Juicy Garlic Butter Meatballs
Garlic butter meatballs: master this ultimate recipe for juicy, flavorful meatballs braised in marinara with buttery orzo. Perfect for a hearty family dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken, pork, or beef
- 3/4 pound spicy Italian chicken sausage
- 1-2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 poblano pepper, chopped
- 1 egg
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 4-6 large cloves garlic
- 6 cups marinara sauce
- 1 can (14.5 ounce) diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons butter
- fresh basil, for garnish
- fresh sage, for garnish
- 1 pound orzo pasta
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, sausage, Italian seasoning, parmesan, poblano pepper, and egg. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well. Coat your hands with oil and roll the mixture into tablespoon-sized balls (approximately 22 meatballs).
- Heat a large braiser or skillet with high sides over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, then add the meatballs and sear lightly for about 5 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and allow it to brown around the meatballs for another 2 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Pour in the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and 3/4 cup water. Season with salt and pepper. Add the garlic cloves and fresh basil. Reduce the heat to low, partially cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until cooked through, or up to 3-4 hours, stirring every hour.
- Remove the garlic cloves from the meatballs. In a separate skillet, add 2 tablespoons of butter, fresh sage, and the removed garlic cloves. Mash the garlic into the butter, allowing the butter to brown and some of the garlic to get crispy.
- Before serving, cook the orzo pasta according to package directions. Drain and toss the cooked orzo in the garlic butter mixture from step 4.
- Serve the meatballs and sauce over the garlic butter orzo. Garnish with extra parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Notes
- For the best flavor, use a mix of ground meats for your meatballs; I often combine beef and pork for richness. Don't overmix the meatball mixture, as this can lead to tough meatballs. Mix just until combined.
- To ensure your meatballs are fully cooked and safe to eat, use a meat thermometer. Ground meat should reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
- Leftover garlic butter meatballs and sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For reheating, gently warm on the stove over low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened too much. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.
- To ensure your meatballs are fully cooked and safe to eat, use a meat thermometer. Ground meat should reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
- Leftover garlic butter meatballs and sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For reheating, gently warm on the stove over low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened too much. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.