Recipe Details

• Author: deesviral
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 18–20 meatballs
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired

Ingredients

• 1 ½ lbs ground beef
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (plus more for topping)
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tbsp olive oil (for greasing)
• 1 ½ cups marinara sauce (optional, for serving)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a large baking dish or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and egg. Mix just until combined — don’t overwork the meat.
3. Form into meatballs (about 1 ½ inches in diameter) and place evenly spaced in the baking dish.
4. Bake for 20–25 minutes or until browned and cooked through (internal temp: 160°F / 71°C).
5. Optional: In the last 5 minutes, top each meatball with extra mozzarella and bake until melted.
6. Serve warm with marinara sauce, pasta, or on toasted buns as sliders.

Serving Ideas

These meatballs are perfect served over spaghetti, in hoagie rolls for cheesy subs, or as an appetizer with toothpicks and dipping sauce.

Why This Recipe Works

The mozzarella inside keeps the meatballs juicy and flavorful while baking gives a beautiful golden crust. No frying, no mess — just cheesy comfort food perfection.