Easy Cheesy Meatballs
Homemade Easy Cheesy Meatballs are my favorite way to enjoy my pasta. Homemade meatballs that are stuffed with mozzarella cheese. Serve over a bed of pasta and your favorite tomato sauce.
One of my family’s favorite meals is spaghetti and meatballs. Once in a while, I’ll go the quick route and use frozen meatballs that I simply pop in the oven to cook. Other times, I’ll take a few extra minutes and make homemade meatballs. My family can always tell the difference. Homemade meatballs for the win!
If I want to really knock their socks off, I’ll make homemade meatballs with a little surprise inside: melted cheese. Memories are made at the dinner table with this recipe for Easy Cheesy Meatballs!
Not only do kids love eating this recipe, but they can also help make it. Make sure everyone has clean hands and wash them good before and after. It’s raw meat after all so it’s important to teach them about how to properly handle meat.
One way the kids can help with this recipe is to have them stick the cheese pieces inside each of the meatballs and then roll them into balls. My youngest loves to help out in the kitchen.
Serve these babies on a bed of spaghetti with marinara sauce. Sooooo good! How can you resist? I sure can’t! You might also like this One-Pan Spaghetti.
Ingredients
- Lean ground beef
- Ground Italian sausage
- Yellow onion
- Garlic
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Large egg
- Bread crumbs
- Parmesan cheese
- Parsley
- Dried oregano
- Dried basil
- Dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper
- Mozzarella cheese sticks
- Marinara sauce
How to Make Cheesy Meatballs
- Step One: Heat oven to 400°F. In a skillet over medium heat, drizzle about 1 tsp olive oil, then add onions and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until onions are translucent. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Step Two: In a large bowl, add bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper; stir to combine.
- Step Three: Add cooked onions and garlic; stir to combine. Add egg, beef, and sausage and combine well, until everything is fully incorporated into the meat (I like to use my hands or the potato masher).
- Step Four: Spray a 12 muffin tin with nonstick spray, set aside. Using your hands, take about 2 tbsp. meat mixture and place into your palm, molding the bottom of the meatball. Place a piece of cheese sticks directly into the center, pressing down a bit, but don’t poke it through the bottom. Then, take about another 1-2 tbsp. meat mixture and set it on top of the cheese/meat, and form into a ball. Place into the muffin tin. Repeat until all spots are filled.
- Step Five: Top the meatballs with 1 tbsp. marinara, and a bit of Parmesan cheese; place into oven and cook for 45-50 minutes, or until the meatballs reach 165F. Remove from oven, let cool for about 10 minutes. Scoop meatballs out carefully and place onto a wire rack (put some paper towels under the wire rack to catch the grease. Let stand 5 more minutes. Serve over pasta and with additional sauce if desired.
What Kind of Meat Do You Use for these Meatballs
I use a mix of sausage and beef. I find it offers tons of flavor and gives these meatballs a juicy and tender texture. Now if you want to use just straight ground beef or sausage you are welcome to go that route. We just prefer the blend of meat.
Why are my Meatballs Tough
Meatballs can become tough for a handful of reasons. The biggest issue is not enough moisture when mixing your meatballs. Make sure you measure ingredients correctly, so they have the right amount of moisture to dry ingredients. Also, don’t overmix your mixture, or it will make the balls tough.
Why Do You Put Eggs in Meatballs
Eggs are used in meatballs to help bind the meat and dry ingredients together. This is what helps them stay stuck together and form into balls, so they cook into perfect meatballs.
Measure Meatballs
Getting a consistent size meatball is key so that all your meatballs cook up the same way. I use a cookie scoop to ensure all my meatballs are very close in size. If you are the type that enjoys the perfection, use a scale to weigh each ball.
How to Serve Up Cheesy Meatballs
- Over a bed of pasta with a tomato-based sauce
- With a side of garlic bread or breadsticks
- Serve in a hoagie sandwich
- Eat with your favorite vegetable side
- Stick a toothpick in and serve as an appetizer
As you can see there is no wrong way to serve up these stuffed meatballs!
Can You Freeze Uncooked Meatballs
Yes. Just lay them out on a baking sheet and then toss in the freezer to help them flash freeze. Then once frozen transfer to a freezer bag or container. They will store raw in the freezer for up to four months. Then when ready to use, place in the muffin tin and top with sauce and cheese and bake. Add time to cook time since it is frozen.
You can also freeze pre-cooked meatballs the same way. Then just warm up in the microwave or oven when ready to eat.
Searching for more meatball recipes
- Waikiki Meatballs | A sweet and savory meatball that will win over the hearts of your family. So easy to make and incredible in flavor.
- Italian Wedding Soup with Chicken Meatballs | Chicken meatballs is the perfect complement to this wedding soup recipe. Great for serving a crowd.
- Tangy Sweet and Sour Meatballs | Dress up those meatballs in a tasty way. Perfect served over a bed of rice or even pasta.
Can I Swap The Mozzarella Cheese with Another Cheese for Cheesy Meatballs
Of course. I love the classic mozzarella but you can use pepper jack for a heat factor, cheddar, or any other type of cheese. It will, of course, change the flavor, but I am sure it will be a tasty treat.
How often do you make homemade meatballs? Do you ever stuff yours with cheese?
Try these Air Fryer Bisquick Sausage Balls and Korean Meatballs.
Easy Cheesy Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 8 oz Italian sausage ground
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup bread crumbs
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- handful parsley chopped
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 3 mozzarella cheese sticks each stick cut into 4 pieces
- 1 cup marinara sauce
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400°F. In a skillet over medium heat, drizzle about 1 tsp olive oil, then add onions and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until onions are translucent. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper; stir to combine. Add cooked onions and garlic; stir to combine. Add egg, beef, and sausage and combine well, until everything is fully incorporated into the meat (I like to use my hands or the potato masher).
- Spray a 12 muffin tin with nonstick spray, set aside. Using your hands, take about 2 tbsp. meat mixture and place into your palm, molding the bottom of the meatball. Place a piece of cheese sticks directly into the center, pressing down a bit, but don’t poke it through the bottom. Then, take about another 1-2 tbsp. meat mixture and set it on top of the cheese/meat, and form into a ball. Place into the muffin tin. Repeat until all spots are filled.
- Top the meatballs with 1 tbsp. marinara, and a bit of Parmesan cheese; place into oven and cook for 45-50 minutes, or until the meatballs reach 165F. Remove from oven, let cool for about 10 minutes. Scoop meatballs out carefully and place onto a wire rack (put some paper towels under the wire rack to catch the grease. Let stand 5 more minutes. Serve over pasta and with additional sauce if desired – enjoy!
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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these cheesy meatballs look and sound scrumptious! 🙂
That’s a creative way to make meatballs! Will have to try this.
This looks delicious! I love meatballs with cheese 🙂
Incredible! Now I’m super hungry.
Your Cheesy Meatballs look amazing, we will love them. Thanks so much for sharing your post with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great day and come back soon!
Miz Helen