Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need to create these culinary marvels:

• Texas Toast: This thick-sliced white bread is ideal for soaking up milk, creating the essential moist binder for tender meatballs. Its robust structure holds up well during the soaking process.
• Whole Milk: Provides the perfect liquid for softening the Texas Toast, contributing to the rich flavor and unparalleled tenderness of the meatballs.
• Ground Pork: Adds a foundational layer of richness and moisture, contributing to the overall juiciness and flavor complexity.
• Ground Beef: Offers a classic hearty beef flavor that is quintessential to traditional Italian-American meatballs. Its texture complements the other meats beautifully.
• Italian Sausage: The star of the show for many, Italian sausage brings a burst of savory, seasoned flavor. Whether mild or spicy, it elevates the entire meat mixture.
• Parmesan Cheese: Finely shredded, this hard, salty cheese melts into the mixture, adding a depth of umami and a subtle tang that is indispensable for authentic Italian flavor.
• Fresh Parsley: Minced fresh parsley provides a bright, herbaceous note that cuts through the richness of the meats, adding freshness and visual appeal.
• Fresh Garlic: Finely grated or minced to a paste, fresh garlic delivers an aromatic punch that is central to Italian cooking. Avoid pre-minced for the best flavor.
• Yellow Onion: Finely diced, the onion sweetens as it cooks, contributing moisture and a delicate background flavor that rounds out the savory profile.
• Kosher Salt (Morton’s): Essential for seasoning, kosher salt enhances all the other flavors without being overly salty, providing a clean taste.
• Fresh Cracked Black Pepper: Adds a gentle warmth and a subtle bite, contributing to the overall seasoning balance.
• Marinara (Rao’s or Victoria): A high-quality store-bought marinara sauce is key here. Brands like Rao’s or Victoria offer a robust, rich tomato base that truly makes these meatballs shine. You can also use homemade if preferred.
• Pasta (Bucatini, Spaghetti, or Rigatoni): The perfect vessel for soaking up the delicious sauce and accompanying these giant meatballs. Choose your favorite shape for the ultimate meal.

For precise quantities and detailed instructions, please refer to the full recipe card conveniently located at the bottom of this post. You can also utilize the “JUMP TO RECIPE” button at the top to quickly navigate there.

Expert Notes, Tips, and Smart Substitutions

Achieving truly extraordinary giant meatballs involves more than just following steps; it’s about understanding the nuances of the ingredients and techniques. Here are some invaluable notes, tips, and thoughtful substitution ideas to ensure your meatballs are always a resounding success.

Notes & Tips for Meatball Mastery

The Importance of Soaked Bread: This is a non-negotiable step. Resist the urge to substitute breadcrumbs. The soaked white bread acts as a sponge, retaining moisture and creating an incredibly tender, almost fluffy texture that breadcrumbs simply cannot replicate. It’s the secret to their signature melt-in-your-mouth quality.

Avoid Overmixing the Meat: When combining the ingredients, mix gently and only until everything is just incorporated. The more you work the meat mixture, the tougher your meatballs will become. Overmixing develops the protein strands in the meat, leading to a dense and chewy result, which is the opposite of what we want for tender meatballs. Use your hands to feel the mixture and stop as soon as it comes together.

Precision in Portioning: While weighing out 9-ounce meatballs with a kitchen scale ensures perfect consistency and even cooking, don’t fret if you don’t own one. You can simply divide the mixture into nine visually equal portions. If you prefer smaller, more manageable meatballs, feel free to adjust the size accordingly; just remember to monitor cooking times.

Simmering for Flavor Development: These meatballs benefit immensely from a slow simmer in the sauce. They can be prepared earlier in the day and left to gently simmer for several hours on low heat. This extended cooking time allows the meatballs to fully absorb the rich flavors of the marinara, becoming even more tender and delicious. Just be mindful to keep the heat low to prevent them from breaking apart; too vigorous a simmer can turn your meatballs into a meat sauce.

Batch Cooking and Freezing: For smaller households or meal prepping, consider making the full batch and freezing half of the roasted meatballs before they go into the sauce. Future you will undoubtedly thank current you for the convenience of having a quick, gourmet meal ready to go. Simply thaw completely before finishing in the sauce.

Storing Leftovers: Any leftover meatballs and sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They often taste even better the next day as the flavors have had more time to meld and deepen.

Thoughtful Substitutions to Adapt Your Recipe

Bread Choices: While Texas Toast or a nice fluffy white bread yields the best results due to its absorption qualities, you can experiment with other types of bread. Just ensure it’s a soft, absorbent variety that can soak up the milk effectively. Avoid dense, crusty breads.

Dairy Considerations: If you follow a dairy-free diet, I regrettably must advise that this recipe, in its current form, might not be suitable. The whole milk and Parmesan cheese are absolutely crucial to both the texture and the foundational flavor profile of these meatballs. While substitutions for dairy exist, they fundamentally alter the outcome to a degree where it wouldn’t be the same recipe.

Meat Combinations: The three-meat blend is truly optimal, but there is some flexibility. You can omit either the ground beef or the ground pork, provided you still use at least two types of meat, with Italian sausage being one of them. For instance, you could use more Italian sausage and ground beef, or more Italian sausage and ground pork. This blend ensures the perfect balance of fat, texture, and flavor that makes these meatballs extraordinary.

Cheese Alternatives: If Parmesan isn’t your preference, quality alternatives like Asiago or Pecorino Romano can be used. Be aware that Pecorino will introduce a sharper, tangier flavor, while Asiago offers a slightly nuttier profile. Both are delicious in their own right but will subtly alter the overall taste.

Onion Varieties: Don’t let the type of onion be a barrier. While I often prefer a sweet yellow onion for its mellow flavor, red or white onions work perfectly fine if that’s what you have on hand. They all contribute essential aromatic notes to the mixture.

Marinara Sauce: While I wholeheartedly endorse high-quality store-bought brands like Rao’s or Victoria for their convenience and exceptional flavor (especially Rao’s, which I often grab from Costco), you can absolutely opt for a homemade sauce. My Homemade Sausage Manicotti Recipe includes a fantastic sauce recipe that would pair wonderfully with these meatballs.

Pasta Pairings: The beauty of these meatballs is their versatility with pasta. While traditional choices like bucatini or spaghetti are classic, they are equally fantastic with tube-shaped pasta like rigatoni, which is excellent for trapping the rich sauce. Choose any pasta shape you love!

Explore More Meatball Delights

If you’ve fallen in love with these giant Italian meatballs, you’ll be thrilled to discover other fantastic meatball recipes that are sure to become family favorites. For a nostalgic trip down memory lane, try my Homemade Spaghettios and Meatballs – it’s comfort food that truly tastes like childhood. If you enjoy a bit of heat, my spicy and flavorful Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are an absolute winner, especially perfect for game days like the Super Bowl. For an incredibly tender and juicy alternative, my Parmesan Chicken Meatballs are a must-try. And if you’re feeling adventurous and want to take your taste buds on a global journey, explore my Easy Swedish Meatballs, vibrant Greek Meatballs, and exotic Chicken Meatballs in Red Curry Sauce. There’s a meatball adventure for everyone!