Spaghetti with Meatballs is one of my go-to dinners these days. It’s a fast and easy meal everyone will eat. It’s even faster for me to prepare when I have premade meatballs on hand. A Friend gave me a good recipe for Basic Meatballs from her Cuisine at Home magazine that are perfect to bake and freeze, then thaw and use when I need a quick dinner.
Basic Meatball Recipe
Stir together:
1 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup low sodium beef broth
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
3 eggs, beaten
2 T. dried oregano
1 T. garlic, minced
1 T. kosher salt
1 T. ground black pepper
2 t. dried basil–or a bunch of fresh!!!!
1 t. crushed red pepper flakes
Pinch nutmeg
Add; Shape:
2 lb. ground chuck
Cover bottom of pan with:
1 cup low sodium beef broth
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. Stir together all ingredients except ground meat in a large bowl.
3. Add the ground chuck and mix together thoroughly.
4. Shape the mixture into balls about 2″in diameter.
5. Coat a baking sheet or shallow roasting pan with nonstick cooking spray. Space the meatballs so that they are not crowded together.
6. Cover the bottom of the pan with beef broth.
7. Bake for 25 minutes or until the meatballs are just cooked through. Reserve pan juices for sauce.
Tips:
Easy Ways To Scoop
Make Meatballs a Consistent Size when you use a melon baller, ice cream scoop, or two spoons to form an oval which can then be shaped into a ball.
How To Freeze Meatballs
Cook meatballs ahead and then freeze by placing them on a baking sheet in the freezer. Once frozen, remove and store in a freezer bag.
Simple Serving Suggestions
Spaghetti & Meatballs:
Serve with noodles and your favorite pasta sauce.
Meatball Sub Sandwiches:
Slice 6 inch hoagie buns and fill with hot meatballs & tomato sauce. Hint: Bake sliced buns covered with mozzarella cheese in a 450 degree oven until slightly browned and cheese melts, then add hot meatballs and sauce.
Do you have any tips about making meatballs? What are your favorite ways to serve them? Let us know in the comments section below.
