Best 6 Italian Appetizer Meatballs Recipes

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Are you looking for the perfect recipe to make classic Italian appetizer meatballs? Look no further! In this article, we'll take you on a culinary journey to discover the secrets of creating delicious, tender, and flavorful meatballs that will be the star of your next gathering. We'll explore the traditional ingredients used in Italian meatballs, such as ground beef, pork, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and herbs. We'll also provide you with step-by-step instructions to ensure that your meatballs are cooked to perfection. So, gather your ingredients, fire up your stove, and let's embark on this tasty adventure together!

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

ITALIAN APPETIZER MEATBALLS



Italian Appetizer Meatballs image

Store-bought spaghetti sauce speeds up the preparation of these homemade meatball appetizers. Leftovers make terrific sub sandwiches.-Rene McCrory, Indianapolis, Indiana

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Appetizers

Time 2h40m

Yield 4 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup 2% milk
2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pound ground beef
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
2 jars (24 ounces each) spaghetti sauce
Minced fresh parsley, optional

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients. Crumble beef and sausage over mixture and mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 1-in. balls. , Place meatballs on a greased rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake until no longer pink, 15-20 minutes., Transfer meatballs to a 4-qt. slow cooker; add spaghetti sauce. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or until heated through. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 67 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 20mg cholesterol, Sodium 264mg sodium, Carbohydrate 4g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

SPICY ITALIAN MEATBALLS



Spicy Italian Meatballs image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories     appetizer

Time 2h30m

Yield 70 to 80 small meatballs

Number Of Ingredients 22

1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cloves garlic, grated on a rasp grater
2 whole eggs
Splash of milk
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil, for frying
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
Two 28-ounce cans tomato sauce
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, minced
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Crushed red pepper, as needed
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • For the meatballs: Combine the ground beef, pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, ricotta, parsley, crushed red pepper, salt, garlic, eggs, milk and black pepper in a bowl. Mash with your hands until thoroughly combined. Form into small balls and place on a baking sheet. Set in the fridge for 1 hour.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches until nice and deep golden, then move them to a plate.
  • For the sauce: Into the same skillet, add the garlic and onions and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, parsley, tomato paste, sugar, salt, crushed red pepper and black pepper. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Add the meatballs back to the skillet and simmer another 15 minutes. Keep warm until serving.
  • Transfer to a chafing dish and serve with frilly toothpicks.

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN MEATBALLS



Authentic Italian Meatballs image

Meatball recipes are often challenged by chefs who claim, "Mine are the best!" Even though my meatballs ARE the best, I will make no such claim. Try them for yourself! This meatball recipe was given to me by my father who got it from a little old lady from Italy that he knew. It's amazing that she gave up her recipe to him, but I sure am glad she did!

Provided by InMemoryofBrats

Categories     Meat

Time 3h20m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 lb ground beef
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon fresh parsley
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/2 cup grated locatelli cheese

Steps:

  • Mix all ingredients in a large bowl by hand.
  • Use your bare hands for best results.
  • Roll meatballs to about the size of a golf ball. (wet your hands to prevent the meat from sticking to them while rolling the meat balls).
  • Drop raw meatballs into large (I use a stock pot) pot of sauce.
  • (I have an incredible sauce recipe {#92096} I use for my meatballs).
  • Simmer for about 3 hours.

CLASSIC ITALIAN MEATBALLS



Classic Italian Meatballs image

This easy and simple recipe produces a soft and tender meatball. One of the best Classic Italian Meatball Recipes.

Provided by Rosemary Molloy

Categories     Main Dish

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 pound ground beef ((500 grams))
1 large egg
3 tablespoons bread crumbs
3 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic minced
½-1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
½ teaspoon salt
1-2 dashes black pepper
¼ cup milk (I used 2%) ((60 grams))
2 tablespoons olive oil
1-2 cloves garlic minced
1½ cups tomato puree/passata ((338 grams))
¼-½ teaspoon salt
4-5 fresh basil leaves (chopped)
½ teaspoon oregano
¼ cup water ((60 grams))

Steps:

