Description
Delicious ricotta meatballs served with a rich marinara sauce, perfect for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Using your hands, form the mixture into meatballs, about 1.5 inches in diameter. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they are cooked through and browned on the outside.
- While the meatballs are baking, heat the marinara sauce in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Once the meatballs are done, carefully transfer them to the saucepan with the marinara sauce. Simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve the meatballs hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves if desired.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef.
- Add chopped spinach or finely grated zucchini to the meatball mixture for extra vegetables and moisture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking and Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatball with sauce
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg