Print

Cheese Stuffed Meatballs with Marinara

cheese stuffed meatballs - featured image
Print Recipe

A quick and comforting recipe featuring juicy meatballs stuffed with melty mozzarella cheese, served with a flavorful marinara sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights and meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20)
  • ½ lb (225g) ground pork
  • ¾ cup (75g) plain breadcrumbs or panko
  • ¼ cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large egg
  • ⅓ cup (80ml) milk (whole or 2%)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 oz (225g) mozzarella cheese, cut into small ½-inch cubes
  • 2 cups (480ml) marinara sauce
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil or oregano, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it. Cut mozzarella into ½-inch cubes and freeze for 10-15 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic, egg, milk, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
  3. Take about 2 tablespoons of meat mixture, flatten it, place one mozzarella cube in the center, then wrap meat around it and roll into a ball. Repeat to make 20-24 meatballs.
  4. Place meatballs evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes until browned and cooked through. Optionally broil for 2-3 minutes for crispier edges.
  5. While baking, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add marinara sauce and fresh herbs if using. Warm until simmering.
  6. Transfer baked meatballs to the skillet with marinara sauce. Spoon sauce over meatballs and simmer together for 3-5 minutes. Serve hot, garnished with extra parsley or Parmesan.

Notes

[‘Freeze mozzarella cubes before stuffing to make handling easier and reduce mess.’, ‘Seal cheese completely inside meatballs to prevent leaking during baking.’, ‘Do not overmix meat to avoid tough meatballs.’, ‘Use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).’, ‘Meatballs can be browned in a skillet before baking for extra flavor.’, ‘Store meatballs and sauce separately in airtight containers for up to 3-4 days in the fridge.’, ‘Freeze cooked meatballs with sauce for up to 3 months; thaw overnight before reheating.’, ‘Reheat gently on stovetop or microwave to avoid drying out.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: cheese stuffed meatballs, marinara sauce, quick dinner, weeknight meal, comfort food, mozzarella meatballs, easy recipe

Find it online: https://evabakery.com/cheese-stuffed-meatballs-with-marinara-easy-recipe-for-busy-weeknights/