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olive garden meatballs recipe

Olive Garden Meatballs Recipe

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
  • 1/2 lb ground pork
  • 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
  • 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cups marinara sauce

Method
 

  1. Combine 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup whole milk in a large bowl and let soak for 5 minutes until paste-like.
  2. Add the ground beef, ground pork, egg, Parmesan, garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the bowl and mix by hand for about 30 seconds until just combined.
  3. Roll the mixture into approximately 20 meatballs, each about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
  4. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the meatballs for 6 to 8 minutes, turning to brown on at least 3 sides.
  5. Pour in 2 cups marinara sauce, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until the meatballs reach 165°F (74°C) internally.
  6. Plate the meatballs, ladle sauce over the top, and garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan.

Notes

These meatballs are even better the next day once the sauce has had time to soak in, so they're worth making ahead. If the mixture feels very sticky when rolling, your hands are probably too warm; rinse them with cold water and try again. A meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of the simmer step entirely, and for a recipe this straightforward, it's worth using one.