You’re basically describing cheesy, saucy comfort food at its best—think tender meatballs finished under heat until the cheese melts into a gooey layer.
🧀 Cheesy Baked Meatballs
🛒 Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef (or beef + pork mix)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley (optional)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 to 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
👩🍳 Instructions:
- Make the meatballs
In a bowl, mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, seasoning, salt, and pepper. Don’t overmix. - Shape & cook
Roll into golf ball–sized meatballs.- Option 1: Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15–18 minutes
- Option 2: Pan-sear until browned (they’ll finish cooking later)
- Add sauce
Place cooked meatballs in a baking dish and pour marinara sauce over them. - Top with cheese
Sprinkle mozzarella evenly on top. - Bake until melty
Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 10–15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly. Broil for 2–3 minutes if you want golden spots.
🍽️ How to Serve:
- Over spaghetti or any pasta
- In a toasted sub roll for a meatball sandwich
- With crusty bread to scoop up the sauce
- On their own as an appetizer with toothpicks
🔥 Easy Variations:
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or use spicy sausage
- Creamy twist: Mix a little cream into the marinara before baking
- Low-carb: Skip breadcrumbs or use almond flour
- Extra cheesy: Add provolone slices along with mozzarella
If you want, I can turn this into a one-pan skillet version or a slow cooker recipe where the meatballs stay super tender.