CHEESY BAKED MEATBALL SKILLET

CHEESY BAKED MEATBALL SKILLET

Author: Natasha
Recipe type: Meatballs/Pasta Entree Cuisine: Italian
Prep time:  25 mins Cook time:  55 mins Total time:  1 hour 20 mins
Serves: 4-6

Tender and flavorful meatballs, a rich tomato sauce, and plenty of melted cheese make this skillet recipe a winner.

INGREDIENTS
Meatballs:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 pound lean ground pork
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup breadcrumbs (I used Italian flavor)
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• Salt & pepper, to taste

Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme (remove leaves)
• 8 leaves fresh basil, torn
• 1 (13.5 fluid ounce) can chunky tomatoes
• 1 (13.5 fluid ounce) can tomato sauce
• Pinch Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt & pepper, to taste
• To top skillet:
• 1 cup grated mozzarella
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Grate the parmesan cheese (grate the two cups needed, and divide it in half). Grate the mozzarella if you didn't buy an already shredded variety.
2. Preheat oven to 375F and move the rack to the top third of the oven. Line a baking sheet with tin foil.
3. Prepare the meatballs by adding all the meatball ingredients to a large bowl and gently mixing it with your hands and forming it into 2" meatballs. I made 18 meatballs. Place the meatballs on the baking sheet and bake them for 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, make the sauce in a deep, oven-proof skillet. Chop the onion and then sauté it in the oil for about 5 minutes on medium-high heat. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and simmer for another 5 minutes.
5. Take the meatballs out of the oven and add them to the skillet in an even layer. Place the skillet in the oven for 20 minutes to ensure the meatballs are cooked through and that the sauce thickens a bit more.
6. Remove the skillet from the oven and sprinkle the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses over top. Place it back in the oven for another 10 minutes. If desired, broil for an additional few minutes to brown the cheese.
7. Serve immediately with pasta, bread, a salad, or devour the meatballs by themselves.

NOTES

1. Can be made without an oven-proof skillet. Just transfer meatballs and sauce to a large, deep baking dish after step 4.
2. This is my trusty skillet (pictured). It's 2" deep. Make sure your skillet is deep so it doesn't overflow in the oven.

source : http://www.saltandlavender.com

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