Meatball Question

[Jamauk]

Ok, I admit - I've never made homemade meatballs before in my life. I always buy them frozen. So, my question is two part:

1. I need a recipe - any TNT's out there? (we'll be making meatball hoagies)

2. Do you brown/cook them before you freeze them, or do you freeze them raw?

Thanks!!

[Peaches]

I learned to make meatballs from my Italian mother. To 1 lb ground beef I add:

a finely diced onion and pepper (if you have a food processor use that, because it needs to be really fine)
1 clove of garlic, crushed (or use garlic powder)
1/2tsp to 1tsp oregano (or a big pinch - that's how my mom does it)
1 egg
a handful of breadcrumbs
if you have a bit of parmigiano cheese, you can add some of that too.

Brown them in olive oil, drain on paper towels and then either put into freezer bags and freeze or use in your recipe.

If you're going to eat them immediately, plunk them in your sauce and let them simmer for 30 minutes or so to ensure that they are cooked all the way through.

[Becci]

My recipes very similar but I use the crushed garlic you buy in a jar. I add grated carrot to it (adds a vegie and also bulks out the meat). I also add some tomato chutney or tomato sauce and worchestershire sauce too.
I would suggest freezing them already cooked, and on a tray so they don't stick together. This way you can just add them to your sauce frozen and they will heat through in the 30 minutes you would normally simmer them for. I also dry bake them (sprayed with a little cooking spray oil) in the oven. Much less fuss and healthier too. Bake them for about 20 minutes or so (will depend on size - I make about walnut size ones) at about 350F.

[MVS0122]

I cook them first and then freeze them; I've tried it the other way but as you thaw them they don't seem to retain their shape as well.

[Daisygirl]

I cook them and then freeze them as well - they will stick together the other way, plus it is a really nice quick easy meal for you if they are already cooked.
Two different meats gives a delicious flavor and depth.

1 package of onion soup mix
1 pound of lean ground beef
1 pound of lean ground chicken or pork
1/2 cup of fine bread crumbs
1 egg
(sometimes I also add 1/2 cup of thawed finely chopped frozen spinach - drain all the liquid out first and it just looks like flecks of parsley - the kids will never know!)

Mix this concotion together and be careful not to overmix - it makes them tough. Bake at 350 until done (about 40 minutes or so). If I am cooking spaghetti sauce I put the raw meatballs carefully in the sauce and cook them that way.

Good luck with your experiment - once you go homemade you will NEVER go back to frozen.

[pammy]

Just made 6 dozen of them yesterday. I used this recipe. To that I added some worchestershire and a bit of leftover onion soup mix I had, came out good.

I cooked them thoroughly, drained, cooled and then froze them on a thin cookie sheet seperately, then bagged them so they wouldn't stick together. Love how easy they are to make a meal, I plan on using some of these recipes very soon.

Best of luck!!!

[nancycg56]

I always bake my meatballs ~ ne need to add more fat You can also make these tiny, bake the same way, and serve in your favorite sauce for an appetizer.

Here is my recipe:

Nancy's Easy Meatballs
4-6 servings

1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
salt and pepper

1. Mix all ingredients together and shape into balls ~ about the size of a golfball.

2. Brown the meatballs by placing in a shallow baking dish and baking at 350º for 15 minutes until golden brown.

3. Place hot meatballs into sauce and let simmer while your pasta cooks.

4. Here's how I freeze the meat spheres ~ I make them up and cook them as above. I let them cool a bit, place on a cookie sheet in the freezer and when they are frozen, transfer to a ziplock. I take out the amount I need for dinner and put them in a pan with a jar of sauce (or more depending on the number I am cooking) and let them simmer for 30 minutes at least ~ no need to defrost them first ~ until they are cooked! Very simple!

[foxxyroxie]

This is my recipe. It makes a huge batch, because I figure if I'm going to get my hand dirty and I'm going to have to sit and roll this 'buggers' out, I'm going to sit down and do a lot of them. Besides, they NEVER last long around this crowd.

KIM'S MEATBALLS

5 lb. ground beef
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup oatmeal
1 pkg onion soup mix or 1 medium onion, finely chopped
2-3 cloves minced garlic
Black pepper to taste
2 tsp. (or to taste) Seasoned salt or Goya Adobo seasoning

Mix all ingredients with clean hands. Shape into meatballs. Brown meatballs in skillet on top of stove or place on cookie sheet and bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes, turning after 15 minutes.
NOTE: This recipe makes a large party-size batch or a two-meal batch where you use half and freeze the rest. To use, place 'freshf or thawed meatballs in pan or crockpot and add them to your favorite store bought or homemade BBQ sauce, sweet and sour sauce (add pineapple chunks and diced green pepper) or gravy. Bake at 350F for about 30-45 minutes or cook in crockpot on high till sauce is hot and bubbly and meatballs are hot.

[cherrie79]

Easy and delicious.

2 lbs ground beef
1 package Stove top Stuffing or generic
2 eggs to bind

Roll them, brown them and then put them in the sauce to finish cooking.

[cheles2kids]

I've made meatballs in the past but they've never turned out very well.

All of these recipes sound great. I love how some of you have given directions on the best way to freeze them!

Thanks for the great thread and all the wonderful recipes ladies!

Michelle

[sdrjeolsen]

I learned to make meatballs from my Italian mother. To 1 lb ground beef I add:

a finely diced onion and pepper (if you have a food processor use that, because it needs to be really fine)
1 clove of garlic, crushed (or use garlic powder)
1/2tsp to 1tsp oregano (or a big pinch - that's how my mom does it)
1 egg
a handful of breadcrumbs
if you have a bit of parmigiano cheese, you can add some of that too.

Brown them in olive oil, drain on paper towels and then either put into freezer bags and freeze or use in your recipe.

If you're going to eat them immediately, plunk them in your sauce and let them simmer for 30 minutes or so to ensure that they are cooked all the way through.

I use just about the same recipe, but I add a protion of ground pork sausage for a little kick and about 1/4 cup of milk. I combine the milk and egg and then soak the breadcrumbs and spices in that, then add the rest and mix well. Let us know how they turn out.

[HappyMama]

My recipe is similar to these and I bake them also and freeze. I make about 4 dozen at a time , then use for soups, subs, homemade spaghetti , and clazones later. Let us know how yours turn out.

[coltsmama]

another sauce that my family loves is ..

1 medium jar grape jelly and 1 jar chili sauce mix together and simmer meatballs in crockpot or stove.

It's kind of like a sweet and sour sauce , goes over very well at family functions! Those little tiny sausages are good in this sauce too.