meatballs Archives - Family Dinners

Easy Basil Pesto Pasta With Meatballs

Andrea + Stef — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 02:52:00 +0000

Easy basil pesto pasta with meatballs is a delicious and crowd pleasing meal the whole family enjoys. We love how easy this homemade pesto sauce comes together in only 10 minutes. This easy weeknight meal is very versatile and can be tossed with all your favorite noodles and meat. We used spinach and turkey meatballs to make this a healthy skillet meal but you can use Italian meatballs, chicken or shrimp if you prefer. Without doubt, this easy recipe for the best fettuccine pesto will be a huge hit with your family.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: quick and easy meal bursting with fresh Mediterranean flavors, that tastes great with chicken, meatballs and shrimp
Main Ingredients: fresh basil leaves, parmesan cheese, extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts, garlic cloves, pasta noodles, cooked meatballs and spices
Cooking Method: stovetop
Nutrients: packed with antioxidants, healthy fats and calcium
Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time and 20 minutes cook time
Pairs well with: fresh crunchy salad, garlic bread, Caprese salad, roasted vegetables
Special Equipment Needed: large pot or saucepan, skillet, food processor, kitchen tongs

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this pesto fettuccine recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this pesto pasta fettuccine recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Fettuccine With Pesto Ingredients

2 cups fresh basil leaves (packed)
½ cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
⅓ cup toasted pine nuts
1 tablespoon garlic (minced)
¼ teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or more to taste)
1 lb pasta noodles
25-30 cooked meatballs

Optional Garnish

chopped fresh basil and freshly gated parmesan cheese

Variations and Substitutions

Basil: Use fresh basil from a plant or freshly cut. Do not substitute dried basil. You can, however, substitute half or all of the basil for baby spinach, if you like.

Parmesan: In case you’re in a pinch, you can use grated parmesan from your refrigerated deli section. We don’t recommend using the grated parmesan you find on the shelves in the center aisles of your grocery store.

Nuts: We love pesto with pine nuts, however, you can substitute walnuts to make tasty basil walnut pesto. It really depends on your personal preference. Use walnut pesto the same way you’d use any pesto.

Pasta: As a matter of fact, there is no best pasta for pesto. Even though we used fettuccine for this recipe, you can use any pasta of your choice.

Meatballs: You can use store-bought meatballs or make your own. Any style of meatball works great with fettuccine pesto. Have you tired our Air Fryer Meatballs, Turkey Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs or Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs?

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you loved this homemade pesto fettuccine recipe, try our Chicken Pesto Calzone. You’ll love them because they are crispy and golden brown on the outside and stuffed with melty cheese, juicy chicken and tasty pesto.

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Food Processor — We are using a food processor to make the pesto, but a blender would work well too.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook pesto pasta with meatballs on the stovetop, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

COOK PASTA: Firstly, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, add salt and cook pasta according to package instructions. When the pasta is al dente, drain and set the hot pasta aside. Reserve starchy pasta water (¼ cup) if you want to add it to your pasta later with your pesto.

HEAT MEATBALLS: Then heat meatballs if they’ve been refrigerated or frozen.

STEP 1: Place basil, parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, salt and pepper into a food processor.

STEP 2: Blend the ingredients together until the basil and pine nuts are broken up into small pieces.

STEP 3: Afterwards, slowly add olive oil to food processor while pulsing.

STEP 4: Keep adding a little olive oil at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

STEP 5: In a warm skillet, heat the pesto a little bit. Then add drained pasta to your own pesto and toss. If needed, add ¼ cup of reserved pasta water to thin out the pesto. Afterwards, add the meatballs to the top of the fettuccine al pesto.

ENJOY: Finally, sprinkle freshly grated parmesan over the basil pesto pasta with meatballs and enjoy.

Stef says….

I love using this easy and scrumptious pesto for my Pesto Pasta Salad. This beautiful, flavorful, and easy to make, pasta salad brings a little bit of the Mediterranean to your table!

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love Italian inspired meatball dinners then you’ll love our Easy Baked Cheesy Meatball Sub Sandwich. This meatball stuffed sandwich bake is cheesy and full of flavor. Try pesto instead of marinara sauce for this perfect meal.

Make Ahead

Homemade pesto lasts for a about a week in the fridge. You can therefore prepare the sauce a couple of days ahead of time. Then store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best easy basil pesto pasta with meatballs.

Tip: Make sure to use fresh and bright green basil for your pesto.
Tip: Use high quality meatballs. Use your favorite frozen meatballs or make your own.
Tip: Thin out the pesto with leftover pasta water to get perfectly creamy pesto pasta.

What To Serve With Homemade Pesto Pasta with Meatballs

We love to eat easy basil pesto pasta with meatballs all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these tasty recipes:

Bread: Serve 10-minute pesto pasta with crusty bread or soft dinner rolls. Garlic French Bread is made with fresh parmesan cheese and store-bought French bread. If you have extra time make Pizza Dough Garlic Knots.

Salad: Pair this best pesto pasta recipe with a fresh salad. A green salad like our amazing Italian Salad or Chopped Asparagus Salad. Or even a Caprese Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil or Antipasto Salad.

Side Dish: This fettuccine pesto main dish would taste great with Roasted Vegetables, Parmesan Roasted Broccoli or Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus.

More Pasta Recipes

We are big fans of simple recipes for yummy weeknight pasta meals. They are quick, easy, comforting and oh so good. Here are some of our other favorite pasta dishes:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store homemade pesto pasta leftovers in an airtight container or ziploc bag for up to one week in the fridge.

Freeze: Store leftovers in a freezer ziploc bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 months.

Defrosting: Our favorite way to defrost fettuccine pesto leftovers is in the refrigerator overnight.

How To Reheat

You can reheat leftover basil pesto pasta with meatballs in the microwave the next day.

Andrea says….

I’m all about healthy eating right now and I’m pulling out my favorite healthy recipes that are full of bold flavor to keep me excited! This Pesto Chicken Wrap is super simple and such a quick and easy dish to make.

Common Questions

Can you add pasta water to your own pesto?

In case you find your pesto is sticky, you can mix your pesto with ¼ cup of the pasta water before mixing with your noodles. In case you didn’t save any pasta water, add some regular water.

What do you pair with homemade pesto sauce?

Pesto pairs naturally with cooked pasta, as a sauce on pizza or sandwiches, as a dressing on a salad or as a dip for garlic bread, for example. Additionally you can use it as a substitute for marinara sauce in a lasagna.

What flavors pair well with pesto?

Any dishes with similar ingredients (parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, basil) work well with the fresh flavors of pesto. You can also pair it well with cheese like mozzarella, for example. Pesto pairs especially well with grilled chicken or meatballs. Additionally, you can try it as a salad dressing with fresh tomatoes or dip for bread as well.

How can I use up easy pesto pasta leftovers?

In case you can’t eat all this fettuccine pesto try making it into another easy dinner. Try adding leftovers to a baking dish and then cover with fresh mozzarella slices. Bake at 350°F until the cheese is melted and any meat in your pasta is heated through again. Moreover, you can make a cold pesto pasta salad from the leftovers. Firstly, remove any leftover meat from the creamy pesto pasta. Then add sliced black olives, chunks of mozzarella, sliced grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, diced bell peppers or any other vegetables you want to add.

Easy Basil Pesto Pasta with Meatballs

Delicious pesto fettuccine pasta with meatballs makes a healthy and delicious meal for the whole family.

Course dinner

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword easy pesto pasta, easy pesto recipe, fettuccine and meatballs, homemade pesto, meatballs, pasta

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings people

Calories 540kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

large pot
Food Processor or blender
large skillet

Ingredients

Pesto Ingredients

2 cups fresh basil leaves packed
½ cup parmesan freshly grated
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
⅓ cup pine nuts
1 tablespoon garlic minced
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon pepper freshly ground

Pasta Ingredients

1 pound fettuccine pasta noodles
30 meatballs cooked

Instructions

Bring water to a boil in a stock pot or large saucepan. Follow pasta package instructions to cook noodles. When cooked, drain and set aside.
Heat meatballs if they've been refrigerated or frozen.
In a food processor, blend basil, parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, salt and pepper.
Slowly add olive oil to the food processor while pulsing.
In a warm skillet, toss pasta with pesto. Add meatballs on top of the pasta.
Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Notes

Optional: Substitute half the basil for spinach.
Optional: Substitute walnuts for pine nuts.
If your pesto is very thick, you can add a little more olive oil.
Use your favorite kind of meatball. We used turkey meatballs in this recipe.

Nutrition

The post Easy Basil Pesto Pasta With Meatballs appeared first on Family Dinners.

