Authentic Italian Meatballs

Ingredients

Ground beef

1 pound

Breadcrumbs

1 cup

Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup, grated

Egg

1

Garlic

2 cloves, minced

Fresh parsley

1/4 cup, chopped

Dried oregano

1 teaspoon

Salt and pepper

to taste

Olive oil

2 tablespoons

Marinara sauce

2 cups

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, chopped parsley, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix the ingredients until they are evenly incorporated. The mixture should hold together well when shaped.
2. Using your hands, shape the meatball mixture into 1-inch diameter balls. You should have about 24 meatballs.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the meatballs. Cook them until they are browned on all sides, which should take about 5 minutes.
4. Once the meatballs are browned, add the marinara sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes. The meatballs should be cooked through and the sauce should be bubbling.
5. Serve the meatballs hot, either over pasta or as an appetizer with toothpicks. Garnish with extra parsley and Parmesan cheese if desired.