Festive Holiday Meatballs

This hearty dish is an exceptional comfort meal for the holidays. A blend of veal and beef forms a lighter yet well-balanced meatball, delivering both flavor and richness. Added ricotta, onion, and garlic make each meatball a savory delight. Topped with a simple red sauce, this dish is sure to become a seasonal favorite.

Why I love this recipe.

I grew up knowing the only meatball was a hamball. Hamballs are delicious with a sweet and tangy sauce, but they are not the traditional meatballs the rest of the world knows. A meatball is festive in itself. A mixture of meat, herbs, and breadcrumbs that is shaped into a large ball. The key is to ensure they are soft with a melt-in-your-mouth texture. No one wants a dry and dense meatball. This recipe is designed to be fail-proof. A mixture of ground beef and veal starts the road to a perfect texture. Ricotta, parmesan, and breadcrumbs ensure the best meatball when mixed with seasonings. These can be shaped into large balls for a festive main dish or smaller for a red sauce and pasta night.

Everything you’ll need to make this recipe.

• Ground beef is traditional when it comes to meatballs and adds the robust beef-like flavor needed in a recipe like this.
• Ground veal adds a soft, delicious flavor that’s always tender for that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Breadcrumbs help to bind everything together while holding in the necessary moisture for a delicious meatball.
• Ricotta cheese increases the flavor and helps keep the soft texture of the meatballs.

Here’s how to make this recipe.

1. Make the meatball mixture. In a large bowl, add the ground veal, ground beef, and breadcrumbs. In a small bowl, beat the eggs until smooth, then add to the meat. Then, finely grate the onion, adding it to the bowl. Mince in the garlic cloves. Add the Parmesan cheese, dried Italian seasoning, black pepper, and kosher salt. Mix together using your hands.

2. Measure the meatballs. Using a food scale, weigh the meat mixture. Then, divide the total meat weight by the number of meatballs you want to create. Use the scale to equally divide the meatballs to match that number. Shape into uniform balls using your hands.

3. Cook the meatballs. Place the meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and douse with olive oil. Place the pan in the preheated 425°F oven and cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Then turn the temperature of the oven down to 375°F and cook for an additional 18 to 24 minutes until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 145°F.

4. Prepare the sauce. Heat olive oil in an oven-safe pan over medium heat. Grate the onion and slice the garlic using a mandoline. Add to the olive oil and let simmer slowly. Once the garlic has browned slightly, add red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, and fresh basil. Add the crushed tomatoes and stir together. Let simmer for 15 minutes. Once the meatballs are near their final temperature, remove them from the oven. Add the meatballs to the saucepan and cover with the sauce. Return to the oven to cook for an additional 10 to 12 minutes until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 160°F. Remove the basil leaves and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve warm.

These pro tips will make this recipe a success.

• For this meatball recipe, grating the onion works better than chopping it. The onion should melt into the meatball, and the texture of finely grated onion works better for this purpose. Otherwise, the onion pieces may be too large and not cook fully, adding unwanted texture to each meatball.
• Cottage cheese works well as a substitute for the ricotta. It may not be traditional in a meatball, but the tangy flavor still comes across well.
• The meatball should be well mixed. If it is not, there could be pockets of ingredients that don’t get evenly distributed, affecting the flavor and cooking of the meatball.
• If you have a Parmesan cheese rind, use it in the sauce when the meatballs cook for the second time. It can be removed after they’re finished cooking, providing immense flavor to the dish.

You’ll love these other holiday recipes.

• Herb and garlic pork rib roast
• Homemade green bean casserole
• Twice-baked potato casserole
• Holiday pesto meatballs
• Cranberry cheese log
• Peppercorn crusted beef tenderloin
• Holiday smashed potatoes
• Cocktail meatballs with cranberry sauce
• Glazed ham with cranberry chutney
• Brussels sprouts with bacon aioli
• Slow cooker turkey, sweet potato, and kale soup