Meatball Stuffed Biscuits

Andrea + Stef — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 07:06:00 +0000

This easy recipe for mozzarella and meatball stuffed biscuits comes out absolutely delicious and can be baked in the oven or air fryer. Flaky layer biscuits are stuffed with juicy meatballs and melty cheese before being topped with a flavorful mixture of Italian herbs, garlic and salt. Serve these warm biscuits with meaty centers as a scrumptious appetizer, game day snack or fun weeknight dinner. For best flavor, dip these homemade biscuit bites into warm marinara sauce. Everyone will love this tasty crowd pleaser.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: fluffy biscuits filled with gooey melted cheese and tender meatballs, they are soft, flaky and most flavorful
Main Ingredients: canned biscuit dough, cooked meatballs, mozzarella cheese, olive oil, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic salt
Cooking Method: oven baked
Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time, 20 minutes cook time
Pairs well with: fresh green salad, pasta salad, warm marinara sauce, fries
Special Equipment Needed: pie pan, knife and cutting board, pastry brush

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this meatball stuffed biscuits recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making these garlicy biscuits with meatballs you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Meatball Stuffed Biscuits Ingredients

1 can Grands biscuit dough
16 pre-cooked meatballs
16 cubes of mozzarella
1 tablespoon olive oil
1-2 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ tsp garlic salt

Substitutions

Meatballs: Use one of our favorite meatball recipes: Italian Style Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs, Air Fryer Meatballs, Turkey Meatballs, Buffalo Chicken Meatballs. A bag of ready-made meatballs works in a pinch.

Mozzarella: Use fresh low moisture mozzarella cheese, such as cut up sticks of string cheese, thick deli slices mozzarella, or shredded mozzarella.

Biscuits: We like Grands by Pillsbury, however, any kind of refrigerated canned biscuits should work fine. In case you don’t have any canned biscuits at hand, you can also use refrigerated canned crescent dough or pizza dough.

Possible Variations

Add Veggies: Use your favorite vegetables like onions, black olives, mushrooms, or spinach.

Swap Cheeses: Provolone or swiss cheese would pair well.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this delicious mini meatball sandwich recipe, try our Meatball Calzones. You’ll love them because they are so easy to make and ready in no time. Switch up the pizza toppings and you’ll never eat the same version twice!

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Pie Pan — We are using a 9inch pie plate for this recipe. However, a square baking dish would work well too. Make sure to grease the baking dish with butter, oil, or cooking spray. If you don’t want to grease the pan, you could cut out a round sheet of parchment paper.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook meatball stuffed biscuits in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

PREPARE: Firstly, heat oven to 350ºF, then grease the bottom of a 9 inch pie dish using butter or non stick cooking spray.

SHAPE THE BISCUIT DOUGH: Open the canned biscuits, separate dough and cut each one in half. Then roll each half into a ball, and flatten it into a small circle.

ADD MOZZARELLA AND MEATBALL: Afterwards, place a piece of cheese and one delicious meatball into the center of each biscuit circle.

COVER AND ROLL BISCUITS: Pull the sides of the dough up and wrap dough around the cheese and juicy meatball. Roll each biscuit bite between your hands until it’s round.

PLACE IN DISH: Place each dough ball seam-side down in the greased baking dish. Afterward, brush biscuits with olive oil, if you like, before sprinkling the tops with parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt.

COOK: Bake for 20 minutes until the tops are golden brown. Finally, brush the tops with olive oil and serve with a cup marinara sauce!

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love juicy meatballs with melty cheese then you’ll love our Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders. These chicken meatball sliders are great for game day appetizers or a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

Make Ahead

You can prepare these yummy biscuit bites a couple of hours ahead of time. (Follow steps 1-7 of the recipe.) Then cover tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. That way there wont be any prep time left by the time you are ready to bake them, and dinner is ready in only 15 minutes.

Air Fryer Cooking Method

You can also cook your stuffed biscuits in the air fryer. Simply place meatball biscuit bites into the air fryer basket in a single layer so they are not touching. You might have to do two sets, depending on the size of your air fryer. Cook in the air fryer at 350ºF for 5-6 minutes. Remove from air fryer when the tops are a deep golden brown and they are baked through. See our Air Fryer 3 Cheese Bites, Air Fryer Pizza Bites or Air Fryer Breakfast Bites.

Andrea says….

These flaky biscuits are super easy. I like to make them ahead and store them in the fridge so when we’re ready to eat we just pop them into the oven. I love to add a little green side salad to make it a meal.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best mozzarella and meatball biscuit bites.

Tip: For best flavor, use your own homemade meatballs. For sake of ease, you can also use your favorite pre-made meatballs as well.
Tip: Make sure the biscuits are closed up so they don’t open and leak cheese all over.
Tip: Baste with melted butter, garlic butter or olive oil so the tops don’t dry out.

What To Serve With Meatball Stuffed Biscuits

We love to eat cheesy meatball-stuffed biscuits all by themselves as a Super Bowl snack or appetizer. But sometimes you need to serve them as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Other Appetizers: Combine mouthwatering meatball sub bombs with other scrumptious starters such as our Spinach Artichoke Dip, Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells or Hot Pizza Dip for your game day or Super Bowl recipes.

Salad: Pair these yummy meatball and mozzarella biscuits with a fresh salad. A green salad like our amazing Italian Salad or Strawberry Avocado Salad. Or even a Caprese Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.

Sides: Traditionally, gooey mozzarella cheese and meatball biscuits are served with a dip. Our homemade marinara sauce is the perfect addition to this yummy dish.

More Biscuit Bites Recipes

We love making these flaky treats with a cheesy or meaty surprise because they are so versatile. You can serve them as an appetizer, game day treat, after school snack or fun main course. Here are our other favorite stuffed biscuit recipes:

STORAGE TIPS

Refrigerate: Keep meatball sub bites in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freeze: Once they have cooled completely, place the meatball stuffed biscuits in a freezer safe container or freezer bag and freeze for 2 months.

Defrosting: Allow them to thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature.

How To Reheat

To reheat, place them back in the oven, air fryer, or microwave and heat until they are warmed all of the way through.

Common Questions

Are meatball stuffed biscuits gluten free?

For these to be gluten free, you would want to be sure you use a gluten free dough. Also, if you are making your own meatballs and are using breadcrumbs, those need to be gluten free as well.

What goes good with meatball subs?

Meatball stuffed little biscuits are in fact one of those foods that you could eat with just about anything. From salads, chips, and fries, to a side of veggies the choices are endless.

What are the best meatballs to use?

We like using our homemade meatballs, but this is a personal preference based on taste and the amount of time you have. We’ve made them from ground beef, pork, and chicken; all which turned out delicious!

Meatball Stuffed Biscuits Recipe

Mozzarella meatball biscuit balls are the best appetizer for parties and game days. They are also simple to make, which makes them an easy weeknight dinner idea.

Course Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword biscuits stuffed with mozzarella and meatballs, meatball biscuits, meatball stuffed biscuits, mozzarella and meatball biscuit bites

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings biscuit bites

Calories 116kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

pie dish
knife and cutting board
pastry brush

Ingredients

1 can Grands Biscuit Dough
16 cooked meatballs
16 cubes of mozzarella
1 tablespoon olive oil
1-2 tablespoons grated parmesan
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
½ teaspoon garlic salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°.
Grease the bottom of a 9 inch pie dish.
Separate the biscuits. Cut in half. Roll each half into a ball then, using your hands, flatten them into rounds.
Place a piece of mozzarella and a meatball in the center of the round.
Use your hands to pull the biscuit dough up to cover entire meatball. Seal the seams and roll the ball in your hands to make it round.
Place in the pie dish.
Sprinkle each bomb with some grated parmesan, Italian seasoning and garlic salt.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until each bomb is golden brown.
Brush tops with olive oil. Serve with marinara sauce.

Notes

For the mozzarella, use fresh mozzarella, cut up mozzarella string cheese or shredded mozzarella.
Optional: brush tops of bombs with olive oil before sprinkling with seasoning before cooking.
Use any type of meatball you enjoy.

Nutrition

The post Meatball Stuffed Biscuits appeared first on Family Dinners.

Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

Andrea + Stef — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 01:58:00 +0000

Easy mozzarella cheese stuffed meatballs are cheesy, tender, and bursting with flavor. We love them as our main course, but you can also make them into sliders, subs, calzones and even serve them with spaghetti noodles and homemade tomato sauce!

