Oven Baked Meatballs

 

I don’t know about the rest of you, but as soon as the holidays are over, I want simple food. I want food that is easy to make and easy to eat. Nothing fancy, nothing on a skewer, nothing with colored sugar, the simpler the better. In most cases, this generally means meatloaf, but I was feeling more like meatballs this year, and looking for the easiest possible way to make them. These oven-baked meatballs were the answer. There’s nothing to putting them together, I used an ice cream scoop to measure them out, and in no time they were in the oven baking while I put my pasta water on to boil.  Believe it or not, it was a 30-minute meal.Oven Baked Meatballs

1 lb. ground chuck

½ c. Italian breadcrumbs

¼ c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 cloves garlic, minced

½ small yellow onion, grated

2 T. marinara sauce

1 T. dry red wine

1 T. Italian seasoning

½ t. kosher salt

¼ t. freshly ground black pepper

1 large egg, slightly beaten

 Preheat oven to 375°F. Line an edged baking sheet with parchment or a Silpat.

 In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all ingredients EXCEPT ground chuck. Once that is thoroughly combined, add the beef, and mix well with your hands. I find I’m most comfortable doing this when wearing kitchen gloves.

 Use an ice cream scoop to portion the meat out, roll into balls, and place on the prepared baking sheet.

 Bake for 35 minutes, or until the meatballs are browned and cooked through. Remove and transfer to sauce or serve immediately.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.