Italian Beef Meatballs

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450g) ground beef, 80/20
• 1/2 cup (60g) breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup (120g) grated parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup (30g) chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp (5g) dried oregano
• 1 tsp (5g) dried basil
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 cup (250ml) marinara sauce
• 1 tbsp (15g) olive oil

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, egg, onion, garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together with your hands or a wooden spoon until just combined.
3. Use your hands to shape the meat mixture into meatballs, about 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) in diameter. You should end up with around 20-25 meatballs.
4. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving a little space between each meatball to allow for even cooking.
5. Drizzle the olive oil over the meatballs and gently roll them around to coat evenly.
6. Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until cooked through and lightly browned on the outside.
7. While the meatballs are baking, heat the marinara sauce in a large saucepan over medium-low heat.
8. Once the meatballs are done, remove them from the oven and carefully place them in the saucepan with the marinara sauce.
9. Simmer the meatballs in the marinara sauce for at least 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.