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    Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

    Jan 18, 2022 · Leave a Comment

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    Mozzarella stuffed meatballs are cheesy, tender, and bursting with flavor. We love them as our main course, but you can also make them into sliders, subs, and even serve them with spaghetti!

    These cheesy meatballs make the absolute best entree when you smother them in our homemade marinara sauce. Oven baked to perfection, but the other reason we really love these is that they take 35 minutes to make, so time is never an issue. This is usually a game day fave, along with buffalo chicken meatballs.

    cheesy stuffed meatballs with one cut open
    bowl of meatballs in marinara.
    bowl of meatballs in marinara.

    MOZZARELLA STUFFED MEATBALL INGREDIENTS

    You may have all of these cheese stuffed meatball ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.

    • Ground Meat: We are using a 1 to 1 ratio of beef and pork.
    • Breadcrumbs: Regular or panko will work.
    • Milk: Any percentage of fat will do, if you are using a plant based milk, choose unsweetened.
    • Egg: Real eggs work best to keep the meatballs tender and bind the other ingredients together.
    • Spices: Parsley, salt, and pepper.
    • Garlic: Grab the store bought minced garlic to save some time.
    • Cheese: grated parmigiano reggiano cheese, mozzarella cheese sticks (we are going to cube string string for the inside of the meatballs.)
    ingredients needed to make mozzarella stuffed meatballs

    SERVING SUGGESTIONS

    Enjoy this great recipe as a great addition to a full meal with these other recipes:

    • Homemade Marinara Sauce – The best marinara sauce you have ever tasted in your life!
    • Garlic French Bread – We love this easy bread recipe and it goes with just about anything.
    • Pizza Dough Garlic Knots – If you have a little extra time, this recipe is highly recommened!

    INSTRUCTIONS

    If you'd like to print this recipe, scroll down to the recipe card where you can print the recipe or have it scaled to double or triple. You'll also find nutrition information.

    TOOLS AND SUPPLIES NEEDED:

    • large bowl
    • measuring cups
    • baking sheet
    • parchment paper
    • knife

    PREHEAT OVEN: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

    SOFTEN BREADCRUMBS: Combine the milk and breadcrumbs in a medium bowl and let it sit for 3-5 minutes.

    KITCHEN TIP

    If you don't have parchment paper, you can spray the baking sheet with cooking spray or line it with foil.

    meatball ingredients in a bowl
    meatball ingredients mixed together in a bowl

    MIX: Add the remaining ingredients except for the mozzarella and mix together with your hands.

    ROLL THE MEATBALLS: Form 24 meatballs that are about the same size.

    ADD CHEESE CUBE: Place a piece of cheese in each meatball so that it's in the middle and the meat is covering it.

    KITCHEN TIP

    It can be helpful to use gloves or oil your hands before forming meatballs to prevent them from sticking to your hands.

    melon scooper full of meatball mixture
    hand holding a flattened meat patty with a cube of cheese in middle

    KITCHEN TIP

    Using a cookie scoop helps to ensure each meatball is the same size.

    round meatball in palm of hand
    baking sheet with 3 rows of 5 meatballs

    PLACE ON BAKING SHEET: Sit the meatballs on the baking sheet leaving a couple of inches between each one.

    cooked meatballs on baking sheet
    white oval dish with mozzarella stuffed meatballs and marinara sauce

    COOKING TIME: Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 164 degrees.

    SERVING: Remove from the oven and serve with pasta, marinara sauce, or your favorite side dish.

    plate of mozzarella stuffed meatballs
    dish of meatballs

    STORAGE TIPS

    Refrigerate: You can refrigerate meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Freeze: If you plan to freeze the meatballs before eating, undercook them. After they’re defrosted, cook them thoroughly, testing the internal temperature to make sure they’re 165°F.

    Defrosting: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

    RELATED RECIPES

    Air Fryer Meatballs
    These easy homemade meatballs cook to juicy, tender perfection in the air fryer.
    See Recipe
    Chicken Meatballs
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    chicken meatballs stack
    Turkey and Spinach Meatballs
    These healthy turkey spincach meatballs are cooked prefect everytime and are simple to make for a main course dinner or as an appetizer.
    See Recipe
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    Italian Meatballs
    Delicious classic recipe for large Italian meatballs. They pair well with spaghetti, pizza or meatball sub sandwiches.
    See Recipe
    spaghetti and meatballs with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top piled on a white plate

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    Is it better to bake meatballs or fry?

    Baking meatballs doesn't require oil or butter and you don't have to constantly watch or stir them compared to frying. Frying can also lead to overcooked meatballs that may not be as tender, however, the cooking method is usually a personal preference.

    What is the secret to tender meatballs?

    To keep meatballs tender you want to be sure that you don't overmix the meat mixture and you cook just until the internal temperature is 165 degrees.

    Can you freeze mozzarella stuffed meatballs?

    You can freeze the stuffed meatballs raw or after they have been cooked. However, if you are going to bake them and immediately freeze before eating, it's best to undercook them slightly.

    cheese stuffed meatballs in a white baking dish with marinara sauce next to towel

    WAYS TO USE LEFTOVERS

    • Meatball Sub Bombs: Great for any occasion and easy to make.
    • Pesto Fettuccine and Meatballs: A flavorful twist on a classic pasta recipe.
    • Chicken Parm Sandwich Bake: All of your favorite Italian flavors packed into one sandwich.
    • Meatball Sliders: These are filled with gooey mozzarella cheese on a sweet Hawaiian roll.
    • Meatball Calzone: Made with a pizza crust dough outside and can be taken on the go.
    cheese, meatballs, mozzarella, oven baked, parmesan
    meatball with mozzarella cheese oozing out of the middle

    Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

    These cheese stuffed meatballs are oozing with flavor and mozzarella that goes great with spaghetti or a marinara dipping sauce.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Course: Appetizer, Main Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 24
    Calories: 147kcal
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    Ingredients
     

    • ½ pound ground beef
    • ½ pound ground pork - or pork sausage
    • ½ cup breadcrumbs
    • ¼ cup milk
    • 1 egg
    • 2 tablespoons parsley - chopped
    • ¼ cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 6 cloves garlic - minced
    • 24 mozzarella cubes - 4 mozzarella string cheese sticks cut into 6 pieces each

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place parchment paper on your baking sheet.
    • meatball ingredients in a bowl
      Combine breadcrumbs and milk in a bowl. Let sit for 3-5 minutes to soften breadcrumbs.
    • meatball ingredients mixed together in a bowl
      Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl, except mozzarella. Mix together with your hands.
    • melon scooper full of meatball mixture
      Form 24 equal size meatballs.
    • hand holding a flattened meat patty with a cube of cheese in middle
      Add a piece of cheese to each meatball. Using your hands, make sure meat is surrounding the cheese. Roll in your hands to make a round, uniform shape.
    • baking sheet with 3 rows of 5 meatballs
      Place meatballs on your baking sheet.
    • cooked meatballs on baking sheet
      Cook for 15-18 minutes. Meatballs will be done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
    • white oval dish with mozzarella stuffed meatballs and marinara sauce
      Remove from the oven and enjoy.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 147kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 317mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg
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