These cheesy meatballs make the absolute best entree when you smother them in our homemade marinara sauce. They are oven baked to perfection, but the other reason we really love these is that they take only 35 minutes to make, so time is never an issue. These are one of the best Italian meatballs, and your whole family will love them. Moreover, this cheesy meatballs recipe is usually a game day fave, along with buffalo chicken meatballs.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: tender and juicy pork and beef meatballs filled with melty mozzarella pieces, undoubtedly one of our absolute favorite meatball recipes
Main Ingredients: ground beef, ground pork (or pork sausage), breadcrumbs, milk, egg, parsley, parmigiano reggiano cheese, garlic, mozzarella cubes and spices
Cooking Method: oven baked
Nutrients: low carb meatballs that are a good source of protein
Cooking Time: 20 minutes prep time, 15 minutes cook time
Pairs well with: pasta, crusty bread, sandwiches
Diets: keto friendly
Special Equipment Needed: sheet pan, mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons, knife and cutting board, cookie scoop, instant read thermometer

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this easy mozzarella cheese stuffed meatballs recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making these cheesy meatballs you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Meatball Ingredients

½ pound lean ground beef
½ pound ground pork (or pork sausage)
½ cup breadcrumbs
¼ cup milk
1 egg
2 tablespoon parsley (chopped)
¼ cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese (or parmesan cheese)
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
6 garlic cloves (minced)
24 mozzarella cubes (4 mozzarella string cheese sticks cut into 6 pieces each)

Variations and Substitutions

Ground Meat: We are using a 1 to 1 ratio of beef and pork. You can substitute pork sausage for the ground pork, or use only beef, if you prefer. You can also substitute ground chicken or ground turkey, in case that is your personal preference.

Breadcrumbs: Regular or panko breadcrumbs will work.

Milk: Any percentage of fat will do. However, if you are using a plant based milk, choose unsweetened.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this juicy meatball and fresh mozzarella recipe, try our Easy Dump and Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole. You’ll love it because all you have to do is mix the ingredients in a baking dish, cover and bake.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a small commission of the sale.

Baking Sheet — We recommend lining the sheet pan with parchment paper, that way the meatballs do not stick to the pan and clean up is quick and easy. If you don’t have parchment paper, you can spray the baking sheet with cooking spray or line it with foil.

Cookie Scoop – Using a cookie scoop helps to ensure each meatball is the same size.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook mozzarella stuffed meatballs in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full recipe with step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below..

PREPARE: Firstly, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 400ºF.

SOFTEN BREADCRUMBS: Then, combine the milk and breadcrumbs in a large bowl and let it sit for 3-5 minutes.

MIX: Afterwards, add the remaining ingredients except for the mozzarella and mix together with your hands.

FORM MEATBALLS: Divide meat mixture into 24 meatballs that are about the same size. Form a flat disk in the palm of your hand with each portion of meatball mixture. Then place a piece of mozzarella cheese in the center of each ball. Fold the meat mixture over the mozzarella ball so that it’s in the middle and the meat is covering it altogether.

COOK: Afterward, sit the meatballs on the baking sheet leaving a couple of inches between each one. Then bake for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.

SERVE: Finally, remove from the oven and serve with pasta, marinara sauce, or your favorite side dish.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love meatball sandwiches then you’ll love our Meatball Stuffed Biscuits. They are the perfect appetizer for parties and game days. They are super easy to make, and therefore also an ideal weeknight dinner.

Andrea says….

You cannot beat mozzarella stuffed meatballs. These are good with anything you’d usually put a meatball on. We like to serve them with marinara sauce and this easy green greek salad recipe.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best mozzarella meatballs.

Tip: Do not overmix meatball ingredients, or otherwise your meatballs will be tough.
Tip: The meat mixture will be sticky. We therefore recommend wearing gloves or slightly oiling your hands.
Tip: Make sure your meatballs are all approximately the same size. That way they cook evenly. A cookie scoop helps keeping meatball sizes equal.

What To Serve With Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

We love to eat cheese-stuffed meatballs all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve them as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Bread: Serve this easy mozzarella meatball recipe with crusty bread or soft dinner rolls. Our Garlic Bread is made with fresh parmesan cheese and store-bought french bread. If you have extra time make Pizza Dough Garlic Knots.

Salad: Pair these yummy meatballs with a fresh salad. A green salad like our amazing Italian Salad or Strawberry Avocado Salad. Or even a Caprese Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.

Sides: Traditionally, gooey mozzarella cheese meatballs are served on a bed of pasta (or zucchini noodles) with pasta sauce. Our homemade marinara sauce is the perfect addition to these beef and pork meatballs.

More Meatball Recipes

If you love meatballs, then you have to try our other amazing homemade meatball recipes. No matter if you want to try chicken, turkey, Italian or air fryer meatballs, we have got you covered.

How To Use Meatballs

You can use these scrumptious cheesy meatball directly to make delicious Fettuccine Pesto, Meatball Sub Sandwiches, Meatball Calzones or Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders. However, these scrumptious recipes can also come in handy for using up leftovers:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Let your cheese stuffed meatballs cool completely. Afterwards, you can refrigerate them in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: If you plan to freeze the meatballs before eating, undercook them slightly. Then let them cool completely before you transfer them to a freezer safe sealed container or freezer bag. Freeze them for up to 3 months. After they’re defrosted, cook them thoroughly, testing the internal temperature to make sure they’re 165°F.

Defrosting: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

How To Reheat

You can warm fully cooked leftover mozzarella stuffed meatballs in the microwave or in the oven until heated through.

Common Questions

Is it better to bake meatballs or fry?

Baking meatballs doesn’t require oil or butter and you don’t have to constantly watch or stir them compared to frying. Frying can also lead to overcooked meatballs that may not be as tender, however, the cooking method is usually a personal preference.

What is the secret to tender meatballs?

To keep meatballs tender you want to be sure that you don’t overmix the meat mixture and you cook just until the internal temperature is 165 degrees.

Can you freeze mozzarella stuffed meatballs?

You can freeze the stuffed meatballs raw or after they have been cooked. However, if you are going to bake them and immediately freeze before eating, it’s best to undercook them slightly.

Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs Recipe

These cheese stuffed meatballs are oozing with flavor and mozzarella that goes great with spaghetti or a marinara dipping sauce.

Course Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword cheese stuffed meatballs, cheesy meatballs, easy mozzarella cheese stuffed meatballs, mozzarella stuffed meatballs

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Total Time 35

Servings meatballs

Calories 147kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

baking sheet and parchment paper
knife and cutting board
mixing bowl
cookie scoop

Ingredients

½ pound ground beef
½ pound ground pork or pork sausage
½ cup breadcrumbs
¼ cup milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons parsley chopped
¼ cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
6 cloves garlic minced
24 mozzarella cubes 4 mozzarella string cheese sticks cut into 6 pieces each

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place parchment paper on your baking sheet.
Combine breadcrumbs and milk in a bowl. Let sit for 3-5 minutes to soften breadcrumbs.
Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl, except mozzarella. Mix together with your hands.
Form 24 equal size meatballs.
Add a piece of cheese to each meatball. Using your hands, make sure meat is surrounding the cheese. Roll in your hands to make a round, uniform shape.
Place meatballs on your baking sheet.
Cook for 15-18 minutes. Meatballs will be done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Remove from the oven and enjoy.

Notes

It can be helpful to use gloves or oil your hands before forming meatballs to prevent them from sticking to your hands.
If you plan to freeze the meatballs before eating, undercook them. After they’re defrosted, cook them thoroughly, testing the internal temperature to make sure they’re 165°F.
You can refrigerate meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

More Recipes You’ll Love:

Easy Lasagna: Make quick lasagna with your favorite jar of marinara sauce.
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon: This easy side dish is a delicious way to eat your veggies.
Garlic French Bread: Buy a loaf of french bread and make it better with our cheesy garlic butter.
Homemade Red Wine Marinara Sauce: This easy marinara sauce is bursting with flavor and pairs perfectly with these meatballs.
Red Wine Sangria: Have a little sangria with your meal! Or try this delicious Fall Sangria recipe.
Easy Dump and Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole: Use your leftover meatballs in this delicious pasta meal.

Nutrition

The post Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs appeared first on Family Dinners.

Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders

Andrea + Stef — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:31:00 +0000

These Hawaiian roll meatball sliders taste just like the real thing, except no fork needed! Similar to a meatball sub, but less messy. Meatball and cheese sliders make the perfect game day snack, party snack or fun main course meal.

If you have a soft spot for the classic chicken parmesan, these oven baked Hawaiian roll sliders are going to blow you away. Not only are they packed with flavor, but you will only need simple ingredients, which you probably already have at home.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: Sweet Hawaiian buns, melted cheese, savory meatballs and parmesan topping make the most amazing pull apart meatball sliders. These mini meatball subs are easy to make and can feed a crowd.
Main Ingredients: slider rolls, mozzarella cheese, chicken meatballs, parmesan cheese, butter, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder
Cooking Method: oven baked
Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time, 25 minutes cooking time
Pairs well with: fresh green salad, pasta salad, antipasto salad, wedges and fries
Special Equipment Needed: 9×13-inch baking dish, measuring spoons and cups, cutting board and knife

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this Hawaiian roll meatball sliders recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making these cheesy Italian meatball sliders you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Slider Sandwiches Ingredients

12 Hawaiian sweet rolls, dinner rolls or slider buns
12 slices of fresh mozzarella cheese
24 cooked meatballs (We made our own chicken meatballs but you can make your own or buy from the grocery store and cook them in the air fryer.)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup marinara sauce (plus more for dipping)
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese (plus 2 tablespoon for sprinkling on top)
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder

Variations and Substitutions

Cheese: You can substitute the fresh mozzarella slices for other types of cheese like provolone, pepper jack, Monterey jack or shredded mozzarella.

