How To Make Meatballs

Learn how to make meatballs and recipes to try with your homemade meatballs. As well as directions for stocking the freezer.

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How to Make Meatball Recipes

Basic Meatball Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 Cup of bread crumbs
• 1 onion, chopped fine
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

Directions:
Mix together the egg, bread crumbs, onion, salt and pepper in a separate bowl.
Add the ground beef and mix with your hands until well combined. To make meatballs, take a piece of hamburger mixture the size of a golf ball or smaller. Roll between hands forming into a uniform ball.





To cook meatballs, place in a skillet until browned on each side. Continue to cook until no longer pink. Or cook in a 13 x 9 or cookie sheet in the oven. Meatballs can also be cooked in the crock pot.

You can add whatever seasoning or spices you like to the meatballs.

Barbecue Meatballs

Ingredients:

• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/3 Cup milk
• 1/4 cup Barbecue sauce
• ¼ Cup crushed stuffing
• 1 Tablespoon onion soup mix or dried onions
• 1 1/4 lbs. Ground beef

Directions:
Combine all ingredients together and shape into meatballs. Flash freeze on cookie sheet then add to a Ziploc bag. When ready to bake, cook at 350 degrees until done about 30 minutes depending on size. Serve with cooked noodles or with a fresh vegetable on the side.

Easy Mini Meatball Muffins

For a quick way to make mini meatballs. Make your favorite or the basic meatloaf recipe above, roll into balls and place in mini muffin tins or regular size works for larger meatballs. Cook for 13-20 minutes, depending on the size, or until done. Flash freeze and place in freezer bag. When ready to eat warm up in oven or microwave in a safe dish. Meatballs also freeze well so make a large batch to have on hand in the freezer.

Meatballs Can be Added To:

• Soups, try this meatball soup recipe.
  
• Create a meatball sandwich and top with spaghetti sauce
• Serve with cooked egg noodles and a mushroom sauce
  
• As an appetizer on a toothpick
• In lasagna
• Try stuffing a cube of cheese inside a meatball
  
• Meatball Rolls
  
• Place in a crock pot or cook in a skillet with a homemade sauce  such as a sweet and sour sauce, barbecue sauce or tomato sauce.

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Make teaching easier with our activities and recipes compiled in one easy to read format.

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Readers How to Make Meatballs Recipes

Meatballs Florentine

by Christy Agnew (Stephenville, TX) Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs or crackers
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 egg
• 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
• pepper to taste
• 1 can Italian style tomatoes
• 2 fresh tomatoes
• 1 Cup (1/2 pkg.) frozen chopped spinach or 1/2 bag baby spinach
• 2 Cups prepared spaghetti sauce
• 1/4 Cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
• Cooked whole wheat or regular spaghetti to serve 6

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine beef, bread crumbs or crackers, garlic, egg, soy sauce, and pepper. Mix together thoroughly. Use a small ice cream style scoop with a scraper button; like the one sold by Pampered Chef; to make perfect meatballs. Place single layer of meatballs into a pan and bake at 350 degrees until cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove from pan and place on a double layer of paper towels to drain.

In a large, deep skillet or sauce pan with a lid, combine the canned tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, and spaghetti sauce. Allow the tomatoes to cook down, then add the spinach. Add cooked meatballs and simmer on low heat until spinach is wilted and tomatoes are tender. Place cooked, drained pasta into the sauce and stir to coat. Serve with a small amount of fresh grated Parmesan on top.

Meatball and Ravioli Soup

Ingredients:

• 6 oz. ground turkey or ground beef
• 1 egg
• 3 Tablespoons bread crumbs
• Parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 6 Cup chicken broth
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 potato peeled and diced
• Frozen or fresh ravioli or pasta, optional

Combine ground meat, egg, bread crumbs and parsley in bowl. Mix together and form into small meatballs. Set aside in the fridge while preparing the rest of this cold weather recipe. In saucepan add broth and carrots. Bring to a boil and add meatballs. Cook 5 minutes. Add ravioli. Simmer until raviolis are cooked. Make sure meatballs are done by cutting one in half or using a meat thermometer. Serve soup sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

Italian Meatball Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 1/2 Cups onion, diced
• 2-3 medium carrots, diced
• 1 15 oz. can crushed or diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 15 oz. can Italian tomato sauce
• 6 Cups beef broth
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
• 3/4 Cup small dry pasta shapes
• 2 T. fresh parsley, chopped
• Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, add ground beef, garlic, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning,
4. Make a well in the center and the beaten egg.
5. Sprinkle mixture with cheese, flour, salt, and pepper.
6. Mix to combine ingredients. Avoid overmixing.
7. With your hands or a small scoop, shape the meat mixture into small balls (1/2 inch to 3/4 inch in size).
8. Bake 8-10 minutes or until meatballs are lightly browned.
9. While the meatballs are baking, heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
10. Add onion, celery and carrots. 
11. Cook 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once carrots are slightly softened, add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper, to taste.
12. Bring to a simmer. Add meatballs and pasta. Simmer uncovered 10-12 minutes or until pasta and vegetables are tender.
13. Top with parsley. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Pork Meatballs with Pasta

Check out the pork meatball recipe added to pasta.

Fun Recipes with Meatballs

Mini Meatball Hamburgers

by Casa Di Bertacchi

• 26 (1 lb) frozen Casa Di Bertacchi fully cooked meatballs
• 1 cup ketchup
• 3 tbs Dijon honey mustard
• 26 (2-inch) rolls, sliced in half horizontally
• 1 1/2 cups sweet pickle relish

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place meatballs in a 8 x 8 or 9 x 9-inch pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. In a small bowl, combine ketchup and mustard. Place a heaping teaspoon of ketchup mixture on the bottom of roll. Place a meatball on top. Follow with a rounded teaspoon of pickle relish. Place top half of roll over top. Repeat for remaining meatballs and rolls. Serve immediately on a large platter.


Create some fun meatballs just by adding candy eyes and carrot noses.


Try this Beefy Mac and Cheese Recipe


Make a homemade pizza and top with meatballs.

Share your Meatball Recipe

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