Homemade Meatballs
This is the best Homemade Meatballs recipe ever!
There once was a relative who casually commented that she couldn’t believe that I didn’t have a recipe for homemade meatballs on my site. “I can’t have everything!” I told her. “Yeah, but meatballs???” she questioned. She’s right. It’s time for a good meatball recipe. Thank goodness the Pioneer Woman came along with her fab recipe to save my meatball-lacking site. Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond) has published a brand-new cookbook, you see- The Pioneer Woman Cooks- Food From My Frontier. It’s bright and pretty and full of step by step photos, life on her ranch, and food that you want to eat. Besides the fact that I’m proud to call Ree my friend and you should support her because she’s lovely and fabulous and has cute dimples and a contagiously fun personality, her cookbook is truly one that you’ll want to have on your cookbook shelf.
Meatballs are the ultimate in comfort food, right? Toss them in marinara sauce and top a pile of freshly cooked noodles with them, or stuff them into a roll to create a meatball sub sandwich with melted mozzarella. We opted for Meatball Subs this time. SO good.
For the meatballs… they are a simple combo of ground beef and pork, garlic, fresh parsley, eggs, Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, salt/pepper and a splash of milk. P.S. >Whole Foods and maybe other markets sell both ground beef and ground pork in bulk in their meat department… so you can just go in there and tell them you’d like 3/4 pound of each.
Shape them into whatever size meatballs you’d like- tiny ones to go on pizza or regular-sized meatballs like these (you’ll get about 24). Then you pop them into the freezer for a few minutes, just to firm them up so they don’t fall apart when you cook them in a skillet.
The meatballs are quickly browned in a skillet before they’re added to marinara sauce to simmer and finish them off. You can use bottled marinara, or you can make Ree’s recipe, or you can make the homemade marinara sauce that I made the other day.
Then you are free to use your meatballs however you’d like! I hope that relative who so delicately pointed out that I have no meatballs on my site is happy now. I really should thank her for her feedback… because these meatballs were very, very good!
In her new cookbook, The Pioneer Woman shares a recipe for Rigatoni and Meatballs (sauce and all). These are just the meatballs here. The whole recipe (served over spaghetti) can be found on The Pioneer Woman’s website.
Yield: 24 meatballs
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Homemade Meatballs
Ingredients:
- 3/4 pound ground beef
- 3/4 pound ground pork
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- splash of milk
- olive oil
- 6 cups marinara sauce (2 jars or homemade)- more or less, as desired
Directions:
- In a large bowl, combine the meat, garlic, breadcrumbs, eggs, Parmesan, parsley, salt, a couple of grinds of pepper and a splash of milk. Mix together well with clean hands. Roll into 24 1 1/2-inch balls and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Place the baking sheet with the meatballs into the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes to firm them up slightly.
- To brown the meatballs, heat a couple of swirls of olive oil (about 2 tablespoons) in a heavy pot or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs, turning to brown all sides. They do not need to be cooked through.
- Add the meatballs and marinara sauce to a large pot and stir gently. Heat over medium heat until the sauce begins to bubble. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring very gently a couple of times during simmering.
- Serve meatballs and marinara over noodles or stuffed into rolls with melted mozzarella cheese
Tips:
- If you are preparing this recipe as Gluten-Free, just be sure to use GF breadcrumbs in place of regular. And use GF marinara sauce, of course.
My favorite is the Sun-dried Tomato Risotto. And tres leches cake, of course!
I love Ree’s Homemade Cinnamon Bread…its the best!
Blueberry Crumbcake
I love her Beef with Peppers stir fry! It’s so good!
the Marlboro Man sandwich
Rib eye steak with whiskey cream sauce
Baked lemon pasta!
I feel boring, but I have to say chocolate chip cookies!
I LOVE her cinnamon rolls! So yummy!
There are so many good ones – I’m trying Crash Hot Potatoes this week!
Her cinnamons rolls are TDF!
