Lunch / Dinner
Grilled Meatballs
If you’re craving the convenience of spaghetti but bored of the usual recipes, fire up the grill for these smoky meatballs.
Defy the doldrums of weeknight routine with these grilled meatballs. Their crisp outer texture and smoky flavor, contrasted with the creamy mozzarella centers, leaves little to be desired. And lace some grated Parmesan into the mixture for extra salty bite.
These meatballs are great paired with basic marinara in a pinch, but for really deep flavor, try the Smoky Tomato Sauce. The tomatoes are smoked over hickory wood chips, then simmered with garlic and paprika, for a thick sauce that truly hits the spot.
Ingredients
COOK:
COMBINE:
SERVE:
Test Kitchen Tips
Located in the refrigerated dairy aisle of most supermarkets, fresh mozzarella pearls are the perfect size to “hide” inside these meatballs.
Ground chuck comes from the shoulder and neck part of the cow. At 15- to 20-percent fat content, it’s leaner than ground beef but stays juicy and flavorful. It holds its shape well and is ideal for meatballs.
Instructions
Preheat grill to medium. Brush grill grate with oil.
Cook linguine in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions; drain.
Combine chuck, pork, bread crumbs, basil, egg, Parmesan, onion, garlic, oregano, salt, black pepper, and pepper flakes in a large bowl. Scoop mixture with a #20 scoop (about ¼ cup) onto a baking sheet. Press a piece of mozzarella in the center of each meatball, then roll into a ball to enclose.
Spray meatballs with nonstick spray and season with salt and pepper. Skewer meatballs with 2 skewers. Grill meatballs until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the centers registers 165°, 4–5 minutes per side.
Serve meatballs over pasta and top with Smoky Tomato Sauce.
Grated Parmesan and minced basil add big flavor, plus the Parmesan helps bind the meatballs together.
Before forming them, make a small divet in each meatball and press a piece of cheese into the center.
To help them hold together on the grill, run two skewers through the meatballs in alternate directions.
Nutritional Facts
Nutritional Facts
Per serving
Calories: 500
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 35%
Saturated Fat 11g 55%
Cholesterol 127mg 42%
Sodium 616mg 25%
Carbs 36g 12%
Fiber 2g 8%
Protein 35g
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.