Delicious Stuffed Meatballs Recipe: Easy & Flavorful Family Meal

Prepare stuffed meatballs that will surprise everyone! An easy and flavorful recipe, perfect for family lunch or dinner. Stuffed meatballs are an excellent option to vary your menu and please all palates.

Summary

• Ingredients
• How to Prepare
• Tips and Variations
• Chef’s Tips

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

• 500g ground meat (beef chuck or round)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• Chopped parsley and chives to taste
• Salt and black pepper to taste

For the filling:

• 150g mozzarella cheese, diced small
• 100g ham, diced small

For the sauce:

• 1 can peeled tomatoes
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Fresh basil to taste
• Salt and sugar to taste

How to Prepare

1. Sauce preparation: In a saucepan, heat the olive oil and sauté the onion and garlic until golden. Add the peeled tomatoes, salt, sugar, and basil. Cook over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Meatball preparation: In a bowl, mix the ground meat, chopped onion, minced garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, parsley, chives, salt, and pepper.
3. Take small portions of the meat mixture and flatten them in your palm. Place a few cubes of mozzarella and ham in the center and close, shaping the stuffed meatballs.
4. In a large skillet, place the stuffed meatballs and brown them on all sides.
5. Transfer the meatballs to the saucepan with the tomato sauce and cook over low heat for 15 minutes, allowing them to absorb the sauce’s flavor.
6. Serve the stuffed meatballs hot, accompanied by white rice or mashed potatoes.

Tips and Variations

• For a lighter version, substitute ground beef with ground chicken.
• Vary the filling using provolone, cheddar, or gorgonzola cheese.
• Add chopped olives to the filling for a special touch.
• If you prefer, bake the meatballs in the oven instead of frying them for a healthier option.

Chef’s Tips

To ensure your stuffed meatballs turn out perfectly, here are some essential tips. First, choose ground meat with a moderate fat content (around 10-15%) so the meatballs remain juicy and don’t dry out during cooking. Knead the meat well with the seasonings to ensure all flavors are incorporated uniformly. When filling, make sure to seal the stuffed meatballs tightly to prevent the cheese from leaking out during cooking. When browning the meatballs in the skillet, don’t overcrowd the pan; this prevents the oil temperature from dropping and the meatballs from steaming. Cook them in smaller batches to ensure they brown evenly. Try adding a bit of dry red wine to the tomato sauce to intensify the flavor. A pinch of sugar in the sauce helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes. Serve the stuffed meatballs with a generous portion of grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves for an irresistible finishing touch.