Baked Meatballs that melt in your mouth!

INGREDIENTS:

Meatballs

1 Tablespoon olive oil

½ cup onion, finely diced

3 cloves minced garlic

1/3 cup Italian breadcrumbs

¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated from a block

½ teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon pepper

1/3 cup milk

1 large egg

1 lbs. ground beef

½ lb. ground pork

Sauce + Cheese

32 oz marinara sauce

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Fresh Parsley, to garnish

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Set aside and let cool.

Combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, oregano, salt, and pepper and set aside.

Crack an egg in a small bowl and whisk it. Add the milk and whisk to combine.

Combine the dry mixture with the wet mixture to form a smooth paste. Mix in the onions and garlic. (This is called a panade and keeps the juiciness and flavor intact while the meatballs cook.)

Add the meat to a large bowl and top with the panade. Use your hands and gently mix until just combined. Don’t overwork the meat or the meatballs will be tough.

Roll into 1 ½ inch meatballs.

Pour ¾ of the marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch casserole dish. Add the meatballs. Spoon remaining sauce over the top.

Cover and bake for 30 minutes.

Uncover and top with cheese. Bake 15 more minutes. Broil for additional 1-2 minutes at the end if desired. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.