Cheesy Italian Meatball Surprise with Spaghetti
Delight in a classic Italian dinner that packs an unexpected cheesy punch! Tender, savory meatballs are stuffed with gooey mozzarella and simmered in a rich homemade marinara sauce. This dish combines the convenience of shortcuts with the authenticity of home cooking. Perfect for family gatherings or a comforting weeknight meal, serve it alongside a generous portion of spaghetti for a truly indulgent experience.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
21
Ingredients
Ingredients
ground beef
2 lbs (none)
onion
1 (finely chopped (blended))
garlic cloves
2 (finely chopped)
eggs
2 (beaten)
Italian breadcrumbs
1 cup (none)
salt
to taste (none)
pepper
to taste (none)
chopped fresh basil
2 teaspoons (none)
mozzarella cheese pearls
8 ounces (none)
marinara sauce
12 cups (or 4 jars tomato sauce)
spaghetti
8 ounces (cooked)
garlic cloves
4 (minced)
onion
1 (chopped)
carrots
2 (chopped)
celery ribs
2 (chopped)
San Marzano tomatoes
4 (28 ounces) cans (crushed)
chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons (none)
red wine
2 cups (none)
olive oil
2 tablespoons (none)
butter
2 tablespoons (none)
water
2 cups (filled from empty tomato can)
Instructions
1
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, blended onion, garlic, beaten eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and basil. Mix until well combined.
2
Take a handful of the meat mixture and flatten it in your palm. Place a mozzarella pearl in the center and mold the meat around it to form a golf ball-sized meatball. Repeat with remaining mixture.
3
You can cook the meatballs in one of two ways: (1) Gently drop them directly into a pot of simmering marinara sauce and let cook for 30-40 minutes, or (2) Heat a bit of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and brown on all sides (about 3-4 minutes) before transferring them to the sauce.
4
Meanwhile, prepare the spaghetti according to package instructions.
5
For the marinara sauce: Heat olive oil and butter in a large pot. Add chopped onion, carrots, celery, and seasoning. Sauté for 8-10 minutes until the onion is translucent.
6
Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
7
Pour in the red wine, allowing it to simmer and reduce by half, about 4-5 minutes.
8
Crush the San Marzano tomatoes as you add them to the pot, then mix in one can of water. Let the sauce simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you have an immersion blender, use it to puree the sauce until smooth right in the pot.
9
Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper and a few additional pats of butter for richness. If the sauce tastes too acidic, add a teaspoon or two of sugar.
10
Continue to let the marinara sauce simmer, ideally for another hour to enhance the flavors.
11
Once both the meatballs and sauce are ready, serve the meatballs over a bed of spaghetti and drizzle with the marinara sauce. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cheesy Italian Meatball Surprise?
It is a classic Italian-inspired dish featuring tender ground beef meatballs stuffed with mozzarella cheese, served with a rich homemade marinara sauce over spaghetti.
What makes these meatballs a "surprise"?
The surprise is a gooey mozzarella cheese pearl hidden in the center of each meatball.
What ingredients are in the meatball mixture?
The meatballs are made from ground beef, blended onion, garlic, eggs, Italian breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and fresh chopped basil.
How much ground beef is required for this recipe?
The recipe calls for 2 lbs of ground beef.
How do you form the meatballs?
Flatten a handful of meat mixture in your palm, place a mozzarella pearl in the center, and mold the meat around it to form a golf ball-sized sphere.
What kind of cheese is used for the stuffing?
The recipe specifically uses 8 ounces of mozzarella cheese pearls.
What are the two ways to cook the meatballs?
You can either drop them directly into simmering sauce for 30-40 minutes or brown them in a pan with oil for 3-4 minutes before adding them to the sauce.
What vegetables are used to start the homemade marinara sauce?
The sauce starts with a base of chopped onion, carrots, and celery ribs.
How long should I sauté the sauce vegetables?
Sauté the onion, carrots, and celery for 8-10 minutes until the onion becomes translucent.
Is wine used in the marinara sauce?
Yes, 2 cups of red wine are added and reduced by half to enhance the flavor of the sauce.
What type of canned tomatoes are best for this recipe?
The recipe recommends using four 28-ounce cans of San Marzano tomatoes.
Do I need to crush the tomatoes?
Yes, you should crush the San Marzano tomatoes as you add them to the cooking pot.
How can I achieve a smooth sauce texture?
You can use an immersion blender to puree the sauce right in the pot after it has simmered for about 30 minutes.
What should I do if the marinara sauce is too acidic?
If the sauce tastes too acidic, you can add a teaspoon or two of sugar to balance the flavors.
How can I make the marinara sauce taste richer?
Adding a few additional pats of butter at the end of cooking adds a rich, velvety finish to the sauce.
How long does the sauce need to simmer in total?
Ideally, the sauce should simmer for at least 1.5 hours in total to fully develop and enhance the flavors.
How much spaghetti is needed?
The recipe lists 8 ounces of spaghetti, to be prepared according to package instructions.
Can I use store-bought sauce instead of making it from scratch?
Yes, you can substitute the homemade sauce with 12 cups or approximately 4 jars of store-bought tomato sauce.
What herbs provide the main seasoning?
Fresh chopped basil is used in both the meatball mixture and the marinara sauce.
What is used to bind the meatballs?
Two beaten eggs and one cup of Italian breadcrumbs act as the binding agents for the meatballs.
How much garlic is used in the entire dish?
The recipe uses a total of 6 garlic cloves: 2 for the meatballs and 4 minced for the sauce.
Is water added to the sauce?
Yes, 2 cups of water (measured using an empty tomato can) are added to the sauce mixture.
What fats are used for cooking the sauce?
A combination of 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter is used.
How is the final dish served?
Serve the cheesy meatballs over a bed of cooked spaghetti and drizzle generously with the marinara sauce.
Is this a good recipe for family dinner?
Yes, it is described as a comforting weeknight meal that is perfect for family gatherings.
How many cans of tomatoes do I need?
You will need four 28-ounce cans of San Marzano tomatoes.
What kind of breadcrumbs should I buy?
The recipe specifically recommends Italian breadcrumbs for the best flavor profile.
How do I prepare the onion for the meatballs?
The onion for the meatball mixture should be finely chopped or blended.
What tags define this recipe?
This recipe is tagged as Italian, meatballs, spaghetti, cheesy, comfort food, dinner, homemade, and family recipe.
Can I use an immersion blender?
Yes, an immersion blender is recommended to puree the sauce until smooth directly in the pot.