Everyone Loves Meatballs
I’m not sure I’ve ever met anyone who dislikes meatballs. Even my friends who are vegetarians usually like – yes – vegetarian meatballs. Sounds a bit unusual, maybe, but you can actually make them from lentils, chickpeas, soybeans, oatmeal, quinoa and brown rice. The list of interesting, plant-based ingredients goes on and on. For this blog, I’m going to stick to meatballs made from meat and I hope to expand your horizons on all the possibilities.
Have you Tried Baked Meatballs?
Instead of frying, I have a really easy recipe that I use to make baked meatballs. As you may already know, baking is a lighter and healthier cooking process than frying because in baking you miss all the fat and calories of the frying oil. You also have less cleanup – yay.
With meatballs, the neat thing is that they can be made from ground beef, ground turkey breast, or lean sausage – and then baked. And, each one has a unique flavor but can use the same, basic recipe. As you mix the meatball ingredients together, it’s up to you if you want to add a chopped up fresh herb, extra chopped up onions, or a fancy spice. In my kitchen, a handful of chopped parsley is a must-add, and for you it might be cilantro or basil.
Easy Baked Meatball Recipe
Here is my easy-to-do recipe that will get you going with tasty and light meatballs. After they’re cooked and cooled, you can freeze these meatballs for 1-3 months so I recommend you make a double batch!
Lean Little Meatballs Makes 6 servings, 18 meatballs
1 pound Ground beef, sirloin, 90% lean – or substitute ground turkey breast or lean sausage*
1/8 teaspoon Salt
1/8 teaspoon Cayenne pepper (optional)
½ teaspoon Garlic powder
½ teaspoon Onion powder
½ cup Oatmeal, dry uncooked
1 large Egg
½ cup Nonfat, skim milk
*Note: Leave out salt ingredient if you make a sausage meatball because it will be salty enough.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Measure all ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
- With very clean hands, mix ingredients together. Or, use a big spoon.
- Get out a baking sheet pan and cover it with parchment paper, to make cleanup easier.
- Roll meat mixture into 1-1 ½ inch balls and place on the parchment-covered pan in a single layer, one inch apart.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Let little meatballs cool on pan.
Nutrition per 3 meatball serving: 190 calories
Meatballs in a Balanced Meal
Eating nutritionally-balanced is a smart way to do dinner. So, when you make meatballs, be sure to add a whole grain and a non-starchy vegetable to your plate, too. The beef meatballs go great with whole wheat spaghetti, Marinara sauce, and broccoli. The turkey meatballs go great with brown and/or wild rice and snow peas. The sausage meatballs go great with a small ear of corn-on-the-cob and a leafy green salad. Take the good nutrition leap forward by checking out my Facebookdaily nutrition tips. Or, better yet, invest in your family’s nutrition and health with my free report about easy weekday meals!
What’s your memory of eating meatballs for dinner or at a family party?
FAQs
Oven-baking allowed more fat to lost during the cooking process , compared to the other cooking methods, and it could not be reabsorbed by the meatball as a hard crust had already formed.
Does market basket have meatballs? ›
Find it in the Meat Department.
Are meatballs better baked or fried? ›
Baking will result in meatballs with a crunchy exterior, though the caramelisation achieved from frying will be superior. Baked meatballs take the least amount of effort, as you'll only need to turn them once or twice throughout the cook and you can make a larger batch at once.
How many meatballs are in a serving of meatballs? ›
If you are making 1-ounce meatballs for a main course you should make 6 meatballs per person. If you have some big eaters at the party I suggest making 6-10 bite sized meatballs per person. As you can see, the number of meatballs you need depends on their size.
Are meatballs healthy or unhealthy? ›
Meatballs are often high in sodium and fat, but they are also a good source of protein. Choose meatballs made with leaner meats or eat them in moderation.
Is it healthier to bake or fry food? ›
Baking is a healthy option, as you generally need little or no oil – for example, chicken, fish and vegetables can be baked in greaseproof paper or foil parcels with a little water or reduced-salt stock. However, sometimes large amounts of oil or fat are used, such as when roasting potatoes.
Is Market Basket owned by Kroger? ›
Kroger-associated chain (1930–1982)
The chain had 14 stores in the Pasadena area by 1934. The chain had 42 locations in 1959 including as far as Santa Ana and San Bernardino. Kroger bought the chain in 1963 when Market Basket annual sales were $121 million (~$923 million in 2023).
Are supermarket meatballs healthy? ›
They're not just tasty—packed with protein, iron, and Vitamin B12, frozen meatballs are also a convenient option for busy weeknight dinners. However, like many foods you find in the freezer aisle, frozen meatballs can be high in sodium due to salt acting as a preservative and flavor enhancer.
What is in the Market Basket? ›
A market basket is a selected mix of goods and services that tracks the performance of a specific market or segment. A popular market basket is the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which provides an estimate for inflation based on the average change of price paid for a specific basket of goods and services over time.
Is spaghetti and meatballs junk food? ›
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Thanks to the iron and protein from the beef, lycopene from the tomato sauce and energy-producing carbs from the pasta, this dish a healthy trifecta. If you stick to modest portions and lean beef, you can enjoy its benefits without overdoing it.
Add Milk for Moisture
A little bit of milk will add moisture to your meatballs. (Many people think it's the eggs that add the moisture, but their role is to bind the meat, breadcrumbs, cheese and herbs.)
Should eggs be beaten for meatballs? ›
Moisten them with milk or water and let them stand until they absorb all the liquid. 3) beat the eggs separately before adding them to your meat mixture so it combines better. 6) If you prefer to bake instead of fry them, chill the meatballs for at least an hour before baking.
What is a good meatball size? ›
Tips. Make sure the meatballs are the same size so they all cook evenly. A standard meatball is 1 inch in diameter, which is a good size for most uses. To be more precise, weigh the meat on a kitchen scale; each meatball should be about 1 ounce or between 26 and 30 grams.
Why do my meatballs fall apart? ›
Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together. Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.
Can you drop raw meatballs in sauce? ›
Yes. If you have a tomato sauce already cooked, you can add it to a slow cooker and place in your uncooked meatballs. You can also add some Italian sausage which go great with meatballs and pasta.
What are the health benefits of baking instead of frying? ›
Below are some of the health benefits of oven-baked food.
- Baked foods are low in fat. Just a little oil is needed to cook food in an oven, as opposed to immersing it in oil when frying it. ...
- Baked foods have a richer taste and better texture. ...
- Baked foods retain more nutrients.
Why baked and roasted food is a healthy alternative to fried food? ›
Exposure to high levels of these carcinogens can lead to heart diseases and cancer. On the other hand, baking requires little or no added oil, thus does not cause any reaction in foods, making them healthier. Heating oil at high temperatures and deep frying it with starchy foods can lead to oxidation of oils.
Is frying meat in a pan healthy? ›
Pan frying is a method that requires lower temperatures and incorporates monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, canola oil or avocado oil. This is a healthier alternative since it requires cooking with more nutritious oils at lower temperatures.
Are meatballs better the longer you cook them? ›
Giving the meatballs enough time to cook is essential, but if they are left to soak up the sauce for too long they'll turn squishy. Your meatballs should be fork-tender, but not soggy. But things can go the other way too; poorly cooked meatballs can come out of the pan dry as opposed to juicy.