Oh goodness – my husband is going to love the whiskey bbq sliders
My favorite recipe is the Marlboro Man Sandwich. Sticks to your ribs!
Her eggs benedict. Delicious!
Her texas sheet cake! thanks!
I made her chicken pasta not too long ago and it was great!
i love her cinnamon rolls
My favorite PW recipe is Cinnamon Rolls – I make them for Christmas gifts and Christmas morning every year. They’re decadent!!
the marlboro man sandwich
the salisbury steak recipe looks good!
Her creamy mashed potatoes. Delicious!
I love her white chicken enchiladas from the PW website. That’s my go-to recipe when I have company over.
so hard to choose a favorite… I guess the chicken tortilla soup, it was a hit with the whole family.
I love just about everything in the cookbook, but the Texas sheet cake is a family favorite.
Her buttermilk fried chicken is amazing!
We make her Creamy Chicken Mushroom Spaghetti Casserole every other week!! It’s even better as leftovers to take for lunch!
Love her mashed potatoes with cream cheese and Lawrys salt. Make em every year for Christmas
The meatballs look delicious. It is honestly hard to pick just one favorite. If I had to, I think that it would be her Texas Sheet Cake. Amazing!
PW chicken spaghetti is a family favorite
By far, it’s her cinnamon rolls!
Chicken spaghetti is my favorite, too!
Her cinnamon rolls are fantastic!!
I made the Caramelized Onion Dip from Tasty Kitchen for Christmas last year…yummy!
I looove her chili recipe! sooo good!
These meatballs look really good, as does your Reuben Sandwich. My favorite recipe from Pioneer Woman is her pancakes. They are delicious! Please enter me in this contest for Ree’s new cookbook!
PW Cinnamon Rolls are Amazing! We love them.
So hard to choose just one! The mashed potatoes are so easy and so delicious. That is probably the recipe I make the most!
Black berry cobbler or corn dogs! Both make such a wonderful birthday treat. I think I’m going to go make some for my birthday today!
Her restaurant style salsa!
Too hard to choose! Either the Milky Way cake or the Blackberry Cheesecake! Yum.
My husband and I love the Cajun Chicken Pasta!
My favorite PW recipe is her cinnamon rolls DELISH!!!!
My favorite recipe, so far, is Texas sheet cake. Love it!
All of her recipes are great, but I really love the Marlboro Man Sandwich or the Cinnamin Rolls. YUM!
I have always loved the cinnamon rolls. And the photos – drool!
Definitely the pasta a la betsy! Still make that one all the time.
Her pizza crust is the best!
My favorite recipe is the recipe for her amazing chocolate cake she made for her hubby’s birthday in her TV show….I made it for my family and they were just over the moon about it!
I love her cinnamon scones! YUM
Who can resist those delicious-looking devil dogs?
Her barbecue meatball recipe is my favorite although I have made many of her other recipes and they are always delicious!
Ooooh don’t know….these meatballs look pretty darn tasty! Thanks for the chance to win.
I haven’t made it yet, but I’m dying to make her sheet cake.
My favorite from her site is red velvet sheet cake…yummmm..:)
Hands down, “Knock you Naked Brownies” http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/05/knock-you-naked-brownies/
I made these a few weeks ago and the are magnificent! They are also super easy to make. They were a huge hit at my house.
Roasted butternut squash pasta with brown butter sage sauce- amazing!
I love her Texas Sheet Cake!!
we make edna mae’s pancakes with yogurt insttead of sour cream and pw’s beans and cornbread. easy and delicious.
These meatballs look amazing! I have to say my favorite Pioneer Woman recipe is definitely her mac and cheese – can’t make it too often, but when I indulge it’s SO GOOD.
The glazed donuts! She has inspired me to get into food photography. All of her meals leap off the page and make you want to cook them immediately!
My fave is Perfect Iced Coffee. Since we’re already hitting mid 80s in SE TN, iced coffee is definitely a go-to in the afternoons.
