Hearty Italian Meatballs

For the Meatball Mix

Handle this precious bounty of meat with a gentle hand. Overworking the mixture will result in a tough, cursed meatball, so mix it just enough to combine the ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound ground veal
• 1 pound ground pork
• 3 large cloves garlic, minced
• ⅔ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• ⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 medium onion, finely minced

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the ground beef, ground veal, and ground pork.
2. Add the minced garlic, Parmesan cheese, panko bread crumbs, eggs, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, ricotta cheese, chopped parsley, and minced onion.
3. Using your hands, gently incorporate all the ingredients until they are just combined. Be careful not to overwork the mixture.
4. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
6. Form the meat mixture into balls, about 2-3 inches in diameter, and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
7. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and browned on the outside.

Prep: 20 min • Cook: 20 min • Wait: No time