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Olive Backyard Meatball Parmigiana – Straightforward Copycat Recipe


This Olive Backyard Meatball Parmigiana copycat recipe brings the hearty and juicy meatball appetizer proper to your property. Tender, well-seasoned meatballs simmer in wealthy marinara sauce, topped with melted cheese and golden breadcrumbs for an irresistible end. Whether or not you’re serving it as a hearty most important course or a formidable appetizer, this dish delivers pure consolation in each chew.

Copycat Olive Garden meatballs parmigiana and a fork on a napkin behind it.Copycat Olive Garden meatballs parmigiana and a fork on a napkin behind it.

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What makes the Olive Backyard Meatball Parmigiana so good?

This Olive Backyard’s Meatball Parmigiana copycat recipe is a contemporary tackle a traditional old-school dish. All of it begins with selfmade meatballs baked within the oven till barely cooked by, then completed in a wealthy marinara sauce topped with tacky breadcrumbs.

The scrumptious meatballs come out tremendous tender and well-seasoned; the sauce is thick, with the perfect steadiness of candy and tart flavors, and the tacky topping makes a easy, rustic dish into pure consolation meals. It’s hardy sufficient to function a most important course, however it might additionally work as a starter.

Olive Backyard Meatball Parmigiana elements and their roles

For the meatballs, you’ll want:

  • Floor chuck – gives the best steadiness of fats and beefy taste.
  • Plain bread crumbs – take in the liquid.
  • Entire milk – moistens the breadcrumbs.
  • Egg – helps to bind all the things collectively.
  • Italian seasoning – provides conventional flavors.
  • Dried parsley – brightens the dish.
  • Crimson pepper flakes – contribute a touch of warmth.
  • Onion powder – amps up the savory notes.
  • Granulated garlic – provides the important garlic taste.
  • Salt – enhances the style of all the opposite elements.
  • Black pepper – lends a gentle heat.

For the marinara sauce, you’ll want:

  • Olive oil – sautes the elements and gives a delicate floral taste.
  • Garlic, sliced– flavors the olive oil.
  • Tomato puree – provides extra physique to the sauce.
  • Diced tomatoes – add brightness and texture.
  • Italian seasoning – provides a standard style to the sauce.
  • Dried basil – will increase the floral taste profile.
  • Crimson pepper flakes – construct the quantity of warmth within the dish.
  • Salt – improves the style of the opposite elements.
  • Black pepper – provides the sauce further heat and earthy notes.
  • Sugar – balances the acidity of the tomatoes.

For the topping, you’ll want:

  • Italian cheese mix – amps up the savory issue of the dish.
  • Italian breadcrumbs – add texture and enhance the flavour.
  • Unsalted butter – helps to crisp up the breadcrumbs.
  • Recent parsley – provides freshness and helps to brighten the dish.
Ingredients for meatball parmigiana on a tray: ground beef, tomatoes, cheese, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, oil, and spices.Ingredients for meatball parmigiana on a tray: ground beef, tomatoes, cheese, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, oil, and spices.

Tips on how to make Olive Backyard Meatball Parmigiana

To make the meatballs:

  1. Crumble the bottom beef into a big bowl, then add the remaining meatball elements.
  2. Use your fingertips to mix the elements till they’re totally blended gently. Keep away from compressing the meat as a lot as potential to forestall dense meatballs.
  3. Cowl the blending bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the meatball combination for at the least half-hour, permitting the breadcrumbs to soak up any extra liquid.
  4. Set the oven to 425°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Evenly grease the aluminum foil with oil or cooking spray to maintain the meatballs from sticking. Alternatively, you need to use a silicone mat or parchment paper.
  5. Moist your palms with water or a small quantity of olive oil to forestall the meat from sticking, and kind meatballs which are roughly 1.5 inches in diameter with out compressing the meat too tightly.
  6. Lay the meatballs on the ready baking sheet and bake for 10 to fifteen minutes, turning midway by the cooking time. The meatballs must be calmly browned and cooked by to a minimal inside temperature of 165 levels. Whereas the meatballs are within the oven, you can begin on the marinara sauce.
 3-panel collage shows making meatballs: mixing ground meat with seasonings, then forming the mixture into balls on a sheet. 3-panel collage shows making meatballs: mixing ground meat with seasonings, then forming the mixture into balls on a sheet.

