Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

Here’s a tasty recipe for Cheese Stuffed Meatballs – juicy, flavorful meatballs with a gooey cheesy surprise inside!

🧀 Cheese Stuffed Meatballs Recipe

Ingredients (makes about 16 meatballs):

• 1 lb (450g) ground beef (or mix of beef & lamb/pork for extra flavor)

• ½ cup breadcrumbs

• 1 large egg

• ¼ cup milk

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• ½ small onion, finely grated

• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)

• 1 tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

• ½ tsp paprika or chili flakes (optional for spice)

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning (optional)

• Cheese cubes (about 1-inch pieces – mozzarella, cheddar, or pepper jack work best)

For cooking:

• 2 tbsp olive oil (if pan-frying)

• 2 cups marinara or tomato sauce (if baking in sauce)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the meat mixture

   • In a large bowl, mix breadcrumbs, milk, egg, garlic, onion, parsley, and seasonings.

   • Add the ground meat and mix gently until combined (don’t overmix).

2. Form & stuff the meatballs

   • Scoop about 2 tbsp of meat mixture, flatten in your hand.

   • Place a cube of cheese in the center, wrap the meat around it, and roll into a ball.

   • Repeat until all are stuffed.

3. Cook the meatballs
   Option 1 – Pan Fry: Heat olive oil in a skillet, sear meatballs on all sides until golden brown. Then simmer in marinara sauce for 10–12 minutes until cooked through.
   Option 2 – Bake: Place meatballs on a lined baking sheet, bake at 200°C (400°F) for 18–20 minutes. For saucy meatballs, transfer to a baking dish with marinara sauce and bake for another 10 minutes.