Easy, Melt in Your Mouth Meatballs

I don’t know too many people who don’t enjoy a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs (well, except my seven year old son who only eats the meatballs).  It’s the ultimate comfort food especially when it’s accompanied by a loaf of fresh bread and a glass of red wine….and an episode of the Real Housewives (did I just say that?).  Anyway, with baseball season for my boys in full swing, I cooked up a big batch of these meatballs yesterday with the idea that I won’t have to make dinner for a few nights.  The good news is these are super easy to make with very few ingredients.  But, be warned, there is a bit of clean up involved and you do have to roll up your sleeves and deal with raw meat.  You can’t make a good meatball without mixing up all the ingredients with your hands.  These meatballs can be ready in 30 minutes but I like to give myself extra time and let them simmer on the stove for a while to get that melt in your mouth experience.  So, if you can, make them in the afternoon when the kiddos are at school or in the early evening.  If time is not on your side, just use two jars of sauce.  I like Victoria’s marinara sauce (which is a bit pricey) or Trader Joe’s tomato and basil sauce (which is under $2 fyi).  If you are inclined to make your own sauce, this is my go-to recipe which is very easy to make.  Okay, here’s the recipe:

Ingredients: 

• 2 pounds ground beef chuck
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 cup plain breadcumbs (I make my own in the food processor)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 2 tablespoons dried parsley)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric (an excellent anti-inflammatory)
• 2 eggs

* You can make these a little healthier by using ground turkey and these gluten free Panko breadcrumbs.

Directions: 

• Mix all the ingredients with your hands in a large bowl.
• Form the raw meat into balls and place on a large plate.
• Heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat.
• In batches, place the meatballs in the skillet and brown on both sides for a few minutes.
• Place meatballs on a plate with paper towels to help absorb excess grease.
• Heat up marinara sauce in a large pot on low.
• Put meatballs in the sauce, turn the sauce down to a simmer and cover (stir occasionally).
• Allow at least thirty minutes for the meatballs to cook all the way through.
• Serve over your favorite pasta or on a hero topped with melted mozzarella (my kids’ favorite).