Sausage + Basil Meatballs With Garlic Toast
There truly isn’t anything I find more comforting for dinner than savory sausage meatballs topped with Parmesan cheese. My recipe features one of our kitchen staples, Jimmy Dean Fresh Sausage, and I’ve nailed down the simplest way to achieve juicy, delicious meatballs. You can enjoy them fresh from the oven or add them to your favorite marinara sauce. Though this meal is a crowd favorite, you can even freeze a few to savor throughout the week for easy mealtime. I love this recipe and it is a definite go-to during the holidays! Find how to whip them up using Jimmy Dean Fresh Sausage below …
Sausage + Basil Meatballs
With Garlic Toast
Ingredients
Meatballs
1 pound Jimmy Dean pork sausage
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 onion grated or finely diced
2 garlic cloves grated or minced
2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil
1 egg
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 tablespoon ground fennel
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 tablespoons olive oil
hearty pinch of salt + pepper
Garlic Toast
a baguette sliced
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 garlic gloves
Directions
Step 1: Start by pre-heating your oven to 375 degrees and prep a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Step 2: Next prep all your ingredients. Place your Jimmy Dean Fresh Sausage in a large mixing bowl. Chop your basil. Finely dice or grate your onion and garlic. I have found that the finer you chop your onions it offers a nice texture and flavor throughout the meatballs. Measure your breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, herbs and spices. I truly love using Jimmy Dean Fresh Sausage in recipes because their flavor is the best. It also reminds me fondly of my step mom who is a tried and true Jimmy Dean fan. Whenever I smell the sausage cooking away I am immediately brought back to watching my step mom in the kitchen.
Step 3: Add all your ingredients into the large mixing bowl with your sausage. Add the egg and 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
Step 4: You can use a wooden spoon to mix, but I think using your hands is easier. Try mixing everything until just combined. If you over mix the sausage mixture it could make your meatballs a little too tough.
Step 5: I use a 2 ounce ice scream scoop to measure out each meatball and place each on to the baking sheet. Then I like to form them into a ball with the palms of my hands. This way each meatball is the same size.
Step 6: Bake at 375 degrees until golden brown and cooked through. These typically take around 25 or 30 minutes and I like to rotate each one in the middle of their bake time so they get evenly crisp. Once they are cooked through, remove from the oven and let them rest for about 10 minutes before enjoying!
Step 7: For your garlic toast, line sliced bread on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Toast them in the oven while your meatballs are resting for about 8 minutes or until golden brown. Once they are out of the oven rub, a raw garlic clove over each piece.
Step 8: Serve your meatballs on top of the garlic toast with Parmesan shavings on top and a leaf of basil! You can also add your favorite marinara sauce if you’d like.