Cheesy Baked Meatballs

Cheesy baked meatballs are one of the most versatile dishes out there—they can be served as an appetizer, main course, or even a side dish. You can bake them, fry them, or even put them on a stick! This recipe for quick and easy cheesy baked meatballs that everyone is sure to love.

They’re perfect for any party or potluck, and they can easily be tailored to fit any dietary restriction (including vegan and gluten-free).

The best part is that they’re incredibly easy to make, and they can be cooked in a variety of ways like baked, grilled, boiled, or fried.

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Cheesy Baked Meatballs

For meatballs:

In a large mixing bowl., add ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, onions, rosemary, garlic, and paprika, and mix everything well using your hands.

Make sure everything is combined well. (mixing it with hands, helps everything combine evenly.)

Season with some salt and pepper. Roll the mixture into balls and place them on the baking tray and put them in the fridge for 15 minutes to chill.

Preheat the oven to 180C/356F.

In a large skillet, heat oil on medium heat, and cook the ball for 5 minutes, turning them occasionally until golden brown all over. Transfer meatballs to a plate.

For sauce:

In the same pan, heat more oil. Add onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and paprika, and cook everything for 5 minutes or until the onion softens.

Add wine or chicken stock and stir consistently, and simmer it for 1 minute until the liquid reduces slightly.

Add diced tomatoes/tomato sugo or passata, cream, and stir well to combine. Remove off the heat, and season with salt and pepper. Add spinach and mix it again.

Arrange the meatballs, on top and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Transfer the pan to a preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.

For basil oil:

In a mini food blending jar, add basil leaves, garlic, and oil and give it a pulse. blend it into a smooth paste.

Drizzle basil oil and chopped basil leaves on the top of the baked meatballs and serve it with crusty bread.

Cheesy Baked Meatballs

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

This baked meatballs recipe has tender beef meatballs, rich tomato sauce, and a cheesy topping. It’s so tasty, you’ll want to make it again and again.

INGREDIENTS

• 500 g Beef Mince

• 1 Egg

• 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs (made from day-old bread)

• 1 brown onion (coarsely grated)

• 2 tsp finely chopped rosemary

• 2 garlic cloves (crushed)

• 3 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tbs olive oil

• 1 brown onion (extra, finely chopped)

• 1 carrot (peeled, finely chopped)

• 2 celery sticks (finely chopped)

• ½ cup red wine or chicken stock

• 400 g can diced tomatoes

• 1 cup tomato sugo or passata

• ⅓ cup thickened cream

• 60 g Australian Baby Spinach

• ½ cup shredded mozzarella

• For basil oil

• ½ cup basil leaves

• 1 garlic clove (crushed)

• ⅓ cup 80ml olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS

• For basil oil
• In a large mixing bowl., add ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, onions, rosemary, garlic, and paprika, and mix everything well using your hands.
• Season with some salt and pepper. Roll the mixture into balls and place them on the baking tray and put them in the fridge for 15 minutes to chill.
• Preheat the oven to 180C/356F. In a large skillet, heat oil on medium heat, and cook the ball for 5 minutes, turning them occasionally until golden brown all over. Transfer meatballs to a plate.
• For sauce:
• In the same pan, heat more oil. Add onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and paprika, and cook everything for 5 minutes or until the onion softens.
• Add wine or chicken stock and stir consistently, and simmer it for 1 minute until the liquid reduces slightly.
• Add diced tomatoes/tomato sugo or passata, cream, and stir well to combine. Remove off the heat, and season with salt and pepper. Add spinach and mix it again.
• Arrange the meatballs, on top and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Transfer the pan to a preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.
• For basil oil:
• In a mini food blending jar, add basil leaves, garlic, and oil and give it a pulse. blend it into a smooth paste.
• Drizzle basil oil and chopped basil leaves on the top of the baked meatballs and serve it with crusty bread.