  • In a large bowl mix together the ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt and pepper. Slowly add the milk until you have a soft compact mixture.Form the mixture into small balls.
  • In a large pan add the olive oil, garlic, tomato puree/passata, salt, fresh basil, oregano and water. Mix to combine.
  • Add the meatballs and gently mix to cover them in sauce. Cover the pan and cook on low/medium (more low than medium) heat for approximately 15- 20 minutes, uncover and continue to cook for another 15-20 minutes or until cooked through and the sauce has thickened. If you find the sauce thickening too much then add a little more water.
  • Serve immediately as a main dish or over your favourite al dente pasta. Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese before serving. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 71 kcal, Carbohydrate 2 g, Protein 4 g, Fat 5 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 20 mg, Sodium 127 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, ServingSize 1 serving

ITALIAN COCKTAIL MEATBALLS



Italian Cocktail Meatballs image

A favorite at all of our gatherings. They are usually the first thing on the table to disappear. If made ahead and placed in the fridge or freezer, you may want to thin the sauce out a bit. I find a tablespoon or two of water does the trick very nicely.

Provided by Bobbie

Categories     Meat

Time 2h45m

Yield 36 piecres

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 1/2 lbs ground chuck
1/2 lb ground sausage (like Jimmy Dean regular)
salt & pepper
1/4 teaspoon oregano (not powdered)
1/2 teaspoon fennel seed (do not omit)
1 medium onion, finely minced
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely minced
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tablespoons flour
2 eggs, well beaten
1/4 cup olive oil
1 dash italian seasoning
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
2 (6 ounce) cans water
salt & pepper
1 bay leaf
1 dash italian seasoning
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon oregano (not powdered)
1/8 cup chianti wine (or other red wine)
1 teaspoon parmesan cheese, grated

Steps:

  • Thoroughly mix all the meatball ingredients, except olive oil. Roll into ½" balls and fry in oil until well browned. Drain, set aside until sauce is ready.
  • Combine all ingredients, except cheese in the skillet meatballs were cooked in (if there is a lot of fat, remove most of it - leaving any browned bits in the skillet). Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 1 hour over very low heat. Add meatballs and simmer another hour, stirring several times very gently. Pour into chafing dish, crockpot or other serving dish and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
  • These freeze well - just be careful when defrosting and breaking them up. Be gentle - so not to break up the meatballs.
  • Note: I have indicated this makes about 36 meatballs -- but that's just a complete guess off the top of my head! I couldn't post the recipe without putting something in that field!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 97.8, Fat 6.8, SaturatedFat 2, Cholesterol 33.2, Sodium 176.8, Carbohydrate 2.6, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 1.3, Protein 6.4

ITALIAN MEATBALL PERFECTION



Italian Meatball Perfection image

This is one you'll be proud to present at parties! If you allow the meatballs to cool and then freeze, they make amazing, convenient meals!

Provided by Jennifer DeMent

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Pork     Sausage

Time 45m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 ½ cups Italian bread crumbs
2 eggs
½ cup grated Romano cheese
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ tablespoons chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
salt to taste
1 pound ground beef
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
½ cup milk

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil.
  • Combine bread crumbs, eggs, Romano cheese, garlic, parsley, anchovy paste, and salt in a large bowl. Mix until eggs are well beaten. Add ground beef and sausage; mix to combine. Add milk and stir until mixture comes together.
  • Scoop out and roll together 2 tablespoons of mixture per meatball. Place meatballs very close together on the prepared pan.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into a meatball reads 160 degrees F (71 degrees C), 25 to 30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 503.6 calories, Carbohydrate 24.6 g, Cholesterol 151.4 mg, Fat 29.6 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 32.9 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, Sodium 1384.6 mg, Sugar 2.6 g

Tips:

- For the best flavor, use fresh herbs and spices. - Don't overmix the meatball mixture. Overmixing can make the meatballs tough. - Use a meatball scoop to ensure that all of the meatballs are the same size. This will help them cook evenly. - Brown the meatballs in a skillet before baking them. This will help them develop a flavorful crust. - Bake the meatballs in a sauce until they are cooked through. The sauce will help to keep the meatballs moist and juicy. - Serve the meatballs with your favorite dipping sauce.

Conclusion:

Italian appetizer meatballs are a delicious and easy-to-make appetizer that is perfect for any occasion. They can be made with a variety of ingredients, so you can customize them to your liking. With a little planning, you can make these meatballs in no time. So next time you're looking for a tasty and festive appetizer, give Italian appetizer meatballs a try. Your guests will love them!

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