Description
Juicy Italian-American meatballs with a molten mozzarella center, served with a robust marinara sauce. These easy-to-make crowd-pleasers offer a perfect texture contrast between golden-brown exteriors and gooey cheese interiors, ideal for family dinners or festive gatherings.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef (85% lean)
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1 large egg
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
12 small mozzarella cheese cubes (marinara-style, halal-approved)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional, halal-approved)
2 cups marinara sauce (alcohol-free, halal-approved)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C)
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, Panko, egg, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined
Form 12 equal portions of meat; flatten each into a disc and create a small cavity in the center
Insert a mozzarella cube into each cavity and enclose carefully, sealing the meat around the cheese
Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes until browned and cooked through
Transfer to a pot or baking dish, cover with marinara sauce, and simmer gently for 5 minutes to heat through
Notes
Use fresh mozzarella for superior melting results
Make ahead and refrigerate uncooked meatballs for up to 24 hours
For browning: pan-sear meatballs in a little olive oil before baking for extra crust
Serve over cooked pasta or garlic bread
Leftovers can be frozen cooked or uncooked, up to 3 months
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 23
- Category: Meals
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American