Best 9 True Northern Italian Meatballs Recipes

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In the realm of Italian cuisine, the art of creating "true northern Italian meatballs" stands as a testament to culinary tradition, regional pride, and the skillful blending of flavors. These meatballs, known as "polpette" or "albondigas" in some regions, are a staple in northern Italian cooking, where they are often served as an appetizer, main course, or even as a hearty addition to pasta dishes. Unlike their southern Italian counterparts, which are typically made with ground beef, true northern Italian meatballs showcase the unique flavors of a combination of meats, including pork, veal, and beef, resulting in a tender and flavorful experience that is sure to tantalize the taste buds.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

HOMEMADE ITALIAN MEATBALLS



Homemade Italian Meatballs image

Here's a recipe for classic, Homemade Italian Meatballs. Serve them for dinner topping a plate of spaghetti and send the leftovers with your kids for lunch to make a meatball sub sandwich.

Provided by Julie Clark

Categories     Main Dish

Time 55m

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 pounds lean ground beef
3/4 pound ground Italian sausage
4 large eggs
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 1/2 tablespoons dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together.
  • Roll into 1 1/2" balls and place them closely together in 9x13 pans that have been sprayed with cooking spray. **You can place a wire rack on the baking sheet and bake the meatballs on the rack so that the fat drips down if you'd like.**
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
  • Serve the meatballs immediately with sauce and spaghetti, put them in the slow cooker along with sauce to have them simmer, or freeze the meatballs in Ziploc bags to use another time.
  • If you freeze the meatballs, allow them to cool completely before packaging them.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 333 kcal, Carbohydrate 5 g, Protein 31 g, Fat 20 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, Cholesterol 163 mg, Sodium 811 mg, ServingSize 1 serving

CHEF JOHN'S ITALIAN MEATBALLS



Chef John's Italian Meatballs image

Homemade meatballs are a very easy to make, and since we skip the very messy step of pan-frying these before they hit the sauce, it becomes downright simple. Here I use a standard half-beef/half-pork mixture. You can substitute water or beef broth for the milk, if preferred.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 2h15m

Yield 30

Number Of Ingredients 14

⅓ cup plain bread crumbs
½ cup milk
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 eggs
¼ bunch fresh parsley, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Cover a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.
  • Soak bread crumbs in milk in a small bowl for 20 minutes.
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onions in hot oil until translucent, about 20 minutes.
  • Mix beef and pork together in a large bowl. Stir onions, bread crumb mixture, eggs, parsley, garlic, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, Italian herb seasoning, and Parmesan cheese into meat mixture with a rubber spatula until combined. Cover and refrigerate for about one hour.
  • Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  • Using wet hands, form meat mixture into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Arrange onto prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until browned and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 81.9 calories, Carbohydrate 1.7 g, Cholesterol 32.3 mg, Fat 5.5 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 6.2 g, SaturatedFat 1.9 g, Sodium 192.1 mg, Sugar 0.5 g

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.

CLAUDIA LAMASCOLO



Claudia Lamascolo image

This is a very old recipe that is a tradition in our Italian family. My mom's meatballs recipe is tried and true. We love them extra crispy and fried. You can fry, air fry or bake.

Provided by Claudia Lamascolo

Categories     meat, beef, Italian food, meatballs,

Time 35m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 lbs ground chuck, ground round hamburger, a mixture of veal, pork and beef hamburger meat or you can use all ground lean turkey
4 slices of Italian bread run under warm water, and then tightly squeezed out
1/2 cup Italian flavored bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated cheese
1 or 2 large cloves finely minced fresh garlic or more to taste
2 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
2 eggs
canola oil or grandma always used vegetable oil around 2 inches deep.
If you're baking line with oil sprayed foil or I prefer parchment paper
ice cream scoop medium-sized for perfect round meatballs

Steps:

  • Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix all together.
  • Shape into balls by hand or using an ice cream scoop to form the meatball.
  • Fry in 2 inches of heated oil or bake on a lined oiled sprayed cookie sheet until crispy on both sides turning a few times while cooking.
  • These are hot so be careful eating until cooling a few minutes.
  • These can be added to a rich tomato Traditional Sunday Sauce
  • Note: If Air Frying shape meatballs to fit air fryer into an oil sprayed basket and air fry at 400 degrees until browned around 15 minutes to 20 minutes.
  • If baking place meatballs on parchment paper or a heavily greased baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees until browned around 35 minutes.

