how to make meatballs a main course

How do you make classic Meatballs?

Mar 02, 2022 · How to Make Meatballs 1: Prep the Breadcrumbs. Grate the bread or pulse into crumbs in a food processor. In a small bowl toss the breadcrumbs... 2: Combine the Ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, pork, veal, beef, Parmesan, parsley, salt, onion,... 3: Shape the Meatballs. Using ...

What makes a good meatball?

1. Season minced beef with salt and pepper and roll into 12-15 meatballs. Brown meatballs in a pan over high heat. 2. Transfer pre-cooked meatballs into a slow cooker. 3. Combine honey with apricot jam, ketchup, soy sauce and garlic. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. 4. Pour the glaze over meatballs, cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours.

Can you make meatballs in advance?

May 26, 2020 · Frozen meatballs and a jar of sweet-and-sour sauce make this microwave meal a last-minute lifesaver when racing against the clock. The flavorful sauce is dressed up with a hint of garlic and nicely coats the colorful mixture of meatballs, carrots, green pepper and onion. —Ivy Eresmas, Dade City, Florida

Are meatballs made with raw meat?

Directions Prepare Meatball Mixture Option One: Baked Meatballs Option Two: Cook Meatballs on Stovetop Storing

What goes good with meatballs for dinner?

What goes with meatballs instead of pasta?

Should you fry meatballs before putting in sauce?

Is it better to sear or bake meatballs?

Can you fry meatballs?

Can meatballs be healthy?

How do you keep meatballs from falling apart?

Why are my meatballs mushy?

How do I get my meatballs to stick together?

How long should you bake meatballs at 350?

Should I use oil to brown ground beef?

What is the best way to Brown meatballs?

More About This Recipe

Baking, instead of pan frying, these meatballs allows you to speed up prep time and work on the rest of the meal while they’re cooking. Use the baking time to create a first-course antipasto platter of meats and cheeses.

Questions & Answers

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Get Nicole's recipe for Best Easy Meatballs

"Full of flavor from Italian herbs, Parmesan cheese, and a blend of ground round and Italian sausage, these meatballs have a nice crust thanks to a bit of time in the oven before they're slow-simmered in marinara sauce. They're the perfect complement to Sunday spaghetti!" —NicoleMcmom

Nicole's top tips for making easy meatballs

Small pieces. Make sure to mince or grate the onion and garlic so the pieces are very small and uniform. You don't want big chunks in your meatball.

The Ground Meat

You can use any ground meat or mix of ground meat you like. My personal favorite is a blend of ground beef and pork. I’ve also done just ground beef and just pork. Ground lamb, turkey, chicken, veal, or buffalo are all also fair game.

Breadcrumb & Milk Binder

One trick to making sure meatballs are totally tender once they’re cooked is to use a binder. Here, we’re soaking breadcrumbs in a little milk until the bread becomes soggy, then mixing that right into the meat. This binder (aka panade) helps add moisture to the meatballs and also prevents the meat proteins from shrinking and becoming tough.

Avoid Overworking the Meat

Another trick to tender meatballs is not overworking the meat — mix the meat with the binder and other ingredients just until they’re combined. I also recommend using your hands for this step; since you can actually feel when things are mixed, you’re less likely to overwork the meat.

Roasting vs. Simmering the Meatballs

Last but not least, we should talk about how to cook the meatballs! You have two options: roasting them or simmering them in a sauce.

Ingredients

1/3 cup of honey#N#¼ cup of apricot jam#N#½ cup of ketchup#N#2 tbsps. of soy sauce#N#3 garlic cloves, minced#N#500 g (1 pound) of minced beef#N#A pinch of chili flakes and chopped green onion for serving.

Instructions

1. Season minced beef with salt and pepper and roll into 12-15 meatballs. Brown meatballs in a pan over high heat.#N#2. Transfer pre-cooked meatballs into a slow cooker.#N#3. Combine honey with apricot jam, ketchup, soy sauce and garlic. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.#N#4. Pour the glaze over meatballs, cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours.

