Tender and flavorful homemade meatballs stuffed with gooey mozzarella cheese. These mozzarella-stuffed meatballs are what dreams are made of! Anything that’s stuffed with cheese is an immediate win in my book. Then pair that with delicious Italian flavors and you’re guaranteed success. This recipe is one of my stuffed Italian favorites, as well as cheesy stuffed garlic bread and pizza chicken roll-ups.
These mozzarella meatballs are a delicious twist on my favorite meatball recipe. Plain homemade meatballs are fantastic, but add mozzarella in the center and you’re in for a real treat. The meatballs are tender, juicy, flavorful, and full of gooey mozzarella.
These are the perfect addition to pasta, served alongside roasted vegetables or even as an appetizer. Our favorite way to enjoy them is to simmer in marinara and then serve them over spaghetti noodles. Sometimes we’ll make garlic bread as well.
Ingredients
1 small onion, grated
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
2/3 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 large egg
2 tablespoons marinara sauce plus 1/3 cup
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
1 package of ground beef (1.5-2lbs)
16 cubed pieces of mozzarella cheese (1/2 inch cubes)
Directions
Position the oven rack in the lower 1/3 of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the onion, parsley, parm cheese, bread crumbs, egg, marinara, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Once mixed, add in the beef, mixing with your hands. Shape the meat mixture into 16 meatballs.
Make a hole in the center of each meatball and place a cube of mozzarella inside. Reform the meatball so the cheese is completely concealed. Spoon 1/3 cup marinara into the bottom of a baking dish. Place the meatballs inside and drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes until cooked through.