Love the pie crust recipe! Have made this so often and is foolproof everytime and is easy!! It is better than my moms’ recipe and that is saying something!:)
Ooh, her braised short ribs!
My favorite, often made recipe by Ree is her Parmesan Chicken. I’ve made it several times for guests too. Everyone LOVES it!
I am new to the Pioneer Women cookbooks, blog and show. Just saw Ree on The Chew making chicken tetrazzini. It looks so simple and delicious. I love that. Gives cooks hope in the kitchen.
Knock You Naked Brownies, of course! 🙂 Hope I win!!
My favorite PW recipe is her Beef Stew with Mushrooms!
My favorite recipe is her chicken tortilla soup.
I LOVE homemade meat balls. I cooked an Asian version this weekend in fact for a dinner I hosted. I would soooooooooooooo love to get my hands on a copy of Ree’s book. Here’s hoping!
The brisket and roasted asparagus!
I love her blueberry cobbler..cause my favorite part is crust and there is more crust in hers and it’s simple to make!
I love the Pioneer Woman’s green bean casserole. It’s a more modern, fresh version of the classic and I make it every year for Thanksgiving!
any recipe from the pioneer woman that includes short ribs!
or the goat cheese polenta, mmmmmmmm.
Her cinnamon rolls. YUM!
Great giveaway!
I love this her Creamy Chicken Spaghetti. It is delicious!
Hubby and I love her beer braised beef! If it’s a PW recipe then I KNOW it’s good! 😉
Cinnamon rolls! !!! Cinnamon rolls! ! Cinnamon rolls! !! They are a favorite in my house.
Hot fresh from the oven cinnamon rolls! Hubby loves the knock you naked brownies 😉
Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy — yum-o!!
I love her texas sheet cake! Have brought this dessert to many luncheons.
Thanks!
I love so many! But my family’s favorite is one that is so simple! The Egg-in-a-hole! http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/07/egg-in-a-hole-see-alternate-names-below/ We have them nearly every Sunday for breakfast. My girls would eat ’em every day if I’d let them!
The recipe I have always gotten compliments on is the My favorite Meatloaf.
Hmmm fave recipe. Now that is a hard one. I love making her pot roast! Have been dying to try her cinnamon roll recipe! Looking forward to her new book and all the deliciousness that awaits inside!
Chocolate cake!! Yum yum
I just love the Grilled Chicken with Lemon Basil Pasta! Can’t wait to try the meatballs!
My favorite recipe is the spicy whiskey bbq sliders. They are so very yummy and I think they’re even better as leftovers the next day. I just got a kitchenaid mixer, so I’m excited to search for recipes to use it! WAHOO! I’ve been wanting one for sooo long.
I LOVE her jalepeno poppers and her cinnamon rolls recipes. NOM NOM NOM. I love ALL of her recipes to be honest. She is amazing. Thank you.
I never tried any of her stuff. Just saw her cookbook at wal mart was gonna buy it but didn’t have the extra money. What a great give a way.
mmmm.. just made her braised short ribs from her website. they were amazing.
I really enjoy PW’s recipe for black-eye pea salsa. It’s a favorite in my house. The recipe can be found on her website.
Well, I’ve never tried any of the Pioneer Woman’s recipes, but her Seafood Pasta looks pretty darn good.
Love love love her lasagna recipe! I’ve passed it along to so many people because it’s that good! 🙂
I have been cooking my way through Ree’s cookbook and my favorite recipe so far is the Pot Roast – ohmigoodness, it is the best! If you haven’t tried it you must!
I love her chicken parm. It’s absolute heaven on a plate.
Speaking of heaven… maybe I’ll make the PW cinnamon rolls today.
My favorite is the chicken salad pasta
Macaroni and cheese!!
Red Velvet Sheet Cake
We LOVE P-Dubs Restaurant Style Salsa. I make a batch every week to keep on hand. Delicious.
Yum yum yum I love the Broccoli Cheese Soup on the PW website!
I love all of her recipes especially the Braised short ribs. Keep up the good work 🙂