How much bread crumbs do you use in meatballs?

To make basic meatballs, you'll need 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup fine breadcrumbs, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon salt, freshly ground black pepper, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup finely minced Italian parsley, 1 pound ground meat (such as beef, pork, turkey, chicken, or veal, or a mix), 1/2 cup finely chopped onion (or ...Sep 6, 2015 read more

Slowly add bread crumbs and stir until the crumbs absorb at least 90% the liquids. You want them slightly moist. Add this to the meat and mix. For meatballs: I mix 1/2 lb ground beef with 1/2 lb. mild italian sausage, 1/2 cup (more or less) parmesan cheese, and 1 T shredded basil (1tsp dry). Liquids: 1/4 cup red wine, 1 egg, 1 T worchestershire sauce. See above to get bread crumbs into mix - and I use plain. read more

The bread, if unseasoned, doesn't change the flavor much except to dilute it. The texture is definitely different. It is smoother and spongier. The breadcrumbs also soak up liquid so the product doesn't lose as much and stays moister. Purists often decry the use of breadcrumbs in things like burger patties. read more