To make the marinara sauce:

  1. Place a big stockpot over medium warmth.
  2. Add a tablespoon of olive oil. As soon as the oil is heat, throw within the sliced garlic cloves. Cut back the warmth to medium-low.
  3. Stir the garlic till it turns a light-weight brown. Take away the garlic slices and discard, leaving the oil behind.
  4. Fastidiously add the diced tomatoes with the liquid and the tomato puree to the stockpot to keep away from splatters. Stir effectively.
  5. Add the remaining marinara sauce elements, apart from the sugar, and canopy the stockpot.
  6. Cut back the warmth till the sauce is barely simmering. Cook dinner the sauce for about half-hour or longer, till it has thickened.
  7. Style the sauce. Alter seasonings and add a pinch of sugar whether it is too acidic.
  8. Take away the sauce from the warmth and put aside.

To assemble and end the Meatball Parmigiana:

  1. Cut back the oven temperature to 350°F.
  2. Whereas the oven is cooling, add a skinny layer of marinara sauce to the underside of a deep baking dish.
  3. Lay the meatballs on high of the sauce and spoon extra marinara sauce over them.
  4. Sprinkle the cheese over the meatballs and place the baking dish within the oven till the cheese begins to bubble.
  5. Whereas the meatballs are within the oven, soften a tablespoon of unsalted butter in a pan and toast the Italian breadcrumbs.
  6. Plate the meatballs and sprinkle the toasted breadcrumbs and chopped contemporary parsley excessive. Serve sizzling.
An 8-panel collage shows making meatball parmigiana: simmering sauce, adding meatballs to a dish, topping with cheese, and serving.An 8-panel collage shows making meatball parmigiana: simmering sauce, adding meatballs to a dish, topping with cheese, and serving.

What to serve this scrumptious appetizer with

Why not make it an Italian night time with these different Olive Backyard favorites?

  • Olive Backyard Breadsticks. Breadsticks could also be fundamental, however they’re darn tasty, and Olive Backyard’s are legendary. This copycat recipe can have you baking the fluffiest breadsticks you’ve ever made.
  • Italian Margarita. Get your drink on with this Italian-infused Margarita. As a substitute of agave nectar, this model opts for amaretto, which provides the sweetness and a big quantity of almond taste that enhances the tequila and Triple Sec effectively.
  • Parmesan Roasted Asparagus. Consuming your greens gained’t be an issue once you make this roasted asparagus topped with Parmesan sauce and chopped tomatoes.  
Overhead view of a bowl of Olive Garden meatball parmigiana. The meatballs are in sauce and topped with breadcrumbs and fresh parsley.Overhead view of a bowl of Olive Garden meatball parmigiana. The meatballs are in sauce and topped with breadcrumbs and fresh parsley.

Storage and reheating directions

  • Fridge Storage: Cool the meatballs fully and switch to an hermetic container. Retailer for as much as 3 days.
  • Reheating Technique: Place meatballs with sauce in an oven-proof dish and canopy with aluminum foil. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10 minutes, or till the inner temperature reaches 165°F.
  • Freezing: Retailer cooled meatballs in freezer-safe containers for as much as 3 months. Defrost in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Copycat Olive Garden meatballs parmigiana on a marble surface.Copycat Olive Garden meatballs parmigiana on a marble surface.

Favourite Olive Backyard copycat recipes

Try extra of my straightforward Italian meals recipes and the perfect copycat Olive Backyard recipes proper right here on CopyKat!

Copycat Olive Garden meatballs parmigiana and a fork on a napkin behind it.Copycat Olive Garden meatballs parmigiana and a fork on a napkin behind it.

Olive Backyard Meatballs Parmigiana

Tender meatballs topped with wealthy marinara, gooey cheese, and toasted breadcrumbs make this Olive Backyard Meatball Parmigiana copycat irresistible.

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