Name: Ninja Foodi Italian Meatballs
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1/3 cup plain bread crumbs; 1/2 cup milk; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 onion (diced); 1 pound ground beef; 1 pound ground pork; 2 eggs; 1/4 bunch fresh parsley (chopped); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 2 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning; 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

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Ninja Foodi Italian Meatballs are one of my family’s new favorites. My father-in-law used to manage a Gino’s East here in Chicago. They are famous for deep dish pizza, but their meatballs were amazing. We used to order more then we could eat just to have leftovers for the freezer. Unfortunately they changed the recipe and we have not been able to find a meatball that compares.

A friend of mine provided the below recipe, so I can not take credit for imagining this wonderful concoction of flavors. However, it is too good not to share. I have tried a lot of recipes that were beef only or a combination of beef and ground Italian sausage and was not impressed. So I did not have high hopes for a beef and pork mixture, but wow was I shocked. This is also a great COST Cooking recipe.

What you need for Ninja Foodi Italian Meatballs

1/3 cup plain bread crumbs
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 eggs
1/4 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Soak bread crumbs in milk in a small bowl for 20 minutes.
Set Ninja Foodi to Sear/Sauté at MD:HI. Add oil and onions And cook until translucent.
Mix beef and pork together in a large bowl. Stir onions, bread crumb mixture, eggs, parsley, garlic, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, Italian herb seasoning, and Parmesan cheese into meat mixture. Mix well.
Form meat mixture into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. It will make 23-25 meatballs.
Set Ninja Foodi to Sear/Sauté on High.
Brown all sides of the meatballs in batches

Note the meatballs are not fully cooked. they can be used in Ninja Foodi Italian Spaghetti (recipe forthcoming, or baked at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. However you can also freeze an pull out when you are ready to use them. Just don’t forget to adds to yourFreezer Inventory

Print Recipe

Ninja Foodi Italian Meatballs

Perfectly seasoned meatballs perfect for topping pasta or on a sandwich.

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: italian meatballs, meatballs, pork meatballs

Servings: Servings

Cost: $15

Equipment

Ninja Foodi

Ingredients

1/3 cup plain bread crumbs
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 onion diced
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 eggs
1/4 bunch fresh parsley chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Soak bread crumbs in milk in a small bowl for 20 minutes. This will remove the grainy texture some meatballs have.
Turn Ninja Foodi to Seart/Sauté on MD:HI. Add oil and onions. Cook onions until translucent.
Mix beef and pork together in a large bowl. Stir onions, bread crumb mixture, eggs, parsley, garlic, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, Italian herb seasoning, and Parmesan cheese into meat mixture. Mix well.
Form meat mixture into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
Turn Ninja Foodi to Sear/Sauté MD:HI. Brown all sides of the meatballs in batches in the Foodi.
These are not cooked all the way through, but you can add to spaghetti and pressure cook, or throw in the oven for about 15-20 minutes At 425°. Or freeze until you decide how to use them.