Nutrition Facts :

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN MEATBALLS



Authentic Italian Meatballs image

Authentic Italian Meatballs recipe

Categories     Italian     Main Dish     Ground Beef     Meats

Time 1h

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 18

beef
black pepper
garlic
parsley leaves
bread crumbs
onions
eggs
salt
Parmesan cheese
beef
black pepper
garlic
parsley leaves
bread crumbs
onions
eggs
salt
Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl with your hands making sure everything is well mixed. Form into meatballs and fry in a large skillet with about ½ cup olive oil over medium high heat. Turn on all sides to brown and cook through. When all the way cooked, add them to your sauce and let them cook slowly for about 1 hour. Can also be browned in the oven on a baking or broiler rack. This will produce less greasy but also drier meatballs.

Nutrition Facts :

ITALIAN SUNDAY GRAVY-RECIPE HANDED DOWN FROM NONNA.



Italian Sunday Gravy-Recipe Handed Down From Nonna. image

Italian Sunday Gravy will get your family to the table like nothing else. Rich, hearty tomato sauce spiked with wine, succulent cuts of pork and meatballs.

Provided by Kathleen

Categories     Main Course

Time 3h20m

Number Of Ingredients 19

1/4 cup Olive Oil
2 Pounds Country Style Ribs Or Pork Neck Bones
2 Pounds Italian Sausage
1/2 Pound Ground Beef
1/2 Pound Ground Pork
1 Large Yellow Onion, (Chopped)
1 Tablespoon Garlic, (Minced)
2 Large Carrots, (Peeled and Grated)
1 1/2 Cup Red Wine
3 (28 Ounce) Cans Peeled Whole San Marzano Tomatoes (Including Juice)
6 (6 Ounce) Cans Tomato Paste (Preferably Imported From Italy)
8 Cups Water
2 Bay Leaves
1 Tablespoon Dried Oregano
1 Cup Fresh Basil, (Julienned)
2 Tablespoon Fresh Rosemary, (Chopped)
1 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
1 Recipe Meatballs

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line 2 large, rimmed baking sheets with aluminum foil. Brush the foil with olive oil.
  • Arrange (in a single layer) pork neck bones or country-style ribs on one baking sheet and the Italian sausages on the second baking sheet. Brush the tops of all the meats lightly with olive oil.
  • Cook meats in the preheated oven, until deep golden brown on all sides, turning as needed to cook evenly. Allow approximately 1 hour for the pork necks and ribs and 40 minutes for the sausage. Set cooked meats aside.
  • Meanwhile, in a very large, heavy-bottomed stock pot, brown ground beef and pork, over medium heat, crumbling into small pieces. Remove ground meats to plate and set aside.
  • Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan. Add onions, minced garlic, and carrots and cook over medium heat for 6-8 minutes until they soften and begin to caramelize.
  • Add the wine to the pot and cook, scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Continue to cook until the wine is reduced by half.
  • Add whole tomatoes with their juices, tomato paste, water, bay leaves, oregano, fresh basil, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
  • Add the browned grounded meats, pork necks or country style ribs, and sausages back to the pot. Bring the gravy to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer.
  • Simmer, uncovered for about 3 1/2--4 1/2 hours. If you have the temperature right, you should see a cheerful little bubbling on the surface of the gravy. Moderate the heat to maintain this gentle simmer throughout out cooking time.
  • Stir occasionally so the meats don't stick. If the gravy becomes too thick as it simmers, add water. (If it's simmering gently, you shouldn't need to add any extra water.)
  • While the sauce simmers, make the meatball. After the sauce has cooked for 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hours and is nice and thick, give it a very good stir, digging down to the bottom of the pot, then add the meatballs. Continue to simmer the gravy without stirring for another 30-40 minutes, or until the meatballs are hot and the flavors marry. Remove bay leaves. You're READY to Serve. Mangia! Mangia!

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 /12 of the recipe, Calories 768 kcal, Carbohydrate 35 g, Protein 40 g, Fat 48 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, Cholesterol 288 mg, Sodium 1434 mg, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 19 g

AUTHENTIC NORTHERN ITALIAN MEATBALLS



Authentic Northern Italian Meatballs image

These are simply beautiful meatballs with many uses. I make huge batches and freeze them; pulling them out during the month to put them to use. I have lightened up the original recipe, using the same ingredients, just a lighter variety. You are certainly welcome to replace the egg whites with whole eggs, the fat free chicken stock with regular chicken stock and the panko crumbs with regular plain bread crumbs. Please see the photo gallery to the left for all of the ways I serve these wonderful meatballs.

