Certainly! Here’s the detailed recipe for Easy Oven Meatballs, along with various serving suggestions and tips for maximizing their versatility:
Easy Oven Meatballs
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: Approximately 96 small meatballs
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 6 cups fresh bread crumbs
- 3 pounds ground turkey
- 3 pounds ground pork
Instructions:
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Preheat Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
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Prepare Meatball Mixture:
- In a large bowl, combine milk, finely chopped onion, eggs, and salt. Stir well.
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Add Bread Crumbs:
- Stir in fresh bread crumbs and let the mixture stand for about 5 minutes to allow the crumbs to absorb the liquid.
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Incorporate Ground Meat:
- Add the ground turkey and ground pork to the breadcrumb mixture. Mix thoroughly using your hands until all ingredients are well combined.
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Shape Meatballs:
- Shape the mixture into small meatballs, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. This should yield about 96 meatballs.
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Bake Meatballs:
- Place the meatballs on baking pans lined with parchment paper or lightly greased. Ensure they are evenly spaced.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until they are cooked through. To check doneness, you can cut one meatball in half to ensure there is no pinkness inside.
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Cool and Store:
- Once baked, let the meatballs cool completely. You can freeze them individually on a cookie sheet, then transfer them to freezer bags for easy storage. This method allows you to take out as many meatballs as needed without thawing a large batch.
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Additional Tips:
- If your meat mixture yields more meatballs than your oven can accommodate at once, store the remaining mixture in the refrigerator until you can bake them.
- For a healthier option, bake the meatballs on a rack placed over a shallow pan to allow excess fat to drip away.
Serving Suggestions:
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Spaghetti and Meatballs:
- Serve with your favorite spaghetti sauce for a classic dish.
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Meatball Subs:
- Place meatballs on hoagie rolls, top with marinara sauce and cheese, and bake until cheese melts.
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Sweet and Sour Meatballs:
- Warm meatballs in a sweet and sour sauce and serve over steamed rice or as appetizers with toothpicks.
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Barbecue Meatballs:
- Simmer meatballs in barbecue sauce for a tangy twist, perfect for sandwiches or served over mashed potatoes.
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Creamy Mushroom-Shrimp Sauce:
- Combine cream of mushroom soup and cream of shrimp soup with milk, pour over baked meatballs, and bake until bubbly. Serve over rice or noodles.
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Crockpot Option:
- Cook the meatballs in a crockpot on low for about 8 hours. This method ensures they stay moist and flavorful, perfect for potlucks or parties.
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Hors d’oeuvres:
- Serve plain hot meatballs with various dipping sauces on a buffet table for a crowd-pleasing appetizer option.
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Custom Sauces:
- Experiment with different sauces such as pizza sauce, curry sauce, or teriyaki sauce to create unique meatball dishes.
Nutrition Information (Per Meatball):
- Calories: 39.6
- Total Fat: 2.5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Cholesterol: 17.7mg
- Sodium: 21.6mg
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0.1g
- Sugar: 0.1g
- Protein: 3.1g
Final Thoughts:
These Easy Oven Meatballs are not just simple to make but incredibly versatile, making them a staple for quick family meals or entertaining guests. Whether served traditionally with pasta or in creative ways like sandwiches or appetizers, they are sure to be a hit. Feel free to customize the seasoning and sauces to suit your taste preferences, and enjoy the convenience of having homemade meatballs ready to go from your freezer. With these recipes and ideas, you’ll never have to worry about spaghetti and meatballs turning into spaghetti with meat sauce again!
