Cheesy Skillet Meatballs in Marinara Sauce
Tender meatballs made with beef and spicy Italian sausage, simmered in marinara and topped with melted cheese for a simple skillet dinner.
Equipment
- Oven-safe skillet or baking dish
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb spicy Italian sausage (see note)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil for browning
For the Skillet:
- 2-3 cups homemade marinara sauce recipe in the post
- 2 cups shredded Mozzarella and Provolone cheese
For Serving:
- Toasted baguette slices or crusty bread
Instructions
- Make the meatball mixture – In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, spicy Italian sausage, panko, parmesan, eggs, garlic, milk, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix gently just until combined—don’t overwork it.
- Form the meatballs – Roll into 1 to 1½-inch meatballs and place on a tray or plate.
- Brown the meatballs – Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, brown the meatballs on all sides, about 6–8 minutes. They do not need to be fully cooked through.
- Simmer in marinara sauce – Pour the marinara sauce into the same skillet and return all the meatballs to the pan. Nestle them into the sauce and simmer over medium-low heat for 12–15 minutes, until cooked through.
- Add the cheese – sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and provolone.
- Broil until melted – Transfer the skillet to the oven and broil for 2–4 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
- Finish and serve – Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve warm with toasted bread.
Spicy Italian sausage adds extra flavor, but mild or sweet works just as well—use what you prefer.
Don’t overthink the cheese—use what you like. As long as it melts well, it’ll work here.