Cheesy Bechamel-Covered Meatballs

  • 4

Ingredients

  • Meatballs:
  • 3/4 lb ground beef
  • 3/4 lb ground pork
  • 1/3 c Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/3 c seasoned bread crumbs
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 Tbsp milk
  • 1/2 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • Sauce:
  • 2 c whole milk
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
  • kosher salt, to taste
  • 1-1/2 c mozzarella cheese, grated

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350º.

In a large bowl, combine beef, pork, Parmesan, bread crumbs, garlic, egg , milk, basil, oregano and red pepper flakes, and season generously with salt and pepper.

Using your hands or two forks, mix everything together until fully combined. Then roll into 1-inch balls and transfer to a large baking sheet.

Place in oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until browned on the outside.

While meatballs are baking, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously, or until roux is golden and smooth and paste-like, 5-7 minutes.

While continuing to whisk, stir in whole milk, then bring mixture to a boil and cook for 10 minutes, or until thickened.

Remove meatballs from oven and transfer to a baking dish or oven-proof skillet, then cover with bechamel sauce and mozzarella cheese.

Return meatballs to oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until they are cooked all the way through and cheese is melted.

Remove from oven and serve hot with garlic bread.

**I used frozen meatballs, and served them with egg noodles.

From 12 Tomatoes on Facebook