Marinara: Try the best homemade marinara sauce, it’s delicious! As a quick and easy option you can purchase a jar from the store, like Rao’s.

Chicken Meatballs: We love using our favorite chicken parmesan meatball recipe, however, you can grab some from the frozen section as well. You can also use cooked breaded chicken breast pieces in this recipe.

Instead of using chicken meatballs, make chicken breast in the Instant Pot and dice or shred it for the sliders.

Stuffed Meatball Sliders: Use our mozzarella stuffed meatballs to make these even cheesier.

Italian Meatball Sliders: For a traditional meatball sub feel, use Stef’s famous Italian meatballs.

Turkey Meatball Sliders: Stuffed with spinach and cheese, turkey meatballs can easily be turned into sliders.

Air Fryer meatball Sliders: An easier way than using the oven is making air fried meatballs.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you loved this easy meatball sliders recipe, try our amazing Meatball Calzones. You’ll love these because they are so easy to make, you can fill them with chicken parmesan meatballs and they taste even better than take-out.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a small commission for the sale.

Casserole Dish — We love using this glass baking dish as it cooks food evenly, you can easily see the food while it cooks and it also looks good as a serving dish.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook Hawaiian roll sliders in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

PREHEAT OVEN AND PREP DISH: Grease a 9×13 baking dish and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

SLICE SLIDER ROLLS: Cut the slider rolls and place the bottom halves in the baking dish.

BRUSH ON BUTTER: Melt a tablespoon of butter in a small bowl and brush it on the bottom half of the rolls.

ADD MARINARA: Spread the marinara sauce on top of the sliders. If you add extra sauce to your slider rolls before cooking they may become soggy. If you like more sauce, consider putting a layer of cheese on the bread then sauce.

PLACE THE MEATBALLS: Put two chicken meatballs on top of each roll.

ADD THE CHEESE: Top all the individual sandwiches with a slice of mozzarella, followed by the parmesan cheese.

ADD THE TOP BUNS: Place the top rolls on the cheese.

BASTE WITH BUTTER: Brush the sliders with melted butter. If you like your sliders extra buttery, add more melted butter before baking. Then baste the top layer of bread with delicious butter when you remove from the oven.

ADD SPICES: Sprinkle the tops of the rolls with black pepper and Italian seasoning.

COOKING TIME: Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.

UNCOVER: After 20 minutes, uncover the sliders and continue cooking for another 3 to 5 minutes. Garnish the top of the buns with fresh basil if you like, then serve and eat.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love meatball sandwiches then you’ll love our Meatball Sub Bombs. They are easy to make and the best appetizer for parties and game days. Served with a salad, they are also an easy weeknight dinner idea.

Andrea says….

This is a fun way to make meatball sandwiches. It’s great with any type of leftover meatballs or just cook up some frozen meatballs just for these.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best cheesy meatball sliders recipe.

Tip: Use sweet King’s Hawaiian rolls, as they have just the right flavor to complement the meatballs and marinara sauce.
Tip: For best results, use homemade marinara sauce. In case you are in a hurry, use your favorite sauce from the store.
Tip: Do not add too much sauce to the slider rolls, or they might get soggy. Rather serve some sauce on the side for dipping.
Tip: Don’t be shy with the butter, because it adds immense flavor to your sliders. Have you tried using garlic butter to add even more flavor?

What To Serve With Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders

We love to eat chicken parm sliders all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve them as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Sauce: Serve Hawaiian roll sliders with homemade pasta sauce, such as our best Marinara Sauce with Red Wine.

Salad: Pair these cheesy chicken meatball sliders with a fresh salad. A green salad like our amazing Italian Salad or Strawberry Avocado Salad. Or even a Caprese Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil or Antipasto Salad.

Sides: Traditionally, meatball sliders are served with Fries or Potato Wedges. It would also taste great with a fruit salad, like Stef’s Peach Burrata Salad.

Homemade Meatball Recipes

You can make all kinds of different flavored meatball sliders by using a different meatball recipe each time. We love using all of these juicy meatballs to make Hawaiian roll sliders:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Keep leftover sliders in the fridge in an air tight container or ziploc bag up to 3 days.

Freeze: We don’t recommend freezing chicken parm sliders because of the sauce. Once it’s thawed, the rolls may become soggy.

How To Reheat

Reheat Hawaiian roll meatball slider leftovers in the oven at 350ºF until heated through. We recommend keeping them covered with aluminum foil while reheating. In case it has to go quick, you can also reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds. However, be careful, because the rolls will get squishy when microwaved for too long. Additionally, you can reheat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees for a few minutes.

Common Questions

How long to bake meatball sliders?

Because our meatballs are already cooked, you only need about 25 minutes to bake, just so the cheese melts and the tops are toasted.

Is it better to use my own homemade meatballs or frozen meatballs for this recipe?

As a matter of fact you can use any kind of meatball you like. We love using one of our easy recipes for chicken, turkey or ground beef meatballs. The only thing you need to be careful about is using cooked meatballs.

When should I serve Hawaiian roll sliders?

Slider recipes are very versatile and can be served as a perfect party appetizer, delicious snack on super bowl Sunday as well as a fun main course with a crunchy salad and some potato wedges.

Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders

These chicken meatball sliders are great for game day appetizers or a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

Course Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword chicken meatball parm, chicken parm sliders, hawaiian roll meatball sliders, hawaiian roll sliders, meatball sliders

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Servings

Calories 226kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Ingredients

12 slider rolls
12 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
24 cooked chicken meatballs
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup marinara sauce plus more for dipping
⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese plus 2 tablespoons for sprinkling on top
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
Slice slider rolls in half. Put the bottom half in the baking dish.
Brush 1 tablespoon of melted butter on the rolls.
Spread ⅓ cup marinara sauce over bottom of rolls.
Place 2 meatballs on each roll.
Top each roll with a slice of mozzarella.
Sprinkle ⅓ cup parmesan cheese on top of mozzarella.
Place the slider roll tops on top of the cheese. Baste with 3 tablespoons of melted butter. Sprinkle top with Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
Bake covered for 20 minutes. Uncover and cook for 3-5 minutes.
Serve and eat.

Notes

If you like your sliders extra buttery, add more melted butter before baking. Then baste the tops with butter when you remove from the oven.
You can substitute the fresh mozzarella slices for other types of cheese like provolone or shredded mozzarella.
If you add extra sauce to your slider rolls before cooking they may become soggy. If you like more sauce, consider putting a layer of cheese on the bread then sauce.

Nutrition

The post Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders appeared first on Family Dinners.

How To Cook Frozen Meatballs in the Air Fryer

Andrea + Stef — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 17:50:19 +0000

Frozen meatballs cooked in the air fryer are the perfect weeknight dinner as they are both convenient and super fast to make. But most important, they are also incredibly delicious and a comfort food favorite with most families. Follow our easy meatball recipe for the best frozen meatballs you have ever made. Then simply toss with your favorite sauce and dinner is ready. Serve these yummy meatballs with marinara sauce, pasta and garlic bread or toss them with barbecue sauce and serve with corn on the cob and coleslaw. Either way, these delicious air fried meatballs will soon be a staple on your dinner menu.

Why Cook Frozen Meatballs In The Air Fryer?

Air fryer frozen meatballs are a great, quick way to add protein to your meal. Frozen meatballs are not raw meatballs. Frozen meatballs are any type of meatball that has been cooked then frozen. You can buy make these yourself and freeze or buy them in your supermarket freezer section. Most frozen meatballs are a variety of Italian meatball. You can find a mixture of beef and pork meatballs or just beef meatballs. Sometimes you can find turkey or chicken meatballs as well. If you want to make your own try our turkey meatballs or chicken meatballs. This is the easiest thing to do with meatballs! If you don’t need a whole baking sheet full of meatballs just pop the amount you need straight from the freezer into your air fryer. You can cook just the amount you need in less cook time than the oven and save energy in the process! Just toss them in BBQ sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or marinara sauce once they’re cooked for an easy meal.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: perfectly cooked, juicy and tender meatballs that are full of flavor and ready to be combined with your favorite sauce for an easy dinner or quick appetizer
Main Ingredients: frozen meatballs, oil spray, BBQ sauce, marinara sauce
Cooking Method: air fryer
Nutrients: 19g of protein per serving
Cooking Time: 2 minutes prep time, 12 minutes cooking time
Pairs well with: marinara sauce, pasta and salad or barbecue sauce, coleslaw and cornbread
Special Equipment Needed: air fryer, high heat thermometer, instant read thermometer, oil mister , air fryer parchment paper

Ingredients

You may have all of these frozen meatball ingredients in your freezer or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts and print the recipe for how to cook frozen meatballs in air fryer.

