Mostly just the Meatball

Ground Chuck and Chive Meat Ball 

If you think Meatballs are just for Spaghetti, keep reading.

This post is about Meatballs and their variations. One of the challenging things I find about blogging is expressing how many ways we can spruce up our meals in a single post. I've used this post to show you how to change things up. If you are still learning to cook, or, you  just get stuck in a rut and need new ideas, this is a good post to read. I've included the spice blends and optional variations for use with each recipe, at the bottom of this post.

I'm a big believer in variety and I have a husband who can get pretty finicky if he feels he's eating the same thing all the time. We also have a budget too, ground meat is more cost effective usually.

I'll use this post to write out a healthier way to make them, a few variations of meatball recipes and ways to change things up for your meals. I've done this to show you just how versatile they are as a dish. You can play with the flavours, sauces, pasta styles and sides to create very unique and different flavours.

I have a couple recipes written out already, one includes a technique for stuffing a meatball.





Those posts are here:

Olive and Sun-dried Tomato Meatballs
Spiced Pork Meatballs and Fettuccine

You can check them out for ideas. More will follow.

Baking Meatballs

I love Meatballs, it's a quick easy way to make a meal. Traditionally when I grew up our meatballs were made of ground beef and served with Pasta and Tomato sauce. As I got older, and began experiencing new foods from around the world, I realized you can do so much more.

Italian Pork Meatballs

I bake all of my meatballs as a general rule. Oven temperature on these is 350 F.

Depending on the size of the meatballs, cooking times vary.

Large, 2 1/2 to 3" in Diameter, 30 - 35 minutes.
Medium, 1 1/2" to 2" in Diameter,  20 - 25 minutes.
Small 1" in Diameter, 20 Minutes or less.

Depending on what I feel like the day I make them, I may make 1  large Meat Ball as I did with the Ground Chuck and Chive, image above, or will divide them into smaller portions.

Regardless of the size, turn them half way through cooking. The fat drips from the meatballs and leaves them a nice golden brown, but will drip to the bottom of the pan, so you aren't eating so much of it.


Meatballs as a Meal - Ideas

Spices for approximately 200 grams, or less than 1/2 a LB.
* Salt and Pepper to taste on all.

Pork Meat Balls, Basic

a small pinch of Cinnamon
1/8 TSP Cumin
1/8 TSP Coriander
1/4 TSP Garlic
1/4 TSP Basil
1/4 TSP Oregano

Serve with oven baked Carrots, Brussels Sprouts, Onion and Roughly Mashed Potatoes with Yam

**Optional, bake Spaghetti Squash and serve over top of the squash "noodles" with Sautéed Onion and Bell Peppers.

Italian Pork Meatballs

1/4 TSP Garlic
1/4 TSP Basil
1/4 TSP Oregano
1/8 TSP Toasted Fennel Seeds, Ground

Marinate and cook with a Roasted Garlic Sauce

Serve with Sautéed Onion and Lightly Sautéed Roma Tomatoes, Fennel, and Bell Peppers
Fettuccine Noodles or Penne Pasta, with or without a Tomato Sauce.

**Optional, make an Italian Meatball Submarine Sandwich* with the same ingredients above




Ground Beef Meatballs, Basic

1/4 TSP Garlic
1/4 TSP Basil
1/8 TSP Oregano
1/8 TSP Toasted Fennel Seeds, Ground
1/8 TSP Ground Chilli Flake

Serve with Sautéed Onion, Zucchini and Bell Peppers
Spaghetti Noodles or Rotini Pasta, with a Tomato Sauce.

**Optional, stuff cheese and crab meat into the meatball before baking. Serve with a White Wine Roux with the vegetables mentioned above.

Ground Beef Meatballs, Stroganoff 

1/4 TSP Garlic
1/4 TSP Marjoram
1/8 TSP Paprika

Sauté Onion and Mushroom,
Boil Egg Noodles, drain,
Add Sour Cream, Onions and Mushrooms, give it a light toss to mix flavours and serve Meatballs on top.

**Option, finely slice cabbage, onion and grate carrot, lightly sauté and serve the meat balls with a side of Sour Cream and paprika.

There you have it, 1 idea, with 4 recipes and 8 optional meals. You have to love Meatballs.

Turkey and Chicken can also be made into Meatballs. I make these differently and will include those in a separate post, the same with Vegetarian versions. I'm due to make a Vegetarian Dish soon.

I hope this post opens up some new ideas to any of you who might be looking to create something new with your Meatballs.

Happy Cooking and have a Great Day!

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