Think outside the spaghetti bowl! We've got meatball recipes from around the world for just about every course and occasion

Think outside the spaghetti bowl! We've got meatball recipes from around the world for just about every course and occasion.

Spaghetti Squash Meatball Casserole

One of our favorite comfort food dinners is spaghetti and meatballs. We’re crazy about this lightened-up, healthier version featuring so many veggies. The same beloved flavors with more nutritious ingredients! — Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas

Taco Meatball Ring

While it looks complicated, this attractive meatball-filled ring is really very easy to assemble. My family loves tacos, and we find that the crescent roll dough is a nice change from the usual tortilla shells or chips. There are never any leftovers. —Brenda Johnson, Davison, Michigan

French Onion Soup with Meatballs

I got the idea for how to make this soup after I went to a brewhouse restaurant that put ale in their gravy. I make this every time the weather starts to cool down in the fall—it's comfort food for the soul. —Crystal Holsinger, Surprise, Arizona

Meatball Flatbread

As amazing as this flatbread is, you would never know how unbelievably easy it is to make. And hiding veggies in the sauce is a great trick, especially if you have kids. For a crunchy crust, bake the naan in the oven until slightly crispy on top before adding the tomato puree. —Kimberly Berg, North Street, Michigan

Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

Pack on the flavor with just a few ingredients! These meatballs hit the spot. —Mary Poninski, Whittington, Illinois

Tangy Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs

A tangy sauce, combined with green pepper and pineapple, tranforms Ruther’s pre-made meatballs into a delightful main dish served over rice. —Ruth Andrewson, Leavenworth, Washington

How do you serve meatballs?

You can enjoy meatballs a variety of ways. Here are a few suggestions for you:

Making meatballs ahead of time & storing tips

Meatballs are excellent for making in advance and keep well once made. Here’s everything you need to know about making them in advance, freezing and storing them once made.

How to Make Tender Juicy Meatballs

This is our go-to meatball recipe. It’s quick to make, calls on ingredients we always have on hand and the recipe guarantees juicy, tender and flavorful meatballs. The recipe calls for one pound of ground meat. The meat you choose is up to you. We love using a combination of ground pork and ground turkey.

Adam and Joanne's Tips

Cooking tips for using a slow cooker, pressure cooker (Instant Pot), air fryer and convection oven are in the article.

Did We Say Added Ingredients?

Yes, we did say added ingredients. A meatball made of just meat would definitely be fine, but adding some kind of texture and variety to your meatball makes the whole eating process much more enjoyable. A bit of toasty-ness and crunch from some chopped roasted nuts or some sweetness and chew from bits of dried fruit are exactly what we like to see.

A Tester Patty Is Never a Bad Idea

You can’t eat a scoop of raw meat to see if it’s properly seasoned. We would certainly not advise that. So to make sure you’ve added enough kosher salt to the mix, pinch off a little piece of your meatball mixture, form it into a patty, and crisp it in a hot pan.

And Then You Cook Them

But how? There are different methods for getting those meatballs cooked through, and each is meant for a particular set of circumstances. If you have hours to kill on a Sunday afternoon, browning your meatballs and then braising them in tomato sauce is a noteworthy option.

Oh, look at that. Some meatballs

The quickest, most fuss-free and delicious meatball recipe that ever was or will be.

What Are Meatballs?

A meatball is, well, a ball of ground meat. Eggs and breadcrumbs are usually used to bind the meat together, while cheese and seasonings are used to add flavor.

A Note on Hygiene

Making meatballs the right way requires you to get your hands dirty. You’ll be up close and personal with raw meat as you combine ingredients and as you roll the balls.

How to Make Meatballs

Ground meat. Traditional meatballs are made with ground beef, but, these days, the sky’s the limit. Whether you go with turkey, pork, chicken, or even faux-meat is up to you.

5. Serve tossed with pasta and sauce

If you’re making spaghetti and meatballs, toss the cooked balls with pasta and sauce (use tongs to transfer them—they’ll be hot).

Complete Your Meal

Complement your piping hot meatballs with a flavorful Italian feast. Here are few of our favorite recipes, from spaghetti to cannolis: