Jeff's Ultimate Meatballs

Get ready to elevate your dinner game with Jeff’s Ultimate Meatballs, the perfect blend of succulent ground beef, juicy ground pork, and a medley of fresh herbs and aromatic spices. These tender, flavor-packed meatballs are built on a foundation of panko breadcrumbs softened with whole milk, enriched with Parmesan cheese, and brightened by fresh parsley and basil. The secret to their juicy texture? Gentle hand-mixing and pan-searing in olive oil for a golden crust before finishing to perfection. Whether you’re serving them with spaghetti, stuffing them into hoagies, or enjoying them solo with marinara sauce, these irresistible meatballs are perfect for weeknight dinners or a cozy family gathering. Quick to prepare and loaded with homemade flavor, Jeff’s Ultimate Meatballs are bound to become your go-to comfort food.

Nutriscore Rating: 55/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ground beef (80/20)
• 0.5 pound Ground pork
• 0.5 cup Breadcrumbs (preferably panko)
• 0.25 cup Whole milk
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
• 1 unit Egg, large
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon Fresh basil, chopped
• 1.25 teaspoons Kosher salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper, freshly ground
• 0.25 teaspoon Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Let the breadcrumbs soak for 2-3 minutes until softened.

Step 2

Add the ground beef, ground pork, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, parsley, basil, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the breadcrumb mixture.

Step 3

Using clean hands, gently mix all the ingredients together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the meatballs dense.

Step 4

Form the mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs, rolling gently between your palms. You should end up with approximately 16 meatballs.

Step 5

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, carefully add the meatballs in a single layer, leaving space between each one. Brown the meatballs on all sides, about 6-8 minutes total. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan.

Step 6

Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the skillet. Cook the meatballs for an additional 10-12 minutes, or until they are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). If using marinara sauce, you can add it to the skillet and simmer the meatballs in the sauce for extra flavor.

Step 7

Remove the meatballs from the heat and let them rest for 2 minutes before serving.

Step 8

Serve the meatballs with pasta, crusty bread, or on their own with a side of marinara sauce. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1021.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2917.4

Total Fat 210.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 82.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 813.8mg	0%
Sodium 3529.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 53.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 3.9g	0%
Total Sugars 7.6g
Protein 196.4g	0%

Vitamin D 94.9IU	0%
Calcium 1654.5mg	0%
Iron 15.7mg	0%
Potassium 1582.7mg	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: 65.5%

Protein: 27.2%

Carbs: 7.3%