Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Pizza Meatballs

Teresa Ambra

Pizza Meatballs are so scrumptious. Talk about mouthwatering comfort food! I found this delightful recipe in a Good Housekeeping cookbook the first year I got married. Meatballs are filled with Monterey Jack cheese, served in a delicious spaghetti sauce and served over noodles with melted Monterey Jack cheese on top. This fantastic recipe is kid-friendly, economical, and so easy to make. It’s great for Saturday night dinners sitting in front of a fire or just anytime you need to prepare a quick meal. It’s a great comfort food your whole family will enjoy.

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I won’t kid you. I have yet to be able to make this entree without cheese leaking out of the meatballs when you cook them, but they are still fantastic nonetheless. Use any kind of spaghetti sauce and serve over any kind of noodle. It’s nice over dumpling noodles or bow-ties.

We love this delicious meatball recipe. It’s a really nice change from regular spaghetti and meatballs. If you’re interested in something different yet extremely tasty why not give this recipe a whirl. This Pizza Meatballs recipe is a keeper. Our family have always enjoyed this recipe and believe you will too.

I originally made this recipe in January of 2013. I put so much cheese on top of the meatballs that you couldn’t really see the meatballs or sauce very well. I’ve recently remade this recipe (July 2014), and now I share some fresh pictures with you.

These pictures show only about one-fourth of the cheese that is regularly sprinkled on top of the meatballs and, as a result, you can see what this delightful recipe is really supposed to look like. Quite frankly, we felt this amount of cheese was sufficient and the meatballs didn’t need any more. I used tri-color rotini to serve the meatballs over top of this time, but we have used spaghetti or whatever pasta I’ve had on hand in the past. Enjoy.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Pizza Meatballs is a fabulous Italian recipe. Our family has always enjoyed this wonderful pasta dish.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

These luscious meatballs are filled with Monterey Jack cheese. Yum, yum.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Then the meatballs are covered with spaghetti sauce and more Monterey Jack cheese. 

Here’s what I did.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

I used these ingredients. I used my own homemade breadcrumbs.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Place lean ground beef in a mixing bowl.  Add seasoned bread crumbs. I used homemade bread crumbs and added parsley and Italian seasoning. Add milk, egg, dehydrated onions, salt and pepper. 

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Mix all ingredients together by hand until thoroughly mixed.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Use Monterey Jack cheese to stuff inside the meatballs. Cut about 8 ounces in cubes. Shred the other 8 ounces. I cut the cubes in 36 pieces. Form the meatball around the cube of cheese. Do your best to seal the meatball and roll tightly so the cheese doesn’t leak out of the meatballs while baking.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Place meatballs on a cookie sheet that has been spayed with cooking spray.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Bake about 20-30 minutes at 350. No matter how hard you try to get the perfect meatball, some of the Monterey Jack cheese will leak out of the meatballs.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Place meatballs in a 10×15″ baking dish that’s been sprayed with cooking spray. Spread spaghetti sauce over top of the meatballs. Any kind will do. Whatever you prefer. 

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese. (This is only about 1/4 of the amount on hand that is available to sprinkle over top of the meatballs). 

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Bake meatballs at 350 for an additional 20 minutes or so until cheese melts and sauce is bubbly. Serve over your favorite pasta.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Here’s the inside of one of the meatballs.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Here’s a plate of Pizza Meatballs. Your kids will love this tasty meal. 

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

The meatballs are so delectable. Everyone enjoys them. The recipe is also very easy.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Pizza Meatballs is comfort food at its best.

Here’s the recipe.

PIZZA MEATBALLS

(Adapted from Good Housekeeping Cookbook)

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Pizza Meatballs

Teresa Ambra
Delicious pasta main dish with pizza flavored meatballs in spaghetti sauce and garnished with Monterey Jack cheese. This recipe has an option for baking the dish or making it on the stove top. It's a 30-40 minute meal that's perfect for weeknight dinners when you're short on time.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Beef Main Dish/Pasta Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6
Calories 913 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 18x26" cookie sheet pan
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 9x13" glass baking dish
  • 1 large skillet if using skillet method rather than baking method
  • 1 large Dutch oven with lid or stock pot with lid to cook pasta
  • 1 colander
  • 1 fork

Ingredients
  

  • 16 oz. Monterey Jack cheese block (half shredded, half cut in cubes)
  • 1 1/2 lbs. 93% or 96% lean ground beef
  • 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup 2% milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp. instant minced onion
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • dash ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp. salad oil
  • 32 oz. jar spaghetti sauce any flavor
  • 16 oz. hot, cooked noodles

