If you think homemade meatballs couldn’t get any better, wait until you cut one open and discover a delicious melted cheese center. These stuffed meatballs are tender, flavorful, and simmered in a fresh tomato sauce that makes the entire dish incredibly comforting.
This easy meatball recipe is perfect for a family dinner and pairs beautifully with pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread.
Everything You Need for This Recipe
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 4 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Fresh Tomato Sauce
- 4 large ripe tomatoes, chopped
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil leaves
You’ll need a large bowl, skillet or Dutch oven, and a wooden spoon. Preparation takes about 25 minutes, followed by approximately 30 minutes of cooking.
How to Make Juicy Stuffed Meatballs
Start by preparing the meat mixture.
Combine the ground beef, ground pork, onion, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
Mix gently until everything is incorporated. Avoid overmixing because this can make the meatballs dense.
Take a portion of the mixture and flatten it slightly in your hand. Place one cube of mozzarella in the center and carefully wrap the meat around it, completely covering the cheese.
Repeat until all the meat mixture is used.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides for several minutes. They don’t need to be completely cooked at this stage.
Remove them from the skillet and set aside.
A Fresh Tomato Sauce That Makes the Difference
Using the same skillet, add the chopped onion and cook for 2–3 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
Add the fresh tomatoes, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook over medium-low heat for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes soften and create a rustic sauce.
Return the meatballs to the skillet. Cover and simmer for approximately 15 minutes, turning them gently halfway through.
Finish with fresh basil and serve while hot.
Simple Ways to Make It Even Better
Choose ripe, flavorful tomatoes for the sauce. If your tomatoes are not very sweet, a small pinch of sugar can balance the acidity.
Don’t make the mozzarella pieces too large. Smaller cubes melt beautifully without making the meatballs difficult to seal.
For extra flavor, add red pepper flakes to the tomato sauce.
Serve with spaghetti, toasted bread, creamy mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables.
A Lighter Take on Stuffed Meatballs
For a lighter version, use lean ground beef or ground turkey and part-skim mozzarella.
You can also add finely chopped zucchini, carrots, or mushrooms to the meat mixture for extra vegetables.
Serve the meatballs with a fresh salad or roasted vegetables instead of pasta for a lighter meal.
Turn This Recipe Into a Food Business
Stuffed meatballs can be sold as individual meal portions, family-size trays, freezer-ready meals, or part of weekly meal-prep menus.
Create different fillings such as mozzarella, provolone, spinach and cheese, or a combination of herbs and Parmesan.
For example, a $10 profit per meal would require 300 sales to reach $3,000 in monthly profit and 500 sales to reach $5,000. Actual results depend on your pricing, ingredient costs, demand, packaging, and local food regulations.
One Comforting Meal, Two Great Flavors
These stuffed meatballs combine everything people love about homemade comfort food: tender seasoned meat, gooey melted cheese, and a fresh tomato sauce full of flavor.
Serve them straight from the skillet with plenty of sauce and fresh basil for a simple dinner that feels special.