Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

My kid will eat just about anything if you put it inside a meatball or meatloaf.  No joke.  Once a week, we have one of the two so I can sneak in some extra vegetables! 

The real star of this meatball is the mozzarella.  When you cut into one and discover it is stuffed with cheese, the world suddenly feels like a better place.  Trust me.

Start by chopping the veggies.  These have spinach, minced carrot, and minced onion.  Oh and garlic.  I'm pretty sure it is sacrilegious to make a meatball without garlic. 

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, minced vegetables, breadcrumbs, parmesan, parsley, basil, eggs, and S&P.  Mix just enough to combine. 

Grab enough meat to form a 2 inch ball.  With your thumb, make an indent in the center of the ball and add in a piece of mozzarella. 

I used pearl mozzarella, but you can use whatever cheese you want.  Just cut it into 1/2 chunks.  Press the meat upwards around the cheese to cover it then shape into a ball.  Voila!

Continue stuffing and forming meatballs.  Two pounds of meat made roughly 20 meatballs for me. 

 







Into a 400 degree oven for 25 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through.   

Look at that cheese!  Isn't it beautiful???



I like to sink mine into a pot of sauce and simmer them for a few minutes.  Serve them over spaghetti or in a hoagie roll.  Or just eat them plain!  

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp dried basil
• 2 tsp dried parsley
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• 2/3 cup Italian style breadcrumbs
• 1/2 a medium onion, minced
• 1/4 cup minced carrot
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh spinach
• 4 ozs of fresh mozzarella pearls
• S&P to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.  Spoon out enough meat to form a 2 inch ball.  With thumb, press an indent into the center of the meatball.  Add in a pearl mozzarella.  Press the meat upwards to cover the cheese and seal.  Roll into a ball. 

Place meatballs on a foil lined baking sheet.  Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes, or until cooked through.

Enjoy!!!