Instructions
 

  • Cut part of cheese into twenty-four to twenty-six ½” cubes.
  • Shred remaining cheese and set aside.
  • In large bowl, with fork, mix beef, bread crumbs, milk, egg, onion, salt and pepper.
  • Shape some mixture around each cheese cube to make 1 ½ inch meatballs.
  • Seal well or cheese will leak out during cooking.
  • Option 1: Place meatballs on cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
  • Bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes or until meatballs are cooked.
  • Remove from oven and place in large baking dish.
  • Cover with spaghetti sauce, then cheese.
  • Bake at about 350 for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
  • Serve over noodles.
  • Option 2: In 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, in hot salad oil, cook meatballs until browned on all sides.
  • Spoon drippings from skillet; add spaghetti sauce.
  • Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes.
  • Sprinkle meatballs with reserved shredded cheese.
  • Serve over wide dumpling noodles or noodles of your choice.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Good Housekeeping cookbook.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 913kcalCarbohydrates: 84gProtein: 59gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 1698mgPotassium: 1236mgFiber: 6gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1341IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 689mgIron: 7mg
Keyword beef, main dish, meatballs, mozzarella cheese, noodles, pasta, pizza
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Pizza Meatballs[/b]
Recipe Type: Beef Main Dish/Pasta Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from [url href=”http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/” target=”_blank” title=”good housekeeping”]Good Housekeeping[/url] cookbook
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6
Delicious pasta main dish with pizza flavored meatballs in spaghetti sauce and garnished with Monterey Jack cheese. This recipe has an option for baking the dish or making it on the stove top.
Ingredients
  • 16-oz. Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 ½ lbs. lean ground beef
  • 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp. instant minced onion
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • Dash of pepper
  • 2 tbsp. salad oil
  • 32-oz. jar spaghetti sauce
  • hot, cooked noodles
Instructions
  1. Cut part of cheese into twenty-four to twenty-six ½” cubes.
  2. Shred remaining cheese and set aside.
  3. In large bowl, with fork, mix beef, bread crumbs, milk, egg, onion, salt and pepper.
  4. Shape some mixture around each cheese cube to make 1 ½ inch meatballs.
  5. Seal well or cheese will leak out during cooking.
  6. [b]Option 1: [/b][br]
  7. Place meatballs on cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
  8. Bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes or until meatballs are cooked.
  9. Remove from oven and place in large baking dish.
  10. Cover with spaghetti sauce, then cheese.
  11. Bake at about 350 for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
  12. Serve over noodles.
  13. [b]Option 2:[/b] [br]
  14. In 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, in hot salad oil, cook meatballs until browned on all sides.
  15. Spoon drippings from skillet; add spaghetti sauce.
  16. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes.
  17. Sprinkle meatballs with reserved shredded cheese.
  18. Serve over wide dumpling noodles or noodles of your choice.
Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Don’t these meatballs look fantastic? Pizza Meatballs was one of the first recipes I found as a newlywed. We’ve made it many times over the years.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Enjoy the spectacular flavors of Monterey Jack cheese in this wonderful recipe. It’s amazing.

Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

We hope you enjoy this family favorite recipe as our family has over the years.

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Swedish Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this succulent #meatballs recipe can be dinner ready in about 45 minutes. It's quick, easy, kid friendly and delicious! #beef #noodles
Pizza Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this delightful 30-minute #meatballs recipe is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time. It's kid-friendly & delicious comfort food. #pizza #beef #cheese #pasta

Pizza Meatballs

Teresa Ambra
Delicious pasta main dish with pizza flavored meatballs in spaghetti sauce and garnished with Monterey Jack cheese. This recipe has an option for baking the dish or making it on the stove top. It’s a 30-40 minute meal that’s perfect for weeknight dinners when you’re short on time.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Beef Main Dish/Pasta Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6
Calories 913 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 18×26" cookie sheet pan
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 9×13" glass baking dish
  • 1 large skillet if using skillet method rather than baking method
  • 1 large Dutch oven with lid or stock pot with lid to cook pasta
  • 1 colander
  • 1 fork

Ingredients
  

  • 16 oz. Monterey Jack cheese block (half shredded, half cut in cubes)
  • 1 1/2 lbs. 93% or 96% lean ground beef
  • 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup 2% milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp. instant minced onion
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • dash ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp. salad oil
  • 32 oz. jar spaghetti sauce any flavor
  • 16 oz. hot, cooked noodles

Instructions
 

  • Cut part of cheese into twenty-four to twenty-six ½” cubes.
  • Shred remaining cheese and set aside.
  • In large bowl, with fork, mix beef, bread crumbs, milk, egg, onion, salt and pepper.
  • Shape some mixture around each cheese cube to make 1 ½ inch meatballs.
  • Seal well or cheese will leak out during cooking.
  • Option 1: Place meatballs on cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
  • Bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes or until meatballs are cooked.
  • Remove from oven and place in large baking dish.
  • Cover with spaghetti sauce, then cheese.
  • Bake at about 350 for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
  • Serve over noodles.
  • Option 2: In 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, in hot salad oil, cook meatballs until browned on all sides.
  • Spoon drippings from skillet; add spaghetti sauce.
  • Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes.
  • Sprinkle meatballs with reserved shredded cheese.
  • Serve over wide dumpling noodles or noodles of your choice.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Good Housekeeping cookbook.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 913kcalCarbohydrates: 84gProtein: 59gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 1698mgPotassium: 1236mgFiber: 6gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1341IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 689mgIron: 7mg
Keyword beef, main dish, meatballs, mozzarella cheese, noodles, pasta, pizza
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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