Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Italian Meatballs:

1. Gather Your Ingredients:

• 1 lb (450g) ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)

• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs

• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 egg

• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried parsley)

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• Salt and pepper (to taste)

• 1/4 cup milk (optional, for moisture)

• Olive oil (for greasing the pan)

2. Preheat the Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

3. Prepare the Meatball Mixture:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat (beef or a beef-pork mix), breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper.

• Add the egg and mix everything together with your hands or a spoon until all the ingredients are evenly combined. If the mixture feels too dry, you can add a little milk (about 1/4 cup) to make it more moist.

4. Form the Meatballs:

• Use your hands to roll the meat mixture into balls about the size of a golf ball (1-2 inches in diameter).

• Place the meatballs on a baking sheet or in a greased baking dish, leaving a little space between each one.

5. Bake the Meatballs:

• Place the baking sheet or dish in the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for 20-25 minutes, or until they are browned and cooked through.

• You can check for doneness by cutting one meatball in half to make sure it’s no longer pink inside, or use a meat thermometer (the internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C)).

6. Optional: Simmer in Sauce:

• For extra flavor and tenderness, after baking the meatballs, you can simmer them in marinara sauce for 10-15 minutes on the stove. This also helps the meatballs absorb the flavor of the sauce.

7. Serve the Meatballs:

• Serve the Italian meatballs with your favorite pasta, in a sub sandwich, or as an appetizer with marinara sauce for dipping.

Tips:

• Don’t Overmix: When mixing the meatball ingredients, avoid overmixing, as this can make the meatballs tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.

• Optional Herbs: You can customize the flavor by adding other herbs like basil or thyme to the meatball mixture.