeat until you have about 12 meatballs.
- Brown the meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large non-stick pan over medium to high heat. Add the meatballs and sear to brown one side; then flip carefully to brown the opposite side. This should create a flavorful crust.
- Simmer with marinara sauce: Once browned on both sides, pour the marinara sauce into the pan covering the meatballs. Lower the heat and let the meatballs simmer, covered, for about 10 minutes. Flip the meatballs halfway through cooking to ensure even heat distribution and cooking.
- Serve: Remove the meatballs from the pan and serve them hot over your choice of pasta. Garnish with additional fresh parsley and parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy your delicious mozzarella stuffed meatballs!
Notes
- Be gentle when forming meatballs around the mozzarella to avoid cheese leaking out during cooking.
- If you prefer, substitute fresh mozzarella with another melting cheese such as provolone or fontina.
- Panko breadcrumbs provide a lighter texture, but regular breadcrumbs can be used if unavailable.
- Make sure to brown the meatballs well before simmering to lock in flavors and improve texture.
- Simmering in sauce keeps the meatballs moist and infuses them with rich tomato flavor.
