Description
Creamy Alfredo Meatballs blend Italian comfort with luxurious sauce, creating a rich culinary experience. Parmesan-coated beef nestled in silky cream promises pure satisfaction that will transport your taste buds to Italian kitchen bliss.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or a mix of beef and pork
Cheese and Binding:
- ½ cup (50 g) breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (30 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for frying, optional)
Alfredo Sauce Base:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) heavy cream
- ¾ cup (75 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Serving Options:
- Cooked pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Craft a savory mixture by thoroughly blending ground meat with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing bowl, ensuring minimal handling to maintain tender texture.
- Form uniform spherical meatballs approximately one inch in diameter, arranging them carefully on a clean surface.
- Select your preferred cooking method: either pan-sear the meatballs in heated olive oil over medium flame, rotating periodically to achieve golden-brown exteriors and complete internal cooking within 8-10 minutes, or alternatively roast them on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 400F for 15-18 minutes.
- Transfer cooked meatballs to a separate plate, preserving their temperature and juiciness.
- Utilize the same skillet to create a luxurious Alfredo sauce by melting butter and sautéing minced garlic until aromatic.
- Introduce heavy cream to the skillet, gently raising temperature to a subtle simmer, then reduce heat while whisking Parmesan cheese until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
- Enhance sauce with optional nutmeg, adjusting seasoning with salt and pepper to personal preference.
- Gently immerse cooked meatballs into the creamy sauce, allowing them to absorb flavors during a brief 3-5 minute combined simmer.
- Present the Alfredo meatballs atop pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables, garnishing with fresh parsley for an elegant finishing touch.
Notes
- Prevent dry meatballs by carefully mixing ingredients without overworking the meat, which can make them tough and dense.
- Ensure even cooking by using a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches 160°F for ground beef or 165°F for ground poultry.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting breadcrumbs with almond flour or crushed pork rinds, maintaining the same binding properties.
- Lighten the dish by using half-and-half instead of heavy cream and reducing the butter quantity, which cuts calories without sacrificing flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer.
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg