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ricotta meatball on a fork above a plate of spaghetti.
5 from 78 votes
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Ricotta Meatballs

The most tender and delicious meatballs ever!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 8
Calories: 314kcal
Author: Sula

Ingredients

  • ½ medium onion minced (or one small)
  • 4 TB olive oil divided
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese whole milk
  • ¼ cup packed chopped Italian parsley
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper or to taste
  • cup dry bread crumbs
  • 1 28 oz jar marinara sauce
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the onion and sauté about 5 minutes, until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and turn off the heat. Transfer mixture to a large mixing bowl.
  • Add ground beef, ricotta cheese, parsley, egg, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Stir with the onion mixture until almost combined, then add the breadcrumbs and continue to mix until thoroughly blended.
  • Roll about 2 tablespoons of mixture (I used a small cookie scoop) into a one-inch ball. Continue with all the mixture to form the meatballs.
  • Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into the same skillet used to cook onions. Place skillet over medium heat and add the meatballs. Brown meatballs on all sides in the hot oil, about 5 minutes. If the pan contains excess grease, use a crumpled paper towel held by tongs to remove grease from the skillet.
  • Pour marinara sauce and water over the meatballs in the skillet. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to simmer stirring occasionally for about 30 minutes until meatballs are cooked through and no longer pink in the center.
  • Serve with pasta or rolls for a meatball sandwich.

Nutrition

Calories: 314kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 917mg | Potassium: 545mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 596IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.