Baked Beef and Ricotta Meatballs

My baked beef and ricotta meatballs is a lightened up version of an Italian favorite. Lean sirloin and part-skim ricotta adds moisture and keeps these meatballs on the lighter side.

When I was little, I always wanted to be that iconic Italian mother in the kitchen who spent her days stirring a pot of something delicious. My family is full of loud and crazy women who know their way around the kitchen but you’re more likely to find Stuffed Grape Leaves, Syrian Salad or Meat Pies than lasagna or ravioli.

As fate would have it, I married an Italian man and gained the last name as Italian as it gets: Della Croce. (Yes, we were married by my Rabbi but that’s beside the point.)  Now that we have a son who has Italian blood, I feel it is my maternal duty to make meatballs at least once a month.

My version is lightened up with lean sirloin and part-skim ricotta but you are welcome to go all out and use a pork/beef mixture and full-fat ricotta.

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Baked Beef and Ricotta Meatballs

Liz Della Croce

A lightened-up version of an Italian favorite. No breadcrumbs and lean sirloin keeps these meatballs on the lighter side.

4.16 from 26 votes

Print Recipe

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 45 mins

Course Entree, Main

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4

Calories 298 kcal

Ingredients

  

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• 16 oz ground sirloin 90% lean
• 2/3 cup part-skim ricotta
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
• 2 egg whites whisked
• 1 clove garlic grated
• 1/4 cup minced parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

 

• Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees and spray a foil-lined baking sheet with non-stick spray; set aside.
• In a medium bowl. combine beef with ricotta, parmesan, egg whites, garlic, parsley, salt, nutmeg and pepper. Be careful not to over-mix – that causes dense, dry meatballs.
• Using a small cookie scoop or two spoons, scoop out the meat mixture and roll into balls and place in an even layer on the baking sheet.
  
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until browned. Add to pasta sauce of choice and serve over whole wheat spaghetti.

Chef’s Notes

Note: Serving size will vary depending on the size of your meatballs. If you’re watching calories, divide the meat mixture in four and make sure you only eat 1/4 of the total mixture.

Nutrition

Calories: 298kcalCarbohydrates: 3.5gProtein: 31.4gFat: 17.9gSaturated Fat: 8.8gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 587mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 1.5g

Keyword baked meatballs, baked ricotta meatballs, healthy meatballs, light italian meatballs

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