Frankie's Meatballs from the Famous Rao's Restaurant in Nyc

Discover the secret to restaurant-quality meatballs with "Frankie's Meatballs from the Famous Rao's Restaurant in NYC." This iconic recipe combines a savory blend of ground beef, pork, and veal, enriched with a medley of Italian cheeses—Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano-Reggiano—for unmatched flavor. Infused with fresh parsley, garlic, and perfectly seasoned breadcrumbs, these meatballs are pan-fried to golden perfection before simmering in rich marinara sauce for a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfect for serving over spaghetti, pairing with crusty bread, or enjoying solo, this legendary dish brings the timeless charm of Rao’s straight to your kitchen. Simple yet indulgent, these meatballs are a must-try for lovers of authentic Italian cuisine.

Nutriscore Rating: 63/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ground beef
• 1 pound Ground pork
• 0.5 pound Ground veal
• 1.5 cups Plain breadcrumbs
• 0.25 cup Italian flat-leaf parsley (chopped)
• 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 0.5 cup Grated Pecorino Romano cheese
• 0.5 cup Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 2 large Eggs
• 0.5 cup Water (optional, for adjusting mixture consistency)
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 0.25 cup Olive oil (for frying)
• 4 cups Marinara sauce

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, and ground veal. Mix gently with your hands until well combined.

Step 2

Add the breadcrumbs, parsley, minced garlic, Pecorino Romano cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, eggs, salt, and black pepper to the meat mixture. Gently combine the ingredients with your hands until homogeneous, being careful not to overmix.

Step 3

If the mixture feels too dry, gradually add water, a tablespoon at a time, until the mixture holds its shape easily when formed into a ball.

Step 4

Shape the mixture into 2-inch meatballs, rolling gently between your palms to create a uniform size.

Step 5

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the meatballs in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pan.

Step 6

Fry the meatballs for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until they are browned all over. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil. Repeat with remaining meatballs.

Step 7

In a large pot, heat the marinara sauce over low heat. Carefully add the meatballs to the sauce, ensuring they are fully submerged.

Step 8

Simmer the meatballs in the marinara sauce for 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together and the meatballs to cook through.

Step 9

Serve hot over spaghetti, alongside crusty bread, or enjoy them on their own with a sprinkle of extra grated cheese.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2845.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	5510.2

Total Fat 360.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 134.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.8g
Cholesterol 1481.4mg	0%
Sodium 9891.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 179.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 17.5g	0%
Total Sugars 32.9g
Protein 380.4g	0%

Vitamin D 209.0IU	0%
Calcium 3380.9mg	0%
Iron 31.4mg	0%
Potassium 2752.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 59.2%

Protein: 27.7%

Carbs: 13.1%