Meatballs Divine

These are amazing and nothing amazing is ever easy; keep that in mind when you undertake this recipe. Try to avoid tasting them before you're ready to serve because you may end up eating them all and your guests will be left with only marinara and pasta. I make this recipe as written, then I freeze half of it when combined as it makes about 40-50, 1 1/2-inch meatballs (enough to feed Sicily.)

• Preparation Time: 60 mins
• Cooking Time: 2 hr
• Total Time: 3 hr
• Calories: 469 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups fresh bread crumbs
• 2 pounds ground beef chuck
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• ½ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 cup olive oil for frying
• ⅔ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons ricotta cheese
• 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
• 6 leaves fresh basil, or to taste
• 1 pound Italian pork sausage
• 6 cups bottled marinara sauce, or more to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step 2

Blend parsley, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, basil leaves, garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning in a food processor until herbs are finely chopped.

Step 3

Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onion in hot oil until translucent and nearly caramelized, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 4

Stir egg mixture, onion, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and ricotta cheese together in a large bowl. Add ground beef, Italian sausage, and fresh bread crumbs to egg mixture; mix. Shape into 1 1/2-inch meatballs.

Step 5

Heat 1 cup olive oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Cook meatballs in oil until seared evenly all around, 4 to 5 minutes per meatball; transfer to a nonstick baking sheet.

Step 6

Bake meatballs in preheated oven until cooked through, 15 minutes.

Step 7

Heat marinara sauce in a large pot over medium heat. Transfer meatballs to marinara sauce using a slotted spoon. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for a least 1 hour.