Pantry Ingredients: oil spray, bbq sauce, marinara sauce
Meat Ingredients: frozen meatballs (use your favorite types of meatballs)

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you enjoy turning frozen meatballs into delicious family dinners, the you’ll love our amazing Swedish Meatballs. They are smothered in a rich and creamy sauce. This mouthwatering comfort food is done in only 30 minutes.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Air Fryer – This recipe requires an air fryer. We have both this Cosori air fryer, which is wonderful, and this Cuisinart Air Fryer, which we also love. The Cuisinart also has convection oven and toaster oven capacity. You can buy an air fryer with a basket with high sides that food goes into or a tray type of machine. The trays are shallow but are usually longer and can accomodate more food in a single layer.

Olive Oil Sprayer – We love this oil mister because it is super easy to use and you can spray oil, vinegar, wine or lemon juice, for example. It dispenses the perfect mist of oil, without making food too oily.

Air Fryer Parchment – This ready made air fryer parchment paper is very convenient and fits perfectly inside the air fryer basket. It prevents your food from sticking to the air fryer basket and has holes to allow the hot air to circulate properly.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook frozen meatballs in air fryer, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below. You can print the recipe with or without photos.

PREPARE: Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket or tray with non-stick cooking spray or line with air fryer parchment paper. Then place the meatballs into the air fryer in a single layer. Do not crowd the air fryer and cook the meatballs in batches, if necessary. Spray the meatballs with oil spray and shake to coat.

Andrea says….

The key to good air fryer meatballs is not overcrowding the air fryer basket. Make sure there’s room for the air to circulate around the meatballs.

AIR FRY: Cook the meatballs at 380°F for 8-12 minutes, depending on the size of the meatballs. Shake the air fryer basket once or twice while cooking. At the end of the cooking time, use an instant read meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the meatballs is at least 165°F. Larger meatballs may require additional minutes to cook.

SERVE: Warm your sauce in a saucepan over medium-low heat or in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl. Finally, toss the cooked meatballs with your sauce. Serve.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you want to try making your own meatballs from scratch, then you will love or Italian Meatballs recipe. These classic Italian meatballs are simply the best, and pair well with spaghetti, pizza or meatball sub sandwiches. Or try our Italian Air-Fried Meatballs.

Make Meatballs In The Oven Or Crockpot

OVEN: You can also cook meatballs in the oven at 400ºF for 10-20 minutes depending on the size of your meatballs. Make sure they reach an internal temperature of 165ºF.

SLOW COOKER: Frozen meatballs can be cooked in the crockpot for 3 hours on high together with your favorite sauce. We recommend using BBQ or marinara sauce. Before serving, check the internal temperature of the meatballs using an instant read thermometer. They should be at least 165ºF in the middle. See our Crockpot BBQ Meatballs Recipe.

Stef says….

Meatballs aren’t just great for dinner, they also make the perfect party snack, game day food, or appetizer. Easy to make Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are a huge crowd pleaser and every fan of buffalo chicken wings will absolutely love these meatballs.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best frozen meatballs in the air fryer.

Tip: Do not defrost meatballs before cooking.
Tip: Cook meatballs in a single layer. Make sure they aren’t touching. Do not stack them on top of each other.
Tip: Spray meatballs with oil. Use an oil sprayer or basting brush to lightly oil the outsides of the meatballs. This will help them brown up nicely while cooking. They do not need a lot of oil. A fine mist is great.
Tip: Shake the basket once or twice while cooking. This helps the meatballs cook evenly.

How To Serve Meatballs

Our families adore meatballs in all shapes and forms. They are so versatile and incredibly delicious. Our favorite homemade meatballs are: Air Fryer Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs, Turkey Meatballs and Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs.

In case there isn’t enough time to make meatballs from scratch, we love turning frozen meatballs into super yummy dinners as well. Have you tried our Swedish Meatballs, Crockpot BBQ Meatballs or Meatball Pasta Casserole.

Or cook your frozen meatballs and make one of these quick meal ideas:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freeze: Cooled leftover meatballs can also be frozen in a freezer safe container or ziploc bag for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: We recommend cooking frozen meatballs while frozen for best results.

How To Reheat

The best way to reheat meatballs that have been refrigerated is by putting them back into the air fryer. You can also reheat meatballs in the microwave, using a microwave safe dish. Preferably use a dish with a cover to avoid splatter inside the microwave and trap the moisture inside the meatballs. Alternatively, you can also reheat leftovers in a saucepan on the stovetop.

Common Questions

How do you know when meatballs are fully cooked?

Meatballs are fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Insert a meat thermometer into one or more of the meatballs after cooking to read the temperature.

Is it possible to cook homemade meatballs in the air fryer?

Yes, of course. Try our recipe for the Best Air Fryer Meatballs. These easy homemade meatballs cook to juicy, tender perfection in the air fryer.

What can I make with meatball leftovers?

You can use leftover meatballs for scrumptious sandwiches, sliders or even as a filling for calzones. Additionally you can wrap them in biscuit dough for delicious Meatball Sub Bombs.

How To Cook Frozen Meatballs in The Air Fryer

Frozen meatballs are cooked to perfection in the air fryer. They come out juicy, tender and absolutely delicious.

Course Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword frozen air fryer meatballs, frozen meatballs cooked in the air fryer, frozen meatballs in air fryer, how to cook frozen meatballs in the air fryer

Prep Time 2

Cook Time 12

Total Time 14

Servings servings

Calories 298kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

Air Fryer
air fryer parchment paper
oil mister
instant read thermometer

Ingredients

1 lb frozen meatballs
oil spray

Garnish:

BBQ sauce
marinara sauce

Instructions

Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket or tray to prevent meatballs from sticking. Alternatively, use air fryer parchment paper.
Place meatballs into the air fryer in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to cook in batches.
Spray meatballs with oil spray. Shake to coat.
Cook at 380°F for 8-12 minutes, depending on the size of your meatballs.
Shake the air fryer basket once or twice while cooking.
Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the temperature of the meatballs to make sure they’re fully cooked at 165°F.
Warm your sauce in a saucepan over medium-low heat or in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl. Toss the cooked meatballs with your sauce. Serve.

Notes

Do not defrost meatballs before cooking.
Meatballs come in many sizes. Cook time will vary depending on the size of meatball.
Air fryers come in a wide variety of styles and shapes. Cook time varies depending on the type of air fryer.
Cook meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer. Do not overcrowd them or stack meatballs on top of each other.
Spray the meatballs with olive oil, avocado oil or a vegetable oil spray to help them brown easier.
Remove meatballs from the air fryer and toss meatballs with your favorite sauce after the meatballs are fully cooked.

Nutrition

The post How To Cook Frozen Meatballs in the Air Fryer appeared first on Family Dinners.

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Andrea + Stef — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 23:15:00 +0000

This chicken parmesan meatballs recipe is great when you are looking for an easy dinner recipe, especially if you are short on time, because they are ready from start to finish in just 35 minutes. Use these tasty chicken parm meatballs in meatball sub sandwiches, casseroles, meatball pizza, spaghetti and more. Oven-baked meatballs also make a fantastic appetizer or game day snack.

You are going to love these healthy meatballs and all of the ways to serve them. Plus they go great with just about any side dish and make meal prepping really easy. One of our favorite variations is turning them into buffalo chicken meatballs.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: juicy meatballs with a ton of flavor, perfect for any meatball recipe
Main Ingredients: ground chicken, egg, bread crumbs, grated parmesan, oil, fresh garlic and spices
Cooking Method: oven baked
Nutrients: low calorie food, higher protein content with less fat compared to beef meatballs
Cooking Time: 20 minutes prep time, 15 minutes cooking time
Pairs Well With: homemade marinara, pasta, rice, Italian salad, garlic bread
Special Equipment Needed: large mixing bowl, sheet pan

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for these cheesy chicken meatballs in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! In case this is your first time making this baked chicken meatball recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Meatball Ingredients

1 pound ground chicken
1 large egg
½ cup bread crumbs
½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoon olive oil
5 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Variations and Substitutions

Italian Meatballs: These Italian meatballs are another good appetizer recipe and go great with spaghetti.

Air Fryer Meatballs: When you don’t feel like messing with the oven, make meatballs in the air fryer instead!

Turkey Meatballs: Swap the chicken out for ground turkey or make these delicious ground turkey and spinach meatballs.

