Ricotta Meatballs
How to make the juiciest, tender, flavorful Ricotta meatballs made with ricotta cheese and parmesan cheese. These Ricotta Parmesan Meatballs will be a hit!
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs. Ground Beef (80-85% lean)
- 3/4 cup Ricotta Cheese (whole milk ricotta)
- 2/3 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1/2 cup Seasoned Bread Crumbs (or panko bread crumbs)
- 1 large Egg
- 3 Garlic Cloves (finely minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- Olive Oil
- 28 to 32 ounce Marinara Sauce (I suggest Rao's or Carbone's)
Topping Ideas:
- Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese, Fresh Basil, Whipped Ricotta, Chili Flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, ricotta cheese, breadcrumbs, grated parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes until well combined.
- Roll into 14-20 meatballs, depending on what size you would like to make them. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil to cover the bottom of a large skillet or dutch oven, to prevent the meatballs from sticking. Place meatballs in the pan
- For 1½-inch meatballs, bake 15–20 minutes. For larger 2-inch meatballs, bake 20–25 minutes. Meatballs are done when they are lightly browned and the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Carefully drain any grease or blot with a paper towel to remove some of the grease from the pan.
- Add marinara sauce into the pan with the meatballs and carefully stir to coat the meatballs (or spoon sauce on top). Bake for about 5 minutes longer or until the sauce is warmed and the meatballs are cooked through
- Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil ribbons. May top with whipped ricotta as well for extra creaminess.
Notes
I suggest using 80-85% lean ground beef. 93% lean can be used but will result in a drier, tougher meatball.
Serving Suggestions:
- Pasta: Classic spaghetti, penne, or your favorite type of pasta with a side of extra marinara sauce.
- Zucchini Noodles aka Zoodles or Spaghetti Squash: This is a delicious lower-carb option.
- Meatball Subs: Tuck into crusty rolls with melted mozzarella. Here's my popular recipe for homemade Meatball Subs.
- Polenta: Creamy polenta with parmesan cheese topped with meatballs is comfort on a plate.
Nutrition
Calories: 142kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 496mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 277IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 1mg