These Sausage Meatballs are a delicious blend of Italian sausage, parmesan cheese and flavorful herbs. This recipe is quite versatile and can be served as a main course with pasta or as a hearty appetizer.
About the Recipe
These tender meatballs will be your new go-to recipe. They are perfect for gatherings or cozy family dinners when you want a comforting and satisfying dish.
Making this recipe is a breeze! Slowly simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce, these homemade meatballs are tender, juicy and sure to be a hit with your family and friends. This is a simple Italian dish with basic ingredients that you can make again and again.
If you are looking for more sausage recipes, check out our: Baked Italian Sausage, Sausage and Broccoli Frittata or One Pot Easy Sausage and Spinach Orzo Recipe.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
Simple - These perfect meatballs are easy to make with simple ingredients. You will love that you can whip these flavorful meatballs up with minimal prep time and ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Delicious - The Italian sausage, parmesan cheese, oregano, and parsley create a rich and savory flavor combination that you are going to love. The slow simmering process only enhances those flavors making this a dish that is sure to impress everyone.
Versatile - Serve this as a main course meal with a side of pasta, polenta or garlic bread for a hearty and comforting meal. This also makes a great appetizer when served with toothpicks and a side of marinara for dipping. We also love using leftovers for meatball subs!
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need for this Italian sausage meatballs recipe:
- Oregano
- Kosher salt & black pepper
- Italian sausage - Use one pound of ground Italian sausage. You can also use this method for any type of pork sausage.
- Eggs
- Breadcrumbs - One cup of plain breadcrumbs, not panko bread crumbs.
- Parmesan - You can use Pecorino Romano cheese as a substitute
- Fresh Parsley - Use fresh chopped Italian parsley.
- Pasta sauce - Use your favorite sauce - you can use store bought or homemade pasta sauce.
Directions
Let's make these delicious meatballs together!
Step 1: In a very large mixing bowl, combine the oregano, salt, black pepper, Italian sausage, eggs, breadcrumbs, parmesan, and parsley.
Step 2: Using your hands, mix thoroughly for 4-5 minutes.
Step 3: Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
Step 4: In a large pot over medium-low heat, heat the sauce. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, add the meatballs and reduce the heat to low.
Step 5: Cook for at least 1 hour, stirring every 5-10 minutes, to ensure the meatballs don’t stick. Cook until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 160°F.
Expert Tips and Tricks
Here are some expert tips to make this great recipe:
Repurpose leftovers - Use leftover meatballs in a variety of different ways. Add them to sandwiches, topping on pizzas or add them to soups and stews for an extra burst of flavor.
Wear gloves - I recommend wearing kitchen gloves for mixing and rolling the meat mixture into meatballs.
Use a thermometer - To ensure the meatballs are cooked thoroughly, use a thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 160°F.
Make ahead - You can prepare the meatball mixture ahead of time and refrigerate it until you're ready to roll and cook the meatballs.
Kitchen Equipment
Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this sausage meatball recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.
Large mixing bowl - I love these mixing bowls and use them daily in my kitchen. They are great for tossing salads, mixing ingredients, and even serving!
Kitchen gloves - These kitchen gloves can be used for any messy recipes!
Large pot - A quality large pot is important for any home cook! It's a go-to for making soups, pastas, and dishes for a crowd.
Recipe Substitutions/Variations
Here are some common recipe substitutions and variations for this easy recipe.
Sausage - Instead of Italian sausage, you can use other types of sausage such as spicy Italian sausage, chicken sausage, or turkey sausage to change up the flavor. If you prefer, you can substitute the sausage with lean ground beef, ground pork, ground turkey, or ground chicken. You can also mix different types of ground meat for a unique flavor.
Herbs - While the recipe calls for parsley and oregano, you can experiment with other herbs such as basil, thyme, or rosemary to customize the flavor of the meatballs.
Parmesan cheese - Instead of Parmesan, you can use other types of cheese such as Asiago, Pecorino Romano, or even mozzarella.
Breadcrumbs - If you don't have plain breadcrumbs on hand, you can use panko breadcrumbs or crushed crackers as a substitute.
What To Serve With
Here are some recipes to serve alongside these easy Italian sausage meatballs:
Easy Sautéed Whole Garlic Mushrooms - Easy sautéed whole garlic mushrooms are one of my favorite holiday side dishes. This easy side dish is healthy, easy, and ready in under 30 minutes.
Roasted Chili Corn Salsa - You will love this fresh and flavorful Roasted Chili Corn Salsa recipe! This salsa combines the smokiness of roasted peppers with the sweetness of corn that creates the perfect condiment.
Cream Cheese Veggie Dip - This fresh cream cheese veggie dip is loaded with fresh herbs and flavor. It's perfect for an after school snack or a party appetizer!
Frequently Asked Questions
You could make the recipe as is and serve them as an appetizer or you could roll them into smaller bite sized meatballs. Serve them with toothpicks and marinara sauce for dipping.
After rolling the meatball mixture into 1-inch balls, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Ensure they are not touching each other, then place the baking sheet in the freezer until the meatballs are frozen solid. Once frozen, transfer the meatballs to a freezer bag or container, removing as much air as possible before sealing.
Allow the cooked meatballs to cool completely before transferring them to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Ensure they are arranged in a single layer to prevent them from sticking together. Seal the container or bag, removing excess air and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
You can add some heat to these meatballs by adjusting the amount of black pepper or by adding red pepper flakes for extra heat.
Recipe Storage and Reheating
Here are storage and reheating instructions for this easy meatball recipe:
Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight container and eat leftovers within 4-5 days.
Freezer Storage: Freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container and keep for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as instructed below.
Reheating Instructions: The best way to reheat this recipe is to heat in a saucepan over low heat until warm.
Other Recipes to Try
Sausage Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup plain bread crumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- ½ cup chopped Italian parsley
- 4 cups homemade or store bought pasta sauce
Instructions
- In a very large mixing bowl, add oregano, salt, black pepper, Italian sausage, eggs, breadcrumbs, parmesan, and parsley.
- Mix thoroughly for at least 4-5 minutes. I recommend wearing kitchen cloves for mixing.
- Roll mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
- Heat sauce in a large pot over medium-low heat. Bring to a gentle simmer. Add meatballs to the pot and reduce heat to low.
- Cook for at least 1 hour, stirring every 5-10 minutes to ensure the meatballs don’t stick. Cook until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 160F.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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