Italian nonnas never called them 'Marry Me' meatballs—this TikTok name from 2019 made grandma's recipe go viral overnight.
Marry Me Meatballs
Get ready to fall in love with these irresistible Marry Me Meatballs! Packed with savory ground beef, zesty garlic, and a touch of fresh parsley, these tender bites are not only a breeze to whip up but also bursting with flavor. Perfect for any occasion, they might just win your heart (and your dinner guests’ too)!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(9)
- 5 cdas de pasta de tomate concentrado (75 ml)
- hojas de albahaca fresca
- 2 dientes de ajo
- 3 ajos
- 3 dientes de ajo
- 2 cdas de perejil picadito fino (30 ml)
- 1 shallot mediana picada
- 1 1/2 taza de espinacas picadas en tiras (360 ml)
- chorrito de limón amarillooptional
🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 1 taza de caldo de pollo (240 ml)
- 800 gr de pollo molido (o molida de res) (1.76 lbs)or ground beef
🥛Dairy & Eggs(5)
- 2 cdas de mantequilla (28 g)
- 1 huevo
- 1/4 taza parmesano rallado (60 ml)
- 1 y 1/2 taza de crema para batir (360 ml)
- 1/3 taza de queso parmigiano reggiano (79.2 ml)
🫙Pantry Staples(2)
- 2 cdas de aceite de oliva (30 ml)
- 1/2 taza de panko (120 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(3)
- 1 cdita de orégano (5 ml)
- 2 cdas de paprika (30 ml)
- 1 cdita de sal (5 ml)
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- 1/2 taza de vino blanco (120 ml)
📦Other(3)
- 1 taza de tomates cherry partidos a la mitad (240 ml)
- 1/3 de taza de tomates deshidratados picados (79.2 ml)
- 1 cdita de pepperoncini (5 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, add the ground chicken along with a whole egg, panko, spices, minced garlic, parsley, salt, and grated parmesan. Mix all the ingredients well.
- 2
Form the meatballs; I make them very small, I feel they turn out better this way. Freeze for 30 minutes.
- 3
Coat with flour and remove excess.
- 4
Brown in a hot skillet with olive oil for a few minutes and set aside.
- 5
In the same skillet, sauté the shallot and garlic in oil and butter.
- 6
Then, add the pepperoncini, concentrated tomato paste, cherry tomatoes, and dried tomatoes. Brown for a few minutes.
- 7
Deglaze the skillet with white wine and chicken broth, let it reduce a bit.
- 8
Add the heavy cream and lemon juice. Incorporate the chopped spinach. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
- 9
Return the meatballs and let them finish cooking.
- 10
Finish with fresh basil and parmesan cheese.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Freeze formed meatballs for exactly 30 minutes to firm the proteins and prevent breaking during browning, but don't exceed 45 minutes or ice crystals will damage texture.timing30 minutes
- ✓Brown meatballs at 375-400°F surface temperature (medium-high heat) for 90 seconds per side to develop Maillard reaction without overcooking the interior.technique375-400°F
- ✓Use a 3:1 ratio of panko to egg for binding because panko's irregular texture creates better moisture retention than regular breadcrumbs while staying tender.ingredient3:1 ratio
- ✓Reduce wine and broth by 50% before adding cream to concentrate flavors and prevent the dairy from breaking when acid levels are too high.technique50% reduction
- ✓Add spinach in the final 2 minutes of cooking to preserve its bright color and prevent releasing excess water that would thin the cream sauce.timing2 minutes
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
Italian nonnas never called them 'Marry Me' meatballs—this TikTok name from 2019 made grandma's recipe go viral overnight.
Marry Me Meatballs
Get ready to fall in love with these irresistible Marry Me Meatballs! Packed with savory ground beef, zesty garlic, and a touch of fresh parsley, these tender bites are not only a breeze to whip up but also bursting with flavor. Perfect for any occasion, they might just win your heart (and your dinner guests’ too)!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(9)
- 5 cdas de pasta de tomate concentrado (75 ml)
- hojas de albahaca fresca
- 2 dientes de ajo
- 3 ajos
- 3 dientes de ajo
- 2 cdas de perejil picadito fino (30 ml)
- 1 shallot mediana picada
- 1 1/2 taza de espinacas picadas en tiras (360 ml)
- chorrito de limón amarillooptional
🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 1 taza de caldo de pollo (240 ml)
- 800 gr de pollo molido (o molida de res) (1.76 lbs)or ground beef
🥛Dairy & Eggs(5)
- 2 cdas de mantequilla (28 g)
- 1 huevo
- 1/4 taza parmesano rallado (60 ml)
- 1 y 1/2 taza de crema para batir (360 ml)
- 1/3 taza de queso parmigiano reggiano (79.2 ml)
🫙Pantry Staples(2)
- 2 cdas de aceite de oliva (30 ml)
- 1/2 taza de panko (120 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(3)
- 1 cdita de orégano (5 ml)
- 2 cdas de paprika (30 ml)
- 1 cdita de sal (5 ml)
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- 1/2 taza de vino blanco (120 ml)
📦Other(3)
- 1 taza de tomates cherry partidos a la mitad (240 ml)
- 1/3 de taza de tomates deshidratados picados (79.2 ml)
- 1 cdita de pepperoncini (5 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, add the ground chicken along with a whole egg, panko, spices, minced garlic, parsley, salt, and grated parmesan. Mix all the ingredients well.
- 2
Form the meatballs; I make them very small, I feel they turn out better this way. Freeze for 30 minutes.
- 3
Coat with flour and remove excess.
- 4
Brown in a hot skillet with olive oil for a few minutes and set aside.
- 5
In the same skillet, sauté the shallot and garlic in oil and butter.
- 6
Then, add the pepperoncini, concentrated tomato paste, cherry tomatoes, and dried tomatoes. Brown for a few minutes.
- 7
Deglaze the skillet with white wine and chicken broth, let it reduce a bit.
- 8
Add the heavy cream and lemon juice. Incorporate the chopped spinach. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
- 9
Return the meatballs and let them finish cooking.
- 10
Finish with fresh basil and parmesan cheese.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Freeze formed meatballs for exactly 30 minutes to firm the proteins and prevent breaking during browning, but don't exceed 45 minutes or ice crystals will damage texture.timing30 minutes
- ✓Brown meatballs at 375-400°F surface temperature (medium-high heat) for 90 seconds per side to develop Maillard reaction without overcooking the interior.technique375-400°F
- ✓Use a 3:1 ratio of panko to egg for binding because panko's irregular texture creates better moisture retention than regular breadcrumbs while staying tender.ingredient3:1 ratio
- ✓Reduce wine and broth by 50% before adding cream to concentrate flavors and prevent the dairy from breaking when acid levels are too high.technique50% reduction
- ✓Add spinach in the final 2 minutes of cooking to preserve its bright color and prevent releasing excess water that would thin the cream sauce.timing2 minutes