Thank you, Ragu, for sponsoring this post and adding even more flavor to this dish!
Before my Uncle Sam passed away years ago, he was able to visit my family in Tampa from Louisiana on one occasion. Uncle Sam, my father’s uncle, had a name that seeped Italian: Salvatore Valenziano. He was known for treasuring his spaghetti Thursdays, which he, without a doubt, never missed. When he visited us here in Tampa, my mom, of course, prepared his favorite spaghetti and meatballs that Thursday. Uncle Sam got all dressed up in his nice slacks, button down shirt, sweater vest and tie, to sit down and enjoy his spaghetti with his family. I’ll never forget how much he valued that meal.
Food has always played a giant role in my family. Between my father’s Sicilian roots and my mother’s Cuban background, there has never been a shortage of flavor. My grandmother, my mom’s mother, has been whipping up Cuban specialties in the kitchen since I can remember. My father was born and raised in Louisiana, which if you’re involved in the foodie community even an ounce, you’re aware of the relevance New Orleans has in culinary culture. Beignets fo dayzzzz.
In honor of one side of my family background, my Italian origin, I decided to share a new meatball recipe that I’ve decided to add to our family recipe book. Instead of keeping with the traditional meatballs that I am used to, I jazzed it up by adding mozzarella pearls INSIDE of the meatball, making for a melty, cheesy compliment to the dish, that wouldn’t otherwise exist unless you overdosed on shredded Parmesan.
For the sauce, I used ‘Old World Style’ Traditional Ragu pasta sauce. This made my life so much easier because in addition to the meatballs, I made roasted spaghetti squash and roasted eggplant on the side, which left me with little energy to whip up homemade gravy.
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This recipe is extremely easy and goes well with a traditional bowl of spaghetti with Ragu sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground pork
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 package of mozzarella pearls
- 1 large jar of Ragu pasta sauce, flavor of choice
- Extra virgin olive oil, to taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Combine first ten ingredients in a bowl and combine with your hands.
- Grab one chunk of meat mixture. Take a mozzarella pearl and press it into the center. Take another chunk of meat mixture and place atop the other half, covering the cheese.
- Use your palms to form into a ball.
- Place meatballs on a foil-lined baking dish.
- Drizzle extra virgin olive oil on a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. When the pan is extra hot, add meatballs.
- Brown them on each side for about 10 minutes each.
- Place the skillet in the oven and set timer for 7-10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat Ragu sauce in a large sauce pan over medium heat.
- When meatballs are finished, remove them from the oven and place back on low heat.
- Spoon the Ragu sauce in the skillet, covering the meatballs. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and enjoy with your favorite type of pasta!
To make the dish a bit healthier, replace your usual pasta choice with roasted spaghetti squash or a spiralized vegetable. Serve a veggie on the side with a salad. Eggplant was my choice as it is seen in numerous Italian-inspired dishes, in addition to the fact that it’s one of my favorites. *TIP: Eggplant soaks up oil VERY easily. To avoid super oily eggplant, drench it in salt for about an hour prior to cooking. Rid the eggplant of the salt before preparing. This will soak up most of the moisture to make for a more flavorful outcome.
Join the conversation:
What is one family tradition you will carry on with you?
What dishes are staples in your family tree?
What is your favorite way to use pasta sauce?
everything is better stuffed with cheese and these meatballs are a prime example! These would go great with my daily serving of spaghetti squash
rachel at athletic avocado recently posted…Paleo Pumpkin Bread Breakfast Pizza
Yes it was so good with spaghetti squash!! Thanks for the love <3
My Mom is 100% Italian and her meatballs and spaghetti is one of my FAVORITE dishes…It is so so so good! These meatballs look #amazingBALLS…Thanks for sharing! XOXO
She Rocks Fitness recently posted…Sometimes The Fitness Industry…
I’d love to try yours moms spaghetti and meatballs. I bet it’s amazing!! Thanks for the love <3
Mozzarella PEARLS? Can I wear them AND snack on them throughout the day?? Because that would be legit.
And those meatballs… I do love meatballs…
Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen recently posted…WEIGHT TRAINING WORKOUT #4 [Super Slow Sets]
I think you have a great business idea on your hands. Mozzarella pearl necklaces, kind like candy necklaces but better. I say make it happen.
Yummmm! I love meatballs, and love that you used turkey AND pork. My mom is Italian (her father from Italy), and she tells us about Sundays with her family as a kid…there was never a shortage of food! She still cooks a feast on Sundays, but nothing like when we were younger and closer to her side of the family. You Uncle Sam sounds like my Uncle Cecil – my mom’s uncle who we only met twice, but he made an amazing sauce!
Nichole recently posted…(another) life update
Oh boy, yeah definitely never a shortage! When I visited my family in Sicily, the food kept on coming. Every course I thought would be the last, but more kept coming. I think the button in my pants almost popped off LOL
You just took meatballs to a whole new level! I love the mozzarella addition! I recently made turkey meatballs with ricotta and they were out of this world delicious, I’ll have to try out your recipe next! My grandma was full Italian so we tend to add an Italian flair to most of our family meals as well
Lacey recently posted…Savor the Central Coast Recap
RICOTTA yuuuuum!! By the way, I have been adding the balsamic you sent me to my side salads every night. My family loves them!!
Check out that saucy sauce shot! I love it. I also love meatballs–so, so good!
Erin @ The Almond Eater recently posted…Sausage Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (Two Ways)
DROOLING. These look beyond heavenly!! More cheese is always better
Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple recently posted…How to Pack for a Healthy Vacation
Oh have mercy yes yes yessss.
Lindsay @ A Runnaroundd Life recently posted…#runnaroundd marathons training: week four.
WOW! LOVE this recipe! Cheese stuffed meatballs – what could be better??? The photos also give that “old world” charm but somehow have a modern jar of Ragu sauce in there! I have no idea how you achieved that effect! Awesome!
Wendi recently posted…Chorizo Mouth Party Lasagna Rolls
These look AMAZING! I love meatballs and cheese, so these are right up my alley. As far as family traditions go, my Granny makes the most incredible food for every holiday, and her poundcake is everyone’s number 1 favorite. Now that she’s getting older, I want to help her out by making all of her dishes for everyone. Maybe I’ll even be able to sneak some healthier foods in there as well 😉
Les @ The Balanced Berry recently posted…Fall into Fit: Free Workout Series
These photos are awesome Christina! I’m not even a meat eater and these look good.
My family always makes Polish Stuffed Cabbage for Christmas Eve every year, luckily they make me a special veggie version too
Georgie recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday: Examining My Food Budget
I. Am. Drooling. I haven’t made meatballs in SO LONG, and they weren’t this fancy and delicious-looking. Your background is so cool! In regards to food, lots of bold flavors
YUM.
Jess @hellotofit recently posted…Easy slow cooker apple butter
These look great, everything is more delicious with cheese!
Kristen recently posted…Going Batty for Halloween Favors
A truer statement has never been spoken LOL what’s your favorite way to eat cheese?