Cheese Stuffed Meatballs: If you want something different or are a cheese lover go for these mozzarella stuffed meatballs.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you loved this baked chicken meatball recipe, try our amazing Meatball Calzones. You’ll love these because they are so easy to make, you can fill them with these chicken parmesan meatballs and they taste even better than take-out.

Recommended Tools

Baking Sheet — We recommend lining the baking sheet with parchment paper, that way the meatballs do not stick to the pan and clean up is quick and easy.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook chicken parmesan meatballs in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

PREHEAT OVEN AND PREP BAKING SHEET: Firstly, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

COMBINE INGREDIENTS: Then add all of the chicken meatballs ingredients to a large bowl and mix together by hand. The ground chicken mixture will be sticky. Wear gloves or slightly oil your hands to prevent the meat mixture from sticking to your hands while you roll your meatballs.

ROLL OUT MEATBALLS: Make 24 meatballs by rolling them between your hands so they are about the same size, and place them on the lined baking sheet in a single layer.

Tip: Use a cookie scoop to help form the meatballs so they are the same size.

COOKING TIME: Cook for 15 minutes, then turn the oven to broil until the meatballs are golden brown. If you make larger meatballs you will need to extend the cooking time.

SERVE: Once the meatballs have an internal temperature of 165 degrees they are safe to serve with your favorite side dishes!

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love easy comfort food for the whole family then you’ll love our Easy Dump and Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole. It is an easy to make one dish dinner that combines noodles, marinara, meatballs and mozzarella cheese.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best chicken parmesan meatballs.

Tip: Make sure your ground chicken is fully defrosted before mixing with the other ingredients. Do not overmix!
Tip: The ground chicken mixture will be sticky. Wear gloves or slightly oil your hands to prevent the meat mixture from sticking to your hands while you roll your meatballs.
Tip: Use freshly grated parmesan cheese, not pre-grated.
Tip: Make sure your meatballs are all approximately the same size. This ensures even cooking.

What To Serve With Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

We love to eat chicken parm meatballs all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Bread: Serve this delicious dinner with crusty bread or soft dinner rolls. Garlic French Bread is made with fresh parmesan cheese and store-bought french bread. If you have extra time make Pizza Dough Garlic Knots.

Salad: Pair these classic chicken parm meatballs with a fresh salad. A green salad like our amazing Italian Salad or Strawberry Avocado Salad. Or even a Caprese Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.

Sides: Traditionally, chicken meatballs are served on a bed of pasta (or zucchini noodles) with pasta sauce. It would taste great with homemade marinara.

How To Use Meatballs

Add some meatballs to our Easy Lasagna recipe, Dump and Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole, or this Creamy Meatball Fettuccine. Use these delicious meatballs in one of these yummy recipes.

How To Store

Refrigerate: You can keep leftover meatballs in an airtight container or plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Freeze: These easy meatballs can be frozen before or after they are cooked. Transfer to a freezer-safe container or freezer bags and freeze for up to 2 months.

Defrosting: Allow the meatballs to thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking or reheating.

How To Reheat

Reheat chicken parmesan meatball leftovers in the microwave, air fryer, oven or on the stovetop with sauce.

Common Questions

Why are my chicken meatballs tough?

Meatballs can be tough if the ingredients aren’t measured correctly, if they are overmixed before baking, or if they are not the same size. The smaller ones will be overcooked while the larger ones will need more time.

Are chicken meatballs healthy?

By using lean ground chicken, chicken meatballs have a higher protein content with less fat and calories when compared to beef meatballs.

Can you make chicken meatballs gluten free?

This meatball recipe is automatically gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free breadcrumbs.

How to freeze chicken parmesan meatballs?

To freeze raw chicken meatballs, after they have been rolled out place them on a baking sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes. Then transfer to a freezer bag and store for up to 2 months. To freeze cooked chicken meatballs, allow them to cool completely, then place them in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months and thaw overnight before serving.

Is it possible to cook these Italian classics on the stovetop?

Yes! You can heat a large skillet or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Then, add 1 tablespoon of oil before adding the meatballs. Afterwards reduce to medium heat and keep turning the meatballs until they are browned on all sides and cooked trough. Finally, using a meat thermometer, make sure the internal temperature has reached 165ºF.

More Meatball Recipes

Try one of our other meatball recipes!

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs Recipe

These easy, healthy chicken meatballs make for a quick dinner idea or party appetizer. Use the yummy chicken parmesan meatballs with spaghetti and marinara or in any recipe that requires meatballs.

Course Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Servings

Calories 59kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Ingredients

1 pound ground chicken
1 egg
½ cup bread crumbs
½ cup grated parmesan
2 tablespoons oil
5 garlic cloves minced
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place parchment paper on your baking sheet.
Add all the ingredients to a medium sized bowl.
Mix ingredients together with your hands.
Grease your hands. Form 24 equal size meatballs, rolling them so they are round. Place on your baking sheet.
Cook for 15 minutes. Turn oven to broil and cook on the top rack until meatballs are golden brown. Check to make sure they have an internal temperature of 165°F.
Remove from the oven and enjoy.

Notes

The chicken mixture will be sticky. Wear gloves or slightly oil your hands to prevent the meat from sticking to your hands while you roll your meatballs.
You can refrigerate meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
If you make larger meatballs you will need to extend the cooking time.

Nutrition

The post Chicken Parmesan Meatballs appeared first on Family Dinners.

Easy Dump And Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole

Andrea + Stef — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 16:20:36 +0000

Nothing says comfort family dinner like casseroles. This delicious and saucy meatball pasta casserole comes together in only 10 minutes and bakes to al dente perfection in the oven. It is an easy to make one dish dinner that combines noodles, marinara, meatballs and mozzarella cheese. For speed and convenience we use frozen cooked meatballs and our favorite store bought tomato sauce. This meatball pasta bake recipe does not require any special equipment and is therefore also great for young cooks or to make during your next self-catered vacation. Just dump and bake this meatball casserole.

What Is A Meatball Pasta Bake?

A meatball pasta bake is an easy casserole dish that requires no hands on cooking time. This is the perfect meal for busy weeknights when you don’t have much time to prep dinner. It results in delicious pasta and juicy meatballs covered in cheese. The simple recipe is a good choice for a fussy eater. With simple ingredients and easy prep this recipe is a big hit for a family dinner.

Another name for a meatball pasta bake that we’ve seen around the internet is “dump and bake meatball casserole”. That describes the dish exactly!

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: One pan meal the whole family will love. No need to pre-boil the pasta noodles or heat up the meatballs. It’s a good idea for a busy night.

Main Ingredients: frozen cooked meatballs, penne pasta, marinara sauce, water, mozzarella cheese

Cooking Method: oven baked

Nutrients: good source of protein, 39g per serving

Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time, 50 minutes hands off baking time

Pairs well with: garlic French bread, crunchy saladSpecial Equipment Needed: 9×13-inch baking dish, aluminum foil

Ingredients

You may have all of these meatball casserole ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts and print the recipe.

Pantry Ingredients: penne pasta, marinara sauce
Refrigerated/Frozen Ingredients: mozzarella cheese (low moisture not fresh mozzarella)
Produce Ingredients: fresh parsley (optional)
Meat Ingredients: (frozen or heated) cooked meatballs – Use ground beef meatballs, Italian sausage meatballs, pork meatballs, chicken meatballs or turkey meatballs.

Variations For Easy Pasta Bakes:

More easy meatball pasta bake recipe variations you might enjoy.

Frozen Turkey Meatball Pasta Bake: Use frozen turkey meatballs.
Mozzarella Chicken Meatball Pasta Bake: Use frozen chicken meatballs for a comforting chicken pasta bake.
Chicken Parmesan Meatball Pasta Bake: Add grated parmesan cheese on top of the mozzarella cheese.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook meatball pasta casserole in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below. You can print the recipe with or without photos.

EASY PREP: Firstly, preheat the oven to 425°F. Then add pasta to the bottom of the pan, marinara and 3 cups water to a 9×13-inch casserole dish and stir to combine. Add meatballs on top of pasta. There is no need to brown meatballs or heat the meatballs if they’re pre-cooked. Do not stir anymore.

Optional: sprinkle ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder and ¼ teaspoon of onion powder over the sauce if your pasta sauce is bland and needs a little bit of extra flavor.

BAKE: Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Then place on the middle rack of the oven and bake meatball casserole for 40 minutes or until the pasta is cooked and sauce has thickened. Afterwards remove from the oven and uncover.

NOTE: Do not use cooked pasta with this recipe.

ADD CHEESE AND FINISH: Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top of the meatballs. (Feel free to add in some parmesan cheese here as well.) Return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes to melt the cheese. Cover if you do not want the cheese to brown. Do not cover if you want a golden brown cheesy top. Finally, let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving the comforting meatball pasta bake.

