Spaghetti and meatballs are one of my favorites, and I still is. They are always in our monthly rotations because they are easy to make. In just 30 minutes, your meatballs can be ready to feast on, and you can eat them in various servings.
This is why I like to have a good portion in my freezer. With meatballs, you have no problem with leftovers as you can preheat them, and they’ll still come out tasting like when you just made them.
So how can you whip up some homemade meatballs? Let’s find out.
Ingredient
To make some of the most delicious meatballs, here are the ingredients you will need:
Ground beef: Depending on what you love, you can use about 80 percent lean beef and 20 percent ground pork. While it won’t get your meatball all greasy, it still helps them retain some fat to keep them moist. Alternatively, you can add half beef and half sausage. The choice is yours!
Egg: The egg acts as a binder to keep the meat mixture together. Whisk the egg before mixing it with the beef.
Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumb functions as an absorber. It helps absorb the meat juice and keeps them juicy and flavourful inside. That way, when you preheat your meatballs, they still maintain their juiciness and don’t get tough.
Freshly chopped onions or powdered ones are okay if you don’t have fresh ones.
Parmesan cheese: Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for flavor.
Fresh garlic or garlic powder
Parsley: Though optional, add them to give your meatball a slightly peppery taste and make your meal more vibrant.
Salt and pepper: To elevate the taste.
How to Cook Homemade Meatballs?
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and stir them together. You can add a tablespoon of milk to increase its moisture.
Scoop the meat from the bowl and make it into balls. Forming a one-inch or one-and-a-half-inch ball. Note that the bigger your meatball, the more time it takes to cook.
Place the meatball on a baking sheet and bake for about 17 to 29 minutes. Or until it reaches your desired brownness and the middle is no longer pink. You can check for doneness with an instant meat thermometer.
Always flip meatballs halfway through cooking to ensure all the sides get cooked.
Serve with your favorite sauce. Marinara sauce is good, just mix it in and serve it with pasta.
Pro Cooking Tips
Here are some pro tips to help cook your meatballs to perfection.
- If you love to dig on Hawaiian or cranberry meatballs. Slow-cook the meat balls in a cooker.
- Never overmix your meatball as it makes the meat tough.
- Use a cookie or ice cream scoop to measure. It will help keep your meatball size equal and make them cook evenly.
- When the meatball size is not even, some get cooked faster than others, which makes them dry.
- Flip meatballs halfway through for even cooking so the bottom doesn’t burn.
Can You Freeze Leftover Meatballs?
Yes, you can freeze meatballs leftovers. Just leave them to cool and transfer to a clean baking sheet and freeze them for an hour.
When they’re hard, transfer into a Ziploc bag air freezer container. You can leave them in the freezer for up to three months.
Wrap Up!
Meatballs are easy to make, and knowing you can bake them in the oven or air fryer makes it all the easier.
Plus, you can cook enough to last you a long time. I love that you can place them in the freezer for later use. And when you want them, all you should do is simmer them with your favorite sauce and eat them with paste, mashed potatoes, etc.
Meet Natalie P. Williams, the editor-in-chief of fryerly.com. With a background in journalism and a passion for healthy eating, Natalie has built the blog into a trusted source for air fryer cooking tips, tricks, and recipes.
