Easy Italian Meatballs & Caesar Salad – Clean, Fresh, and Flavor-Packed!

Ingredients:

1 lb grass-fed ground beef
1 egg
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup Panko breadcrumbs (or almond flour for keto)
1/4 tsp red chili flakes (optional, for heat)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1–2 cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
In a bowl, mix together the ground beef, egg, parsley, basil, garlic, breadcrumbs, chili flakes, cheese, salt, and pepper.
Form into meatballs and place on a lined baking sheet.
Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until fully cooked and browned.
In a saucepan, warm marinara sauce and gently add in the meatballs.
Simmer for 10 minutes on low heat to absorb the flavor.

Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing
Salad Ingredients:

1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
Homemade or store-bought croutons
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional topping)

Homemade Caesar Dressing Ingredients:

1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp lemon juice (fresh is best)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and fresh black pepper to taste
(Optional: 1 anchovy filet or 1/2 tsp anchovy paste for authentic flavor)
Instructions:

In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Toss the romaine lettuce with dressing and top with croutons and extra Parmesan.