Meatballs can be fried or baked to get a little browned, and there's no doubt they are quite delicious. However, I set out in search of meatballs that slow cook in red sauce like Italian grandmas make them. And here they are. Tender Italian meatballs, infused with old-world flavor by slowly simmering in the sauce.

italian meatballs in red sauce with melted mozzarella on toasted bun

Italian grandmas - God love 'em.

I'm not sure there's even a drop of Italian blood in my family, but I'll tell ya what: I sure as heck do love Italian cuisine! And who doesn't love meatballs?

So many recipes call for browning meatballs in oil first, then finishing in the oven before adding sauce. I was looking for more infused flavor and found a recipe that called for dropping the raw meatballs in sauce and letting them slowly simmer for hours. I remember reading in a couple different places that many Italian grandmas did the same. Yes! That's what I wanted.

I took what I liked from a few different recipes online and have been making these old world Italian meatballs ever since. You can make them with a beef & pork mixture as well - and I've done both for clients - but the chicken & turkey are actually more tender and my personal favorites.

Old World Italian Meatballs

5 from 1 vote

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Servings: meatballs

Calories: 43kcal

Author: Yappy Kitchen

Ingredients

2 eggs
½ cup whole milk (whole)
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 teaspoons oregano
2 tablespoons fresh italian flat leaf parsley chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ cup parmesan cheese grated (½ cup = 2.5 oz)
1 pound ground chicken 93% lean
1 pound ground turkey 93% lean

Instructions

Make a large pot of red sauce, and have it simmering and ready to go.
OR
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

SLOW COOK IN RED SAUCE

Mix all meatball ingredients (in order) in a large bowl by hand.
Using leveled-off 1.5 ounce (3 tablespoons) scoop, form about 48 meatballs and drop into sauce.
Simmer for 2-3 hours, only stirring occasionally and very gently, until internal temperature of meatballs reaches 165 degrees F.
Serve over pasta or nestle meatballs in some Italian rolls and cover with grated cheeses.

BAKE IN OVEN

Using leveled-off 1.5 ounce (3 tablespoons) scoop, form about 48 meatballs.
Place meatballs on parchment-lined baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes until golden brown and center of meatballs reaches 165 degrees F.
Enjoy!