Grandma’s Italian Meatballs

         I found another memorable recipe in the caverns of my Grandma’s recipe box. These meatballs were always some that I could eat hot or cold. I loved to put them on her homemade bread and have a meatball sandwich. Yes, they are that good! Grandma always had her own way of doing things. Maybe that is why her food always tasted so special. She cooked with love and made her foods unique.

            Meatballs are the ultimate family comfort foods. These meatballs are going to blow you away. We do not fry these little balls of yum, we are going to slowly broil them. See, I told you she did things differently.

Grandma was her own woman, she did not follow no one, well except Grandpa. These meatballs are suitable for spaghetti nights, meat and potato nights or sandwich nights. They could even be used as an appetizer if you make them smaller.

Oh, Grandma, you sure knew how to make one food work for everything!

Frequently Asked Questions:

            Should I use sauce or use gravy?

Seriously, these meatballs will work for both. They are perfect for spaghetti and great to pour over potatoes with a thick gravy.

            For a sandwich, what type of bread should I use?

I prefer a nice crusty loaf of french bread. You could use sub sandwich rolls, or even bratwurst buns.

            Can I use ground beef?

Yes, I prefer to use at least an 80/20 split with my ground beef.

            Can I combine meats?

Grandma would usually combine pork and beef. You could use a mix of sausage and beef or even turkey and beef. They all taste wonderful together.

What do you need to make Grandma’s Italian Meatballs

            1 pound ground pork

            1 pound ground beef

            2 tsp minced garlic

            1 cup of water

            2 cups of bread crumbs, from stale and dried out bread

            2 eggs

            2 tbsp fresh parsley

            1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

            Salt and pepper to taste

            ¼ cup oil for frying

          

How to make Grandma’s Italian Meatballs

FIRST STEP:

In a large mixing bowl combine the ground beef and the ground pork

Add in the breadcrumbs, parsley, grated parmesan cheese, eggs, salt and pepper 

Mix to combine well with your hands

SECOND STEP:

Add water only if the mix becomes to dry

Preheat your broiler on low

THIRD STEP:

Begin to roll the mixture into meatballs, about 1 ½ inches

Line the meatballs up in a 9 x 13 metal baking pan

FOURTH STEP:

Broil on low for 5 minutes, rotate the meatballs and broil for another 5 minutes.

Continue to rotate the meatballs until all sides are lightly broiled. This seals in the flavor

FIFTH STEP:

Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium heat

Add the meatballs carefully and fry until meat is cooked through

SIXTH STEP:

If using a sauce, simmer the meatballs in the sauce for 20 minutes

If using a gravy, I prefer to cover the pan and bake for 20 minutes in a preheated 350* oven.

If using red sauce, serve as spaghetti, or sandwiches

If using gravy, pour over mashed potatoes or use over biscuits

Enjoy!

YUM!