Hey food lovers!
Welcome back to my little corner of the internet where we make healthy, delicious meals that are easy to whip up and guaranteed to please your taste buds. Today, I’m super excited to share one of my all-time favorite comfort foods with you: **Cheesy Beef Meatballs with Marinara**. These meatballs are juicy, packed with flavor, and cheesy – honestly, what’s there not to love? Plus, they’re baked, not fried, so they fit right into our “Healthy Food Recipes” theme. Perfect for a cozy family dinner!
### Why You’ll Love These Cheesy Beef Meatballs
1. **Healthy Twist**: These meatballs are baked, which means they’re lower in fat compared to traditional fried meatballs.
2. **Cheese**: Enough said. Cheese makes everything better, right?
3. **Versatility**: Pair them with pasta, stuff them in a sub, or just enjoy them on their own!
Alright, let’s dive into the recipe!
### Cheesy Beef Meatballs with Marinara
#### Ingredients:
– **For the Meatballs**:
– 1 lb ground beef (lean if you want to keep it healthy)
– 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (whole wheat for that “Healthy Food Recipes” angle)
– 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
– 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (pro tip: use part-skim)
– 1 egg
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 tsp Italian seasoning
– Salt and pepper to taste
– A splash of milk (about 2 tablespoons) to keep them moist
– **For the Marinara**:
– 1 can (15 oz) crushed tomatoes
– 1 small onion, finely chopped
– 3 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 tsp dried basil
– 1 tsp dried oregano
– 1 tbsp olive oil
– Salt and pepper to taste
– A pinch of red pepper flakes (if you like a little kick)
#### Instructions:
1. **Preheat and Prep:**
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This is going to make cleanup a breeze, trust me.
2. **Mix the Meatballs:**
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, mozzarella, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and milk. Mix everything until just combined – overmixing can make the meatballs tough.
3. **Form the Meatballs:**
Using your hands or an ice cream scoop for uniformity (which I totally recommend), shape the mixture into balls about the size of a golf ball and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
4. **Bake:**
Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are golden brown and cooked through.
5. **Make the Marinara:**
While the meatballs are baking, let’s get that homemade marinara going. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they’re soft and translucent. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
6. **Add Tomatoes and Simmer:**
Pour in crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. If you’re adding red pepper flakes, now’s the time to toss those in too. Bring to a simmer and let it cook for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The flavors will get all happy and mingled together. Yum!
7. **Combine and Serve:**
Once your meatballs are done, add them to the marinara sauce and gently stir to coat them completely. Let them simmer in the sauce for another 5 minutes to soak up all that tasty goodness.
### Tips and Tricks:
– **Make Ahead**: You can make the meatballs in advance and freeze them. Just bake them from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
– **Extra Veggies**: Grated zucchini or carrots can be snuck into the meatball mixture for an extra nutritional punch. Kids won’t even notice!
– **Gluten-Free**: Swap the breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs if needed.
### Personal Insight:
Growing up, meatballs were a Sunday dinner staple in my house. My dad would roll them out and fry them up while we impatiently waited, stealing bites of crispy edges when he wasn’t looking. Those memories pushed me to give this classic dish a healthy twist without sacrificing the comfort and nostalgia. Now, I can savor every bite and still feel good about what I’m feeding my family.
### Serving Suggestions:
– **Classic**: On top of spaghetti, with some freshly grated Parmesan and a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
– **Sub Style**: Tuck those meatballs into a toasted hoagie roll with extra marinara and melted mozzarella. Perfection.
– **Soup-er Satisfying**: Add them to a bowl of spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles for a low-carb meal.
There you have it! Delicious, cheesy, and healthy Cheesy Beef Meatballs with Marinara. Give it a try and let me know how you like it. If you enjoyed this recipe, don’t forget to subscribe for more Healthy Food Recipes and feel free to share your adaptations in the comments.
Happy cooking, friends!