Make-Ahead Sheet-Pan Meatballs

Classic Italian-style meatballs made with a blend of ground beef and sweet Italian sausage, enriched with Parmesan cheese and milk-soaked bread. Perfect for making ahead and freezing for future meals.

12 servings
1 hr 52 min

Ingredients

  • 2 cups coarsely torn white sandwich bread
  • cups whole milk
  • 3 lb ground beef
  • 1 lb sweet Italian sausage
  • 4 large eggs
  • cups finely grated Parmesan
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Place bread in a large bowl, pour milk over, and let sit until moistened, about 5 minutes. Squeeze bread with your hands to remove excess milk; discard milk. Tear bread into pea-size pieces and return to bowl.

    5 min

  2. 2.

    Add beef, sausage, eggs, Parmesan, and salt to bread. Using your hands, gently mix until evenly distributed (do not overmix).

    5 min

  3. 3.

    Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 500°F. Lightly coat three 18x13" rimmed baking sheets with oil. Fill a small bowl with cool water. Moisten your hands and roll meat mixture between palms into ping pong-size balls (about 1.5" diameter; 1.2 oz. each), occasionally moistening hands as needed. Arrange meatballs 1/2" apart on prepared sheets.

    20 min

  4. 4.

    Roast meatballs, rotating racks top to bottom once halfway through, until lightly browned and cooked through, 8-10 minutes.

    10 min

  5. 5.

    Line two 18x13" rimmed baking sheets with parchment. Fill a small bowl with cool water. Moisten your hands and roll meat mixture between palms into ping pong-size balls (about 1.5" diameter; 1.2 oz. each), occasionally moistening hands as needed. Arrange meatballs 1/4" apart on prepared sheets. Freeze on sheets until firm, about 1 hour. Transfer to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag and freeze up to 3 months.

    60 min

  6. 6.

    To cook meatballs from frozen, preheat oven to 500°F. Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet with oil. Transfer desired amount of frozen meatballs to prepared sheet and roast, turning once halfway through, until lightly browned and cooked through, 10-12 minutes.

    12 min