1. 1/2 pound HOT ground pork and a 1/2 pound SWEET ground pork
2. 1 large egg
3. 1/4 cup onion – minced
4. 1 clove of garlic – minced
5. 1/4 cup parmesan cheese – freshly shredded
6. 1/3 cup Panko breadcrumbs
7. 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
8. salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste
9. 2 Tablespoons cold water – or a little more

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground sausage, egg, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, onions and garlic, seasonings, and a little bit of cold water. Use your hands to mix the ingredients together. Be careful to avoid over-mixing as this can make the meat tough.

2. Gently divide the mixture into 8 sections, and use your hands to form them into meatballs. Add them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

3. Bake the meatballs on 400 degrees for approximately 18-20 minutes, or until nearly done.

4. I often under-cook the meatballs slightly if I’m using them in a sauce. Just make sure you continue to cook them fully in the sauce later.

5. These freeze well. You can freeze them raw, par-cooked, or fully cooked.

Additional info:

Use these meatballs in homemade pizza, with marinara sauce or curry sauce, or in hot sub

Comment: We use this recipe to make ground chicken sliders too!