Description
These meatballs are baked because dammit, it’s just easier that way. You still get a nice outer crunch, they all cook evenly, and you don’t have to tend to them at all.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup goat cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped basil
- 1/4 cup minced parsley
- 2 large eggs
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
- 3/4 pound hot italian pork sausage, taken out of casing
- Ciabatta buns, for serving
- Extra chopped basil, for serving
- Extra garlic cloves, for serving
Marinara Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion, minced
- Red pepper flakes
- 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- Kosher salt
- Granulated sugar
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons goat cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, goat cheese, basil, parsley, eggs, minced garlic, milk, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper to taste. Add the beef and sausage and gently mix to combine (your hands are the best tool for this). Use a standard ice cream scoop or roll the mixture by hand into 2 1/4″ meatballs. Place them on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until nicely browned and at an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
- While the meatballs are baking, start the sauce. Warm the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion and a good pinch of salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes and cook for another minute. Add the crushed tomatoes along with a pinch each of salt, sugar, and pepper. Simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes, then taste and adjust for salt, sugar and pepper. Stir in the goat cheese and keep the sauce warm. When the meatballs are done, add them to the marinara sauce and stir them gently to coat.
- Cut the ciabatta buns in half and toast them. When they’re ready, take a peeled garlic clove and rub it all over the cut side of each bun. Put 3 or 4 meatballs on each sandwich and top with chopped basil.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Main