Soy-Free Classic Italian Meatballs

Savor the comforting taste of tradition with these Soy-Free Classic Italian Meatballs, a timeless dish perfect for weeknight dinners or family gatherings. Made with a flavorful blend of ground beef and pork, these tender meatballs are enriched with fresh breadcrumbs soaked in milk, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and aromatic parsley. What sets this recipe apart is its homestyle preparation—browned to perfection in olive oil before finishing in the oven for a juicy, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Simmered briefly in a rich tomato sauce, these meatballs are dairy-rich yet soy-free, catering to those with dietary restrictions without compromising on flavor. Serve them over your favorite pasta or pair with crusty bread for an irresistible Italian experience that feels like a warm embrace from Nonna’s kitchen. Perfectly prepped in 20 minutes, this crowd-pleasing recipe guarantees dinner satisfaction in just under an hour.

Nutriscore Rating: 63/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 500 g Ground beef
• 250 g Ground pork
• 120 g Fresh breadcrumbs
• 120 ml Milk
• 2 large Eggs
• 50 g Parmesan cheese, grated
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 30 g Fresh parsley, chopped
• 1.5 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 500 ml Tomato sauce

Directions

Step 1

In a small bowl, combine the fresh breadcrumbs and milk, and let them soak for about 5 minutes until the mixture becomes a paste.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, eggs, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper.

Step 3

Add the breadcrumb mixture to the meat mixture and gently mix with your hands until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to keep the meatballs tender.

Step 4

Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).

Step 5

Shape the meat mixture into 1.5-inch balls and place them on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Step 6

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Step 7

In batches, add the meatballs to the skillet and brown them on all sides for 3-4 minutes per batch. They do not need to be cooked through at this point.

Step 8

Remove the browned meatballs and place them on the baking sheet.

Step 9

Once all meatballs are browned, transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the meatballs are cooked through.

Step 10

In another saucepan, heat the tomato sauce over low-medium heat.

Step 11

Add the cooked meatballs to the tomato sauce and simmer for 5 minutes to let the flavors meld.

Step 12

Serve hot with your choice of pasta or crusty bread.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1720.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3121.9

Total Fat 209.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 75.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 990.0mg	0%
Sodium 6588.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 112.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 10.9g	0%
Total Sugars 23.6g
Protein 205.7g	0%

Vitamin D 136.5IU	0%
Calcium 1131.2mg	0%
Iron 20.5mg	0%
Potassium 2033.5mg	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: 59.6%

Protein: 26.1%

Carbs: 14.3%