Baked Italian Mini Meatballs
These baked Italian mini meatballs are tender, flavorful, and packed with savory parmesan and garlic. Perfect for serving with pasta, sauce, or as easy appetizers.
Servings 8
Calories 314kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef chuck 80/20
- ½ pound ground pork
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons purified water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Set your oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine 1 pound of ground beef, ½ pound of ground pork, 1 cup of Parmesan cheese,⅓ cup of breadcrumbs, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of parsley, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Gently mix all the ingredients together until they are evenly combined; avoid overworking the mixture.
- Scoop about a tablespoon of the mixture at a time and roll into mini meatballs. You should get around 30. Place them on the prepared baking sheet with some space in between.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. If you like a bit of crispiness, broil them for 1-2 minutes at the end.
Notes
- Mix gently: Overworking the meat makes the meatballs tough. Use a light hand and stop as soon as everything is combined.
- Rest before shaping: Let the mixture sit 5–10 minutes so the breadcrumbs hydrate. It makes rolling easier and keeps the meatballs tender.
- Keep sizes even: Use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon measure for consistent mini meatballs that cook evenly.
- Don’t skip the binder: The egg and breadcrumbs work together to hold everything in place so the meatballs don’t fall apart.
Nutrition
Calories: 314kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 620mg | Potassium: 279mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 144IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 180mg | Iron: 2mg