French-Style Baked Meatballs and Cheese

French-Style Baked Meatballs & Cheese
Juicy meatballs arranged in a baking dish, covered in rich tomato sauce and melty cheese — inspired by cozy bistro-style comfort dishes from France.
🛒 Ingredients
🧆 For the Meatballs:
1 lb (450 g) ground beef
½ lb (225 g) ground pork (optional, for extra flavor)
½ cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ cup grated Parmesan
🍅 For the Sauce:
2 cups marinara or crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon sugar (optional)
Salt & pepper to taste
🧀 For Topping:
1½ cups shredded mozzarella
½ cup shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese
👩‍🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Meatballs
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a bowl, mix all meatball ingredients until just combined.
Form into medium-sized balls.
Place in a lightly greased baking dish.
2️⃣ Add Sauce
Mix sauce ingredients together.
Pour evenly over meatballs.
3️⃣ Add Cheese
Sprinkle mozzarella and Gruyère evenly over the top.
4️⃣ Bake
Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through (internal temp 160°F / 71°C) and cheese is melted and bubbly.
For golden top, broil 2–3 minutes at the end.
🍽 Serve With
Crusty baguette
Buttered pasta
Simple green salad