Frankies' Meatballs Recipe | Cook the Book (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take meatballs to cook? ›

How Long to Bake Meatballs? In an oven preheated to 350 degrees F, these meatballs should be fully cooked through and evenly browned in about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the meatball should read at least 165 degrees F.

In a large skillet or pot, heat your tomato sauce on medium-high heat. Add your meatballs to the sauce and bring it to a boil. Turn the stove down to medium-low heat and allow the meatballs to simmer for about 30 minutes or longer. Enjoy!

If you are making meatballs and are wondering how long you need to cook them, you came to the right place. After all of the Italian meatballs I've been making lately, I consider myself a meatball expert. A good rule of thumb is to bake meatballs for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit.

Baking will result in meatballs with a crunchy exterior, though the caramelisation achieved from frying will be superior. Baked meatballs take the least amount of effort, as you'll only need to turn them once or twice throughout the cook and you can make a larger batch at once.

Adding raw meatballs to the sauce and gently simmering till cooked yields ultra-tender results, and infuses the sauce with meaty flavor—a slow cooker gives great results.

it's always a good idea to precook your meatballs before putting them in sauce! After you have spent so long making your meatballs, chopping the onions, the herbs, seasoning them rolling them neatly, to just take them and place them uncooked into your sauce (a tomato sauce?)

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

Italian-style meatballs often include additional ingredients such as milk, olive oil, ground pork, fresh parsley, red pepper flakes, Italian herb seasoning, and sometimes a combination of ground beef, veal, and pork [2].

American meatballs are the biggest in size, with Italian and Swedish meatballs following on the depth chart. Italian meatballs call for seasonings like grated parmesan and oregano, while Swedish ones use seasonings like nutmeg and allspice. While it doesn't sound like a huge distinction, you'll notice it in the taste!

Sicilian meatballs, on the other hand, are typically made from a combination of ground beef and ground pork, along with ingredients like garlic, onion, parsley, breadcrumbs, and sometimes even pine nuts and raisins. They are often served in a tomato sauce or a sweet and sour sauce made from vinegar and sugar.

How do you tell if meatballs are cooked all the way? ›

If you don't have a meat thermometer, there are three visual checks that must done. Pierce the thickest part of the meat with a fork or skewer and check that: The juices run clear. It is piping hot all the way through (it should be steaming)

The sauce must be flavorful and should cling to the noodles. It should taste tomatoey but not try to compete with the meatballs. The meatballs must, above all, be properly cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). Beyond that they, should not be too dense, and they must be packed with delicious flavor.

A meat thermometer or instant read thermometer should read 160 to 165F in the center of each meatball. When they start to smoke and turn black, there's your biggest clue.