The Italian beef meatballs that you make on the stovetop are tender, flavorful, and absolutely delicious.
I make these on the stovetop by first browning them in olive oil, adding my favorite sauce (marinara), and simmering in the sauce until they are fully cooked. This keeps them moist and flavorful while also speeding up the baking process.
I am a proponent of making your own meatballs because they are so simple to put together and taste so much better than any pre-made frozen varieties. Once you start, you might never eat frozen meatballs again.
How to Cook Meatballs on a Stove:
How to Cook Meatballs on Stovetop
You’ll need at least a 12-inch cast-iron skillet for this recipe, though it also works well in a Dutch oven. In the end, you’ll want to use the latter because you’ll need more space to cook spaghetti on the stovetop.
The most popular meat for these is ground beef, but you can substitute another if you’d like. Personally, I enjoy adding a little Jimmy Dean spicy ground sausage because it gives the dish a ton of flavor and heat. I don’t like turkey and chicken ground because I think the texture is weird.
These can be prepared in a variety of ways; they aren’t just for baked spaghetti, y’all. This is a great recipe if you’re having guests over for the big game or looking for an Italian Christmas dinner dish. Simply serve in the pan on a trivet with long toothpicks.
If the meatballs are frozen, follow the defrosting instructions on the bag’s back. The simplest and quickest way to do this is to microwave it in a bowl for a few seconds. 1. Add two tablespoons of olive oil to a skillet after it has thawed. Add the meat and give the outsides a quick browning 3 If you’re adding a sauce, do so now and give it 10 to 12 minutes to slowly bubble before serving.
You can, but they will probably crumble more than if the outsides were browned first. Keeping the moisture inside will make them more tender and juicy when served, and it will also help them stay together in the sauce as they cook.
How Long to Cook Meatballs on Stove in Sauce
It takes about 30 minutes from beginning to end, not counting the time you spend combining your meatball mixture and giving them the shape and size you desire. If you wanted to sear the outside, add the sauce and bake the meatballs at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. you’d need about 20 minutes for that.
- Approximately 24 homemade meatballs should be formed; they should be uniform in size.
- Avoid overcrowding the pan and cook the food until it is browned on all sides.
- Drain any excess grease.
There are many ways to serve these; the picture below is just one, but it’s definitely entertaining for kids. If you can find small slider buns or sweet Hawaiian rolls, slice them in half and place a slice of cheese in the middle before serving.
Ideally, you’ll want to keep them covered in as much sauce as you can. Use a lidded container, and reheat within 48 hours. You can reheat in a pot over medium heat or in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring halfway through. A great “free” second dish to enjoy later. .
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