Spicy Meatballs with Mozzarella

This great recipe is adapted from Giada De Laurentiis via the Food Network.

Ingredients:

• 1 small (6-ounce) onion, grated
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup Italian-style bread crumbs
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 8 ounces ground beef
• 8 ounces ground turkey
• 2 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 16 (1/2-inch) cubes

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

In a large bowl, combine the onion, 1/2 cup parsley, 2/3 cup Parmesan, bread crumbs, egg, ketchup, garlic, red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the beef and turkey. Using your hands, combine all ingredients gently but thoroughly. Shape the meat mixture into 16 (1 1/2-inch-diameter) meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Make a hole in the center of each meatball and place a cube of mozzarella inside. Reform the meatball so that the mozzarella is completely covered with the meat mixture. Bake the meatballs for 15 minutes until cooked through.

I like to heat up pasta sauce (from a jar when lazy) and put the meatballs into the sauce before serving over pasta!