Description
Make tasty spooky cheese meatballs for Halloween! This recipe brings cheesy goodness and fun to your dinner table, perfect for a festive meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- Meatball Base:
- 1 lb (450g) Ground Beef & Pork Blend (80/20)
- 1/2 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- 1 Large Egg
- 1/4 cup Whole Milk
- Flavor Boosters:
- 1/2 small Onion, finely grated
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- The Spooky Cheese Core:
- 4 oz (115g) Mozzarella Cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- Sauce & Finishing Touches:
- 24 oz (680g) Marinara Sauce, good quality
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil (for searing)
- Grated Parmesan Cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Mix the Meatball Magic:: Okay, first things first, grab a big bowl. In goes the ground beef and pork blend, panko breadcrumbs, the egg, milk, grated onion, minced garlic, chopped parsley, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Now, here’s the crucial part: use your hands! Gently mix everything together until it’s just combined. Don’t overmix, hon, or your meatballs will be tough, and nobody wants a chewy meatball! I always get my hands a little messy here, but it’s part of the fun, right?
- Stuff ‘Em with Spooky Cheese:: This is where the “spooky” comes in for your Tasty Spooky Cheese Meatballs! Take about 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture and flatten it in your palm. Pop a small mozzarella cube right in the center. Carefully, gently, fold the meat around the cheese and roll it into a neat little ball. It’s like wrapping a tiny present! I didn’t expect it to be so fiddly the first time, and some cheese definitely tried to escape, but practice makes… well, not perfect, but better! Keep them roughly the same size for even cooking.
- Sear for Flavor:: Heat a little olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once it’s shimmering, carefully place your meatballs in the pan, working in batches so you don’t overcrowd it. We’re not cooking them through here, just getting a lovely golden-brown crust all around. This searing step locks in flavor and gives them a fantastic texture. The smell at this point? Oh, it’s divine! My kitchen always smells so good when I’m searing these beauties.
- Simmer in Sauce:: Once all your meatballs are beautifully seared, carefully pour in your favorite marinara sauce. Make sure it mostly covers the meatballs. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let those Tasty Spooky Cheese Meatballs do their thing for about 20-25 minutes. This slow simmer allows the flavors to meld, the meatballs to cook through, and that mozzarella to get wonderfully, gloriously melty inside. This is where I always sneak a little taste of the sauce, usually burning my tongue, oops!
- Cheese Check & Serve:: After about 20-25 minutes, gently check a meatball to make sure it’s cooked through and that cheese is wonderfully gooey. You can even cut one open to peek! If the sauce seems a bit thick, you can add a splash of water or broth. I usually serve these right from the pan, because they just look so inviting bubbling away. Don’t forget a sprinkle of fresh Parmesan cheese and maybe a little extra parsley for a pop of green.
- Enjoy Your Spooky Creation:: And there you have it! Your homemade Tasty Spooky Cheese Meatballs are ready to be devoured. The best part is breaking one open and seeing that stringy, warm mozzarella ooze out. It’s such a satisfying moment! They look spooky enough for Halloween, but honestly, they’re so delicious, you’ll want to make them all year round. They’re hearty, comforting, and just plain fun to eat.