What To Serve With Dump And Bake Meatball Casserole

An easy casserole deserves an easy side dish. These low effort sides taste delicious with this pasta and red sauce.

Salad: This easy comfort food pairs well with a healthy side salad. If you’re low on time, grab a bagged salad at the grocery store. If you have a little more time, make an easy Italian Salad or a Chopped Asparagus Salad.

Vegetable Sides: Use the Instant Pot or air fryer to make some easy vegetable side dishes. Try Instant Pot Broccoli or Air Fryer Broccoli. Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus is one of our favorite recipes. And don’t discount Cauliflower or Brussels Sprouts.

Crusty Bread: A dump and bake meatball casserole pairs perfectly with any kind of crusty bread. Buy a loaf of french bread and turn it into this delicious Garlic French Bread.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT TIME: If you love making your own meatballs then you’ll love our Air Fryer Meatballs recipe. These are the best homemade meatballs, they are easy to make and cook to juicy, tender perfection in the air fryer. Or try our oven baked Italian Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs or Turkey Meatballs.

Make Ahead

Due to the nature of this dish, it isn’t advised to assemble and save in the refrigerator before cooking. If you want to make this pasta bake ahead of time, cook it completely in a microwave safe dish then store in the fridge and reheat in the microwave when needed.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best pasta casserole with frozen meatballs.

Top Tip: Do not add too much water. Try pushing the pasta down with a spoon to cover with sauce before baking. Adding too much liquid causes overcooked and mushy pasta and excess liquid when the dish is done baking.
Tip: Use high quality meatballs. Use your favorite frozen meatballs or make your own.
Tip: Shred your own cheese. For best results, shred your own mozzarella cheese. Pre-shredded cheese contains preservatives and doesn’t melt as well or taste as good.

More Italian Recipes

We love serving this wonderful meatball pasta bake with Garlic French Bread and a nutritious Easy Italian Salad Try one of these easy dinner recipes:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Let the casserole leftovers cool completely and then transfer to an airtight container or ziploc bag. Alternatively you can simply cover the baking dish with cling wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: You can freeze leftover pasta casserole with frozen meatballs in a freezer safe container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Label your leftovers with the date!

Defrosting: Thaw pasta leftovers overnight in the refrigerator for a day or reheat from frozen.

How To Reheat

Reheat leftovers in the microwave using a microwave safe dish. Cover to prevent splatter all over the microwave. Cook time depends on how much you are making and the power of your microwave.

Common Questions

How do you know when meatballs are fully cooked?

Meatballs are fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Insert a meat thermometer into one or more of the meatballs after cooking to read the temperature.

Is it possible to use homemade meatballs for this recipe?

Of course! After preparing and frying your favorite homemade meatballs, keep them warm on a foil covered plate. Then add the meatballs right before adding the mozzarella cheese and follow the additional steps of our recipe. Have you tried our amazing Air Fryer Meatballs? You can even make your own marinara sauce as well. We love our Marinara Sauce with Red Wine.

Can I make this pasta casserole without meatballs?

Yes, you can. Just leave out the meatballs and prepare the recipe as described.

Dump And Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole Recipe

Easy dump and bake meatball casserole recipe made with frozen meatballs. Mix the ingredients in the baking dish, cover and bake.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword frozen meatballs recipe, meatball casserole, meatball pasta bake, pasta casserole with frozen meatballs

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 50

Resting Time 10

Total Time 1 10

Servings servings

Calories 718kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

9×13-in baking dish
spoon

Ingredients

1.5-2 lbs frozen cooked meatballs about 24-30 meatballs
16 oz penne pasta
1 jar marinara sauce (44-48 ounces)
3 cups water
2 cups grated low-moisture mozzarella cheese

Optional Garnish:

fresh parsley

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425°F.
Add pasta, marinara and water to a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Stir to combine.
Add meatballs on top of pasta. Do NOT stir.
Cover with aluminum foil.
Place on the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 40 minutes or until the noodles are cooked and the sauce is thickened. Remove from the oven and uncover.
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top of the meatballs.
Return to the oven for 10-15 minutes to melt the cheese. Cover if you do not want the cheese to brown. Do not cover if you want a golden brown cheesy top.
Let rest for 5-10 minutes then serve.

Notes

If your pasta is sticking up above the sauce level it isn’t going to cook. Get all the pasta down under the liquid.
Do not stir the meatballs and pasta together before cooking. You want the pasta to be below the meatballs, fully submerged in the cooking liquid. The finished dish also looks better with meatballs on top.
Serve with garlic french bread and an Italian salad

Nutrition

The post Easy Dump And Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole appeared first on Family Dinners.

Crockpot BBQ Meatballs

Andrea + Stef — Fri, 20 May 2022 19:44:00 +0000

These absolutely scrumptious Crockpot BBQ meatballs are super easy to make and only require 10 minutes of hands on prep time. They cook up tender and juicy in the slow cooker and most importantly, they are a real crowd pleaser.

You can serve them as an appetizer or party food by themselves, however, they also make a great main dish paired with mashed potatoes and a crunchy salad. Any leftovers can be turned into delicious meatball sandwiches.

Make this dairy free dish extra special by using homemade meatballs, or use your favorite frozen meatballs for convenience. Either way, you and your family will love these amazing Crockpot meatballs.

❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS CROCKPOT MEATBALLS RECIPE

✔️ Easy and delicious homemade BBQ sauce makes these tender meatballs irresistible.

✔️ This scrumptious dish only needs 10 minutes of prep time, then they cooks hands-off in the crockpot. Just put them in and forget about them.

✔️ Can be served as an appetizer, party snack or main dish.

✔️ You can determine the final flavor by adjusting seasonings to your own taste.

CROCKPOT BBQ MEATBALLS INGREDIENTS

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for slow cooker barbecue meatballs , what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

You may have all of these easy BBQ meatball ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.

Tomato Sauce
Apple Cider Vinegar: Vinegar gives the barbecue sauce a slightly tangy flavor and balances out the sweetness.
Honey: You can use any kind of honey. It adds a subtle natural sweetness, but you can also use brown sugar or maple syrup if you prefer.
Tomato Paste
Molasses
Worcestershire Sauce: Adds tangy and savory notes to create a rich flavor.
Liquid Smoke: Don’t skip this key ingredient. It adds the nice smokey flavor BBQ sauce is famous for.
Paprika: You can substitute smoked paprika, if you like your sauce extra smokey!
Garlic Powder
Black Pepper
Onion Powder
Salt
Frozen Meatballs: We used regular frozen beef meatballs for this recipe. You can also try turkey or chicken meatballs if you prefer. You can also make meatballs fresh for this recipe. We recommend Stef’s Famous Meatballs or the delicious Air Fryer Meatballs.

INSTRUCTIONS

This section shows how to cook dairy free barbecue meatballs in the crockpot, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full instructions, nutritional information, to print the recipe or to have the recipe scaled to double or triple, see the recipe card below.

COMBINE SAUCE INGREDIENTS: Whisk all ingredients, except meatballs, together in a medium bowl.

🔴 TIP: You can substitute brown sugar for the molasses or honey.

ADD TO CROCKPOT: First, place meatballs into the crockpot in a single layer. Then pour whisked BBQ sauce ingredients over the meatballs. Toss till the meatballs are evenly coated.

🔴 TIP: Use homemade meatballs, but make sure to brown them in a pan first. We recommend Stef’s Famous Meatballs or the delicious Air Fryer Meatballs.

COOK: Cook on high for 3 hours, or until meatballs are heated all the way through and a meat thermometer reads 165°F.

SERVE: Stir to blend. Keep slow cooker on warm setting and serve in the crockpot.

🔴 TIP: Serve these delicious meatballs at a party. For easy serving insert toothpicks into each meatball.

RECOMMENDED TOOLS

Crockpot – We recommend using a large 5 or 6 quart Crockpot. If you have a smaller Crockpot, halve the recipe.

HOW TO MAKE CROCKPOT BBQ MEATBALLS AHEAD

Smokey barbecue meatballs is a great recipe to make ahead because it can either stay warm in the Crockpot for a while or you can easily reheat it later. Prepare the whole dish from start to finish in advance. Then simply keep in the slow cooker on warm until needed. Otherwise, you can transfer the meatballs to a saucepan and reheat them on the stove whenever you are ready to serve.

TIPS FOR THE BEST BARBECUE MEATBALLS

Follow these tips to make the best Crockpot BBQ meatballs.

✔️ Use pre-cooked meatballs. You can defrost them first or cook them from frozen.

✔️ Brown homemade meatballs. If you’re using homemade meatballs, brown them first before putting into the crockpot.

✔️ Make BBQ sauce ahead of time. Whisk the BBQ sauce ingredients together well before pouring into the crockpot.

✔️ Keep the meatballs warm. Keep the crockpot on low or warm to keep the meatballs heated while you serve them.

