The one thing that sets this meatball recipe apart from others? Soak sandwich bread with grated onion. The bread puffs up when cooked, making these meatballs extra soft and juicy. Plus it adds extra savoury flavour without the need to fry onion separately.
Italian Meatball recipe!
I don’t want to blow my own horn, but I’m determined to do everything I can to make you want to try these meatballs and if that means a mini brag sheet, then so be it. So here we go:
“Your meatball recipe is the same as my Italian Nonna! Love the idea of soaking the bread in onion juice rather than milk….. Will make them like this from now on (won’t tell Nonna!)” – Dan, 20 July, 2018
“This recipe is better than my Italian family’s .….. This is going to be my current family pass down to future generations.” – Rosemary, 19 March, 2018
“… we had a meatball cook off at work… and guess who won!!!! Thank you Nagi!!!!” – Angie, 18 August 2017
* And her head swells….. though also, she is actually just really happy to think about all the meatballs being made and enjoyed by people in the far corners of this big wide world*
Just two little things that make all the difference
1. Soaked bread = soft meatalls. Bread soaked in some form of liquid puffs up when cooked, creating little air pockets that makes meatballs extra soft. It works far better than ordinary breadcrumbs which actually has the tendency to make meatballs tough little balls (panko breadcrumbs is ok though), and the Italians have been doing this for years.
Italians use milk for soaking. I use grated onion – see next point.
2. Soak bread in grated onion = better flavour. Grating the onions serves a few purposes.
Flavour – 80% of my recipes start with “sauté onion until golden”. And there’s a reason for that. Onion is a flavour base that can’t be beaten, and I want it in my meatballs;
Soaking – it’s the juicy grated onion that is used to soak the bread, rather than milk or water which is what other recipes use. This way the liquid balance is not thrown out of balance.
No need to cook onion separately – If you use raw diced onion in the meatballs, you run the risk of having raw onions in them – unless you cook them for longer in which case you risk overcooking the meatballs!
No need to finely chop onion – because unless they are very finely diced, there is a tendency for the onion to affect how well the meatball holds together. Make your life easier – grate the onion! (Wear goggles if it makes your eyes water…)
This is how I roll meatballs
I have often wished for someone to invent a compact meatball rolling device. I have visions of a bike pump type contraption where you feed the meat into one end and perfectly formed meatballs pop out the other.
If you’re thinking what I think you are – get your mind out of the gutter and just imagine how convenient that would be!!! 😂
But until such time, this is the most efficient way I’ve been able to come up with for rolling meatballs.
Tip: Baking option for meatball recipes
Any of my Meatball recipes can be baked. It’s healthier and they stay nice and round, though they are not quite as juicy as pan frying (sear = trapped juices).
To bake meatballs, preferably use a rack placed on a tray – helps keep the base more round – then just spray both the rack and the meatballs generously with oil and bake at 200C/400F for 20 minutes.
You won’t find Spaghetti and Meatballs in Italy …
Yes, really! In Italy, meatballs are called Polpette. Though the ingredients are typically the same as what I am using (except for my grated onion technique) along with a similar tomato sauce, they are larger (about the size of golf balls) and they are served with bread rather than pasta.
So Spaghetti and Meatballs is not authentic Italian, but that’s ok. Just as there’s no such thing as Beef and Broccoli in China, and no Chicken Tikka Masala in India, we love it anyway and we will always love it.❤️ – Nagi x
MORE CLASSICS WE’LL LOVE FOREVER
Italian Meatball
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Italian Meatballs (Extra Soft and Juicy!)
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lightly packed cup of diced white sandwich bread , crusts removed (Note 1 for SUB)
- 1 small onion (brown, white or yellow)
- 14 oz / 400 g ground beef (mince)
- 3 oz / 100g ground pork (mince), or sub with more beef (Note 2)
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley , finely chopped (Note 3)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano (or parmesan), freshly grated
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Cooking Meatballs & Sauce
- 2.5 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 3/4 cup onion , finely chopped (white, brown or yellow)
- 24 oz / 700 g tomato passata (Tomato Puree in US/CAN – Note 4)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (chili flakes)
- 3 tsp dried Italian herb mix (parsley, basil, thyme, oregano)
- 1 tsp salt
- Black pepper
To Serve
- Pasta of choice
- Parmesan
- Parsley , finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Grate the onion using a standard box grater in a large bowl until you have about 1/2 cup of grated onion and juices.
- Add bread, mix to combine so the onion juice soaks the bread and disintegrates. Set aside while you prep the other ingredients (5 min or so).
- Add all the remaining Meatball ingredients. Use hands to mix well.
