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Golden brown Italian meatballs resting in red marinara sauce with a melted mozzarella cheese center visible

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 480
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
  • 0.5 lb ground pork
  • 0.5 cup Italian breadcrumbs
  • 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg , beaten
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 0.5-inch cubes
  • 2 cups marinara sauce

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, and parsley.
  3. Mix by hand until ingredients are just incorporated, avoiding overworking the proteins.
  4. Portion the mixture into approximately 1.5-ounce segments (about 12-16 total).
  5. Flatten each portion into a disc, place one mozzarella cube in the center, and wrap the meat around the cheese.
  6. Roll between palms to form a seamless sphere, ensuring the cheese is fully encapsulated to prevent leakage during cooking.
  7. Arrange meatballs on the prepared baking sheet with at least 1 inch of space between each.
  8. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
  9. Heat marinara sauce in a wide skillet over medium heat.
  10. Transfer cooked meatballs into the sauce and simmer for 2 minutes to glaze before serving.