Description
These Christmas Meatballs offer a perfect blend of savory flavors and festive cheer, combining tender ground beef with Parmesan, garlic, and parsley. Browning them for a rich crust and then baking in marinara sauce ensures juicy, flavorful bites perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce & Cooking
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the meatballs after browning.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, chopped parsley, egg, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
- Shape Meatballs: Form the mixture into small, evenly sized meatballs for uniform cooking.
- Brown Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning to brown all sides evenly, about 5 minutes total. This develops a flavorful crust.
- Prepare for Baking: Transfer the browned meatballs to a baking dish in a single layer. Pour the marinara sauce evenly over the meatballs to keep them moist during baking.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the meatballs to cook through.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve warm for a festive and comforting holiday dish.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the marinara sauce can provide a mild spicy kick.
- These meatballs pair wonderfully with crusty bread or over pasta for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- For an even richer flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan and fresh parsley.
