Carrabba’s Meatballs

This simple restaurant copycat recipe for meatballs tastes just like the ones served at Carrabba’s. It uses a combination of meats and will make you happy that you decided to stay in and cook.

Carrabba’s Meatballs are a delicious and flavorful Italian dish that is loved by many. Made with a combination of ground beef and ground pork, these meatballs are seasoned with a variety of herbs and spices, including minced garlic, green onions, parsley, and basil. The addition of grated Parmesan and Romano cheese adds a rich and savory flavor to the meatballs.

To achieve a perfect texture, dry breadcrumbs are added to the meat mixture along with eggs, which help bind everything together. Once the mixture is well combined, the meatballs are rolled into 1½” balls and baked in the oven until they turn golden brown and cooked through.

One of the signature elements of Carrabba’s Meatballs is the cooking method. The meatballs are cooked in olive oil, which adds a delicious flavor and helps create a crispy exterior. After baking, the meatballs are removed from the oil and drained on paper towels to remove any excess oil.

These meatballs can be served in various ways, but one popular option is to combine them with your favorite pasta sauce. The flavorful meatballs are stirred into the sauce, allowing them to soak up the flavors and create a mouthwatering combination. Serve the meatballs and sauce over cooked pasta of your choice for a hearty and satisfying meal.

Carrabba’s Meatballs are a classic Italian comfort food that brings together the flavors of seasoned ground meat and aromatic herbs. Whether enjoyed as a main dish or as a part of a larger Italian feast, these meatballs are sure to please both meatball enthusiasts and lovers of Italian cuisine alike.

SERVES: 6–8

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound ground beef
• ½ pound ground pork
• 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 4 minced garlic cloves
• 2 eggs
• 2 minced green onions
• 1 minced small yellow onion
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh basil
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 cup olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, dry breadcrumbs, minced garlic cloves, eggs, minced green onions, minced yellow onion, grated Parmesan cheese, grated Romano cheese, minced fresh parsley, minced fresh basil, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
3. Roll the mixture into 1½” balls, shaping them with your hands.
4. Pour the olive oil onto a 2″ × 13″ × 9″ baking pan, spreading it to coat the entire surface.
5. Place the meatballs on the baking pan, swirling the pan around to ensure the meatballs are coated in oil.
6. Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
7. Remove the meatballs from the oil using a slotted spoon or tongs, allowing any excess oil to drain on paper towels.
8. Stir the cooked meatballs into your favorite pasta sauce.
9. Serve the meatballs and sauce over cooked pasta of your choice.
10. Enjoy your homemade meatballs with pasta!