Provided by Brandess

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 45m

Yield 14 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 cup fat-free chicken broth
3/4 yellow onion
3 garlic cloves
3/4 cup flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped fine
1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
1 1/2 lbs ground lean pork (can substitute ground turkey or chicken)
1 1/2 lbs lean ground veal (can substitute ground turkey or chicken)
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
6 egg whites, beaten
3/4 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated
3 teaspoons red pepper flakes
3 teaspoons salt
8 cups marinara sauce
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

Steps:

  • Place the chicken stock, onion, garlic and parsley in a blender of food processor and puree.
  • In a large bowl, combine the pureed stock mix, meat, bread crumbs, eggs, Parmigiano-Reggiano, red pepper flakes and salt. Combine with both hands until mixture is uniform. Do not over mix.
  • Heat oven to 375 degrees. Put a little olive oil on your hands and form mixture into balls about the size of golf balls. If you prefer bigger or smaller, it will only affect the browning time.
  • Place 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil a baking sheet. Add the meatballs to the pan (working in batches if necessary). Place the meatballs in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.
  • While the meatballs are browning, heat the marinara sauce in a stockpot over medium heat. Transfer the baked meatballs to the marinara sauce. Stir gently. Simmer for 5 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through.
  • Serve with a little extra Parmigiano-Reggiano sprinkled on top. Serve alone over spaghetti.
  • FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS: No matter what method of packing you decide to use, it is important once they have completely cooled, to place the meatballs on a baking sheet and freeze them before packing. You want the meatballs to be independent from one another for ease when you want to use them. If you have a vacuum sealer at home, please proceed packing the meatballs according to the manufacturers directions. If not, place the meatballs in airtight containers or freezer bags. You can pack the meatballs with the marinara sauce after you've frozen them, or you can pack the marinara separate from the meatballs.
  • SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Please see photo gallery for all the different ways I have served these meatballs.

TRUE NORTHERN ITALIAN MEATBALLS



TRUE NORTHERN ITALIAN MEATBALLS image

Categories     Beef

Yield 12 meatballs

Number Of Ingredients 13

4 eggs
1/4 cup Italian Parsley
1/8 cup Fresh Basil
3 Large Garlic Cloves
4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Pepper
2 Tablespoon Sea Salt
1 Teaspoon Oregano
Pinch of Red Pepper
6 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese (grated)
1.2 lbs Ground Beef (80%)
1.2 lbs Ground Pork
1/2 Cup Italian Bread Crumbs

Steps:

  • In a large bowl crack the eggs and stir in the bread crumbs, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic, pepper, red pepper, and cheese. Mince the basil, parsley, and garlic. Once minced, stir into with the above mixture. Pre-Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Now hand mix in the pork and ground beef. Once you have everything mixed well, start hand forming 1-2" balls. Once you have the meatballs formed, get a large frying pan out and heat it with garlic and olive oil. Place the meatballs in the frying pan and brown evenly. (appox 5-10 minutes) Once browned, place the meatballs in a deep pyrex dish and drizzle the left over frying pan juice on top of the meatballs. Place meatballs in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!

CLASSIC MEATBALLS



Classic Meatballs image

These classic Italian meatballs are an easy homemade foolproof recipe that will be your go-to. Use them for soups, sliders, casseroles, and of course over spaghetti! This recipe makes 80, so you can freeze a bunch and have them on hand for later!

Provided by Amy

Categories     Main Course

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 pound lean ground beef
1 pound Italian ground pork sausage ((sweet, mild, or hot))
1 small sweet onion (, diced small)
4 cloves garlic (, minced)
1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 large egg
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 1/4 cup ricotta cheese
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Coat 2-3 baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine with your hands the beef, pork, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, parsley, egg, parmesan, breadcrumbs, ricotta, and salt.
  • Using a small cookie scoop, form 1 1/4 inch balls out of the mixture.
  • Heat olive oil over medium-high in a large skillet. Working in batches, add the meatballs and brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. (Add more olive oil if needed and turn down heat if they're starting to burn.)
  • Place browned meatballs on the baking sheets and transfer to the oven to finish cooking for 10 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and combine with spaghetti sauce and pasta, or let cool and freeze for another day!

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 meatball, Calories 49 kcal, Carbohydrate 1 g, Protein 2 g, Fat 3 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Cholesterol 13 mg, Sodium 117 mg

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the meatballs will be. Look for fresh, flavorful meat, and use good-quality bread crumbs and cheese.
  • Soak the bread crumbs in milk: This will help to keep the meatballs moist and tender.
  • Don't overmix the meatball mixture: Overmixing can make the meatballs tough.
  • Brown the meatballs in a pan before simmering them in sauce: This will help to develop their flavor.
  • Simmer the meatballs in a flavorful sauce: The sauce will help to add flavor and moisture to the meatballs.
  • Serve the meatballs with your favorite pasta or rice dish.

Conclusion:

These True Northern Italian Meatballs are a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. They are sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So next time you are looking for a hearty and flavorful meal, give these meatballs a try. You won't be disappointed!

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