- Measure out a heaped tablespoon and roll lightly to form a ball. Repeat with remaining mixture. (Note 5)
- Heat 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil in a large non stick fry pan over medium high heat. Add the meatballs and brown all over – about 3 – 4 minutes.
- When they are browned but NOT cooked through, carefully transfer them onto a plate.
Cooking & Sauce:
- Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil into the fry pan.
- Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until translucent. Add the remaining Sauce ingredients. Bring to a simmer, then turn down to medium low so it bubbles gently rather than splattering everywhere.
- Carefully transfer the meatballs and any juices that have pooled on the plate into the Sauce.
- Cook the meatballs for 8 – 10 minutes, turning and stirring occasionally. Adjust Sauce salt and pepper to taste.
- While the meatballs are cooking, cook your pasta of choice.
- Serve the meatballs on pasta, garnished with extra parmesan and parsley if using.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This Italian Meatball recipe was originally published August 2015. Long overdue for a video and new photos – no change to recipe, I wouldn’t dare!
I get a round: 8 more meatball recipes
LIFE OF DOZER
Bush walk. In hunt of something stinky to roll in – always.
Delicious. I used panko crumbs and still soaked them and the balls were perfect. Yum, yum, yum.
Can this be adjusted for meatball subs? If so, how? How to thicken the sauce, I guess?
Would this be the same if making meatball subs? Or, should the sauce be thinker?
Absolutely delicious and so easy! Made extra to freeze, also burger patties .
Hi Nagi
I made this recipe today, couldn’t quite get the nice small onions from by grating them so chopped them instead. But OMG! Without doubt the best meatballs I have ever cooked, or tasted, soft inside and full of flavour. Thanks so much for publishing it and all your other recipes. I am an englishman who lives in PH and will be spreading this one across Davao.
cheers,
Steve
I added some blitzed mushrooms and fennel seeds to the meatballs and the dish was delicioso 🙂
This is exactly what I’ve been doing for years and soaking the breadcrumbs in the grated onion is something I always tell me friends to do, it’s a game changer.
This is my go to recipe for meatballs. 10/10
Delicious,I make my daughter dinner once a week an need recipes that travel and good for teenagers and fussy husband. Third week in a row I’ve made your recipes , can’t wait for the new book I’ve ordered 😋
Love this recipe & have cooked it many times (may have commented previously but haven’t made it for a while.) I cut down on the chili flakes – bit too hot! Freezes well for those nights when I don’t want to cook but want something quick, filling & extremely yummy! Another great recipe Nagi!
Another fantastic recipe and so easy to make. We had these with salad and a baked potato. My husband loves it.
Family enjoyed meatballs served with pasta.
Bloody delicious! The toddler even loved them!
Once again, Nagi’s version of an old standard dish is THE BEST. Hubby used to just wing it with meatballs in tomato sauce… now he knows that if he follows Nagi, he’s guaranteed to get rave reviews. He served it with gnocchi (from a packet), garlic bread and a radish and fennel salad – perfect comfort food!
Got to be the best meatballs ever, thank you so much for all your hard work. Put your book on a new recepi book stand on the kitchen wall last night and looking forward to adding the new one to it later this year. x
Very nice and I added chopped carrot, celery and mushroom to the sauce. Also some chopped spinach to meatballs. Served with a side salad of lettuce, tomato, red onion and chopped carrot.
They forgot to mention the bloody eggs in the mix with the meat any onion. They feel apart 😔
I made these meatballs without pork. I made them for my brother. He loved them so much that he froze his extra meatballs for a later meal. He never eats leftover food, He is not easy to please lol. I’m making them again today using venison! They really are delicious, you should definitely try them.
Loved this recipe! My family told me the meatballs were so tasty that they have never ever eaten better. I didn’t even add Parmesan but made the sauce from fresh tomatoes and herbs from my garden.
Best meatballs I have ever had. Juicy & tender & full of flavour! I pan fried them as recommended. Hubby loved them but I may have added more chilli & pepper than recipe asked for, he does not have the same love for chilli as I do.
The flavour of both meatballs & sauce was delicious . I did add some extra fresh herbs from our garden & fried them with the onion & garlic prior to sauce going in. Recipe was very easy to follow. We will definitely making these again! Thanks Nagi
These meatballs were perfect!
My husband couldn’t stop praising me while he ate 😍
I used 2 slices of split top light wheat. I didn’t have a box grater so I put the onion and garlic in the blender until it was a paste. Mixed it by hand with the bread. I had to turn the heat in my cast iron down to a 3 because my meatballs got burnt the first round. They still turned out fantastic. I added paprika to my sauce for a little smokiness and this dish truly turned out marvelous. Thank you!!