These Italian meatballs are made with a mix of ground beef and veal along with cayenne and Calabrian chili paste for a spicy twist on traditional meatballs.
Spicy Italian Meatballs Recipe
Let's make Italian meatballs! Only these are made "Madness" style with a bit of added kick, and of course, some chili peppers to REALLY bring out the flavor. This is a party sized recipe, perfect for a game day bash or a large party appetizer.
Or, serve it with pasta for the classic spaghetti and meatballs combo, or pop it onto some rolls for a sandwich. Meatballs are good for any type of dish, it seems. How wonderful for us!
What You'll Love About This Recipe
Over the years, in making many a meatball, I have learned a number of different ways to make the meatballs moist and not so dense. Sometimes they can get overly thick and a bit tough to eat if you don't treat them right.
One way that works for me, and I've used it in this recipe, is to incorporate cooked onion and peppers. The moisture from those ingredients adds to the overall finished texture of the meatball, keeping that unwanted density at bay.
And they bring plenty of flavor and some heat with the cayenne peppers. Yes!
Also, Parmesan cheese. Talk about AWESOME. I almost NEVER make an Italian style meatball recipe without the addition of Parmesan cheese.
So good.
Seriously, you must try. Today.
I added these to a crock pot and brought them over to a party and they disappeared very quickly. Lucky I snagged a couple before I brought them over!
Let's talk about how to make spicy Italian meatballs.
Spicy Italian Meatballs Ingredients
- Bread Crumbs.
- Milk.
- Olive Oil.
- Produce. Serranos or cayenne (optional, for spicy), onion, garlic.
- Meats. Ground beef and ground veal, though you can also use ground pork.
- Eggs.
- Parmesan Cheese.
- Parsley.
- Spices. Italian seasonings, red pepper flakes, salt and black pepper.
- EXTRA SPICY OPTIONS
- Calabrian Chili Paste.
- Hot Paprika. Or use cayenne.
- EASY SPICY MARINARA SAUCE
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- Onion.
- Garlic.
- Fire Roasted Tomatoes.
- Calabrian Chili Paste.
- Red Pepper Flakes.
- Salt and Pepper. To taste.
How to Make Spicy Italian Meatballs - The Recipe Method
First, mix the bread crumbs and milk to form a paste, which helps with the meatball moisture as well as binding.
Next, cook down the onions, pepper, and garlic, the mix with the ground meats, bread crumb mixture, cooked onion mixture, Parmesan cheese, Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, and optional SPICY ingredients.
Form your meatballs, then brown them in a hot pan.
Simmer the meatballs in your spicy marinara sauce to cook them through.
SPICY MARINARA SAUCE
To make the spicy marinara sauce, cook down the onion and garlic, then add the tomatoes, Calabrian chili paste, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste.
Simmer the sauce at least 30 minutes to let the flavor develop. You can easily simmer 1 hour or longer.
BOOM! Serve up those spicy Italian meatballs! This is making me hungry!
About the Sauce
The sauce is simple, but that's OK. A good thing, actually. The tomato sauce is imbued with flavor from the cooking meatballs and become rather rich.
When they simmer in the pot or the crock pot, the flavor develops even more. Not a lot of tinkering needed!
Try it with my spicy Fra Diavolo Sauce recipe!
Patty's Perspective
We were invited to a party and when the host's grill decided to act up, we needed to help with a party food that travels well and doesn't use the grill. And, people needed to love it! Italian Meatballs! They're perfect straight from the pan or from a crockpot.
I love how this spicy pasta sauce came through with these meatballs. I feel like a lot of meatballs you get parties don't get a lot of sauce, and I enjoy the sauce. High on Italian flavor. They would be perfect on a sub roll. Can you say, meatball sammich?
Recipe Tips & Notes
- This is a party sized recipe, perfect for a game day bash or a large party appetizer.
- Or, serve it with pasta for the classic spaghetti and meatballs combo, or pop it onto some rolls for a sandwich.
- Make sure to incorporate cooked onion and peppers. The moisture from those ingredients adds to the overall finished texture of the meatball, keeping that unwanted density at bay.
- When mixing the ingredients, don't overmix - to avoid it becoming mealy.
Storage & Leftovers
Storing your Spicy Italian Meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge may allow you to store the leftovers for up to 3-4 days. To maximize the storage life, make sure to refrigerate the dish promptly.
Try Some of My Other Popular Spicy Recipes
If you make this recipe, please let us know! Leave a comment, rate it and tag a photo #ChiliPepperMadness on Instagram so we can take a look. I always love to see all of your spicy inspirations. Thanks! -- Mike H.
Italian Meatballs Recipe (Spicy)
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup plain bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 onion diced
- 1-2 serrano or cayenne peppers chopped (optional, for spicy)
- 3 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground veal (or use ground pork, or a mix)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (use 1 tablespoon for spicier)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
EXTRA SPICY OPTIONS
- 1-2 tablespoons Calabrian chili paste
- 1 teaspoon hot paprika or cayenne
EASY SPICY MARINARA SAUCE
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 5 garlic cloves chopped
- 4 28-ounces cans fire roasted tomatoes
- 1/4 cup Calabrian chili paste optional
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the bread crumbs and milk to a small bowl and soak for 20 minutes. It will form a paste, which helps with the meatball moisture as well as binding.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive a large pan to medium heat and add onion and optional peppers with a bit of olive oil. Cook for 10 minutes, or until very soft and starting to caramelize. Add garlic and stir. Cook for 1 minute until it smells good! Remove from heat and cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, add beef, veal (and/or pork), bread crumb mixture, cooked onion mixture, Parmesan cheese, Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, and optional SPICY ingredients. Hand mix to combine, but not too much. Overmixing will make it become mealy.
- Form into 16 2-ounce meatballs and refrigerate, covered, until ready to use.
- Bring your large pan back to medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add meatballs and sear them about 1 minute per side, rolling them around a bit to get most of the sides. Get them nicely browned. Drain some of the grease if desired.
- Add the meatballs to your simmering spicy marinara sauce and simmer 20 minutes, or until cooked through.
SPICY MARINARA SAUCE
- Heat the oil in a large pot to medium heat. Add the onion and cook 5 minutes to soften, stirring often.
- Add the garlic and cook 1-2 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes, optional Calabrian chili paste, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Simmer at least 30 minutes to let the flavor develop. You can easily simmer 1 hour or longer.
- Taste and adjust for salt and serve.
Notes
Nutrition Information
plasterers bristol says
Sounds absolutely delicious. Thanks for sharing. Simon