STORAGE TIPS

Refrigerate: Store cooled meatball leftovers in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheat: You can reheat meatballs either in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Freeze: Leftover meatballs can also be frozen in a freezer safe container or ziploc bag for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: Barbecue meatballs thaw well in the fridge overnight.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH MEATBALLS

Serve these delicious meatballs with creamy mashed potatoes, Mexican Street Corn or your favorite version of corn on the cob, corn bread, crusty white bread or irresistible easy cheesy garlic rolls.

BBQ meatballs also pair really well with roasted vegetables. We love serving them with air fryer cooked vegetables, like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower or asparagus.

A crunchy and nutritious salad such as Italian salad or Greek salad would also make a perfect side dish.

MORE MEATBALL RECIPES

Meatballs are a family favorite at our house, because they are super versatile and can be prepared many different ways. They are the main ingredient in some of our favorite Italian meals such as Italian Meatballs, Meatball Calzones, Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs or Fettuccine Pesto with Meatballs. However, mouthwatering Swedish Meatballs in creamy sauce are also always a winner at our house.

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs even make a great party snack or game day appetizer.

If you are looking for a lighter meatball version try our amazingly delicious Air Fryer Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs or Turkey Meatballs with Spinach.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For perfect results every time, here are answers to the most common questions about cooking delicious crockpot meatballs.

Can I add other spices to the BBQ sauce?

Of course! You can get creative and create all kinds of different BBQ sauce flavors. Try adding cumin, cayenne pepper, chipotle powder, lemon zest or even a pinch of cinnamon, for example.

Is it possible to use homemade meatballs for this recipe?

Of course! After preparing and frying your favorite homemade meatballs, keep them warm on a foil covered plate. Then follow the additional steps of our recipe to make the scrumptious sauce.

How do you know when meatballs are fully cooked?

Meatballs are fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Insert a meat thermometer into one or more of the meatballs after cooking to read the temperature.

How can I use up BBQ meatball leftovers?

We love using leftovers to make scrumptious meatball sub bombs or sliders. Use your favorite cheese and serve with pickles or fresh coleslaw.

BBQ Meatballs

Learn how to make BBQ meatballs with frozen or pre-cooked meatballs and homemade barbecue sauce. This easy to make recipe makes a great appetizer or main dish.

Course Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword BBQ meatballs from frozen meatballs, crockpot BBQ meatballs, easy BBQ meatballs, slow cooker BBQ meatballs

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 3

Total Time 3 10

Servings meatballs

Calories 50kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

Medium Bowl
whisk
slow cooker
cooking spatula or spoon

Ingredients

1 15 oz can tomato sauce
½ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup honey
¼ cup tomato paste
¼ cup molasses
3 tbsps Worcestershire sauce
2 tsps liquid smoke
1 teaspoon paprika
1½ tsps garlic powder
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
48 precooked frozen meatballs

Instructions

Whisk all ingredients, except the meatballs, together in a medium bowl.
Place meatballs into the crockpot in a single layer.
Pour BBQ sauce ingredients over the meatballs. Toss meatballs to coat.
Cook on high for 3 hours, or until meatballs are heated all the way through and a thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball reads 165ºF. Stir to blend.
Keep the slow cooker on warm setting and serve in the crockpot.

Notes

Recipe Notes:

This recipe is for a large 5 or 6 quart Crockpot. For smaller Crockpots, halve the recipe.
If using raw meatballs, brown them first in a skillet before putting them into the slow cooker.
You can substitute brown sugar for the molasses or honey.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve with a toothpick as an appetizer or party food.

Nutrition

The post Crockpot BBQ Meatballs appeared first on Family Dinners.

Swedish Meatballs

Andrea + Stef — Mon, 16 May 2022 05:06:25 +0000

Your family will absolutely love these insanely delicious Swedish meatballs. Ready in only 30 minutes, this easy to follow recipe will turn your favorite frozen meatballs into a scrumptious dish that pairs well with noodles, rice or potatoes.

We also love serving roasted vegetables or a crunchy salad with these mouthwatering Swedish meatballs in rich creamy sauce.

This recipe only uses ingredients that you most likely already have at home. So it is budget-friendly and best of all it comes together in just one skillet which makes for an easy clean up.

WHAT ARE SWEDISH MEATBALLS?

Swedish meatballs are a popular comfort food that is made from juicy and tender meatballs smothered in a rich, creamy and flavorful sauce that is just to die for. This dish is very versatile and tastes amazing over rice, egg noodles and mashed potatoes.

❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS MEATBALL RECIPE

✔️ Tender meatballs with rich and creamy sauce are the ultimate comfort food.

✔️ This scrumptious dish is ready in only 30 minutes.

✔️ Swedish meatballs pair well with rice, noodles or potatoes.

✔️ It is a simple one pan meal that does not require any special kitchen equipment.

SWEDISH MEATBALLS INGREDIENTS

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for easy Swedish meatballs, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

You may have all of these frozen Swedish meatballs ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.

Frozen Meatballs: We used regular frozen beef meatballs for this recipe. You can also try turkey or chicken meatballs if you prefer. You can also make meatballs fresh for this recipe. We recommend Stef’s Famous Meatballs or the delicious Air Fryer Meatballs.
Butter
Olive Oil: You can substitute avocado or vegetable oil.
All-Purpose Flour
Beef Broth: Beef broth gives the sauce a very rich flavor. You can substitute chicken or vegetable broth in a pinch.
Heavy Cream: This helps create a creamy, thick sauce.
Soy Sauce
Spices: Dijon Mustard, Salt , Pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

This section shows how to cook Swedish meatballs from frozen meatballs on the stovetop , with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full instructions, nutritional information, to print the recipe or to have the recipe scaled to double or triple, see the recipe card below.

FRY MEATBALLS: Over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and oil in a skillet. Heat meatballs in batches so they don’t stew or simmer. Then transfer to a warm plate and cover with foil.

MAKE ROUX: Add a ¼ cup butter to the pan. After the butter has melted add the flour and whisk until smooth. Keep stirring the roux until it turns brown and bubbly.

🔴 TIP: A roux is equal parts of fat, such as butter or olive oil, and flour cooked together until lightly browned. Roux is mostly used to thicken sauces.

FINISH SAUCE: Whisk in broth until combined. Then add cream, soy sauce and dijon mustard and whisk again. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste and bring back to a simmer.

ADD MEATBALLS AND SERVE: Return meatballs to the pan, stir until they are all covered in sauce. Simmer for another 1-2 minutes so the meatballs are heated through. Then sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve.

RECOMMENDED TOOLS

Pan or Skillet – This recipe does not require any fancy equipment. Swedish meatballs are a simple one pan meal.

HOW TO MAKE AHEAD

Swedish meatballs is a great recipe to make ahead because it reheats easily. You can prepare the whole dish from start to finish in advance. Then simply put the skillet back on the stove until heated through.

Because reheating Swedish meatballs is so easy, it makes them a great contribution to a meal train as well.

⚠️ TIPS FOR THE BEST SWEDISH MEATBALLS

Follow these tips to make the best meatballs in creamy sauce.

✔️ Don’t crowd the pan. Cook your meatballs in batches so they don’t stew or simmer.

✔️ Do not overcook your meatballs. Otherwise meatballs become tough and dry and don’t taste very good.

✔️ Keep stirring the roux. Make sure to frequently stir the roux until golden brown. Burnt roux will ruin the flavor of your sauce.

STORAGE TIPS

Refrigerate: Store cooled meatball leftovers in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheat: You can reheat meatballs either in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Freeze: Leftover meatballs can also be frozen in a freezer safe container or ziploc bag for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: Swedish meatballs thaw well in the fridge overnight.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS RECIPE

Serve these scrumptious meatballs over Jasmine rice, your favorite egg noodles or creamy mashed potatoes. Swedish meatballs also pair really well with any kind of roasted vegetable. We love serving them with air fryer cooked vegetables, like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower or asparagus.

For a special twist, you can serve Swedish meatballs with a little dollop of lingonberry jam. This is a tangy and sweet jam, very similar to cranberry sauce. You can usually find it at the IKEA food market or in the European aisle of grocery stores.

MORE MEATBALL RECIPES

Meatballs are a family favorite at our house, because they are super versatile and can be prepared many different ways. They are the main ingredients in some of our favorite Italian meals such as Italian Meatballs, Meatball Calzones, Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs or Fettuccine Pesto with Meatballs.

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs even make a great party snack or game day appetizer.

If you are looking for a lighter meatball version try our amazingly delicious Air Fryer Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs or Turkey Meatballs with Spinach.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For perfect results every time, here are answers to the most common questions about cooking Swedish meatballs.

How do you know when meatballs are fully cooked?

Meatballs are fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Insert a meat thermometer into one or more of the meatballs after cooking to read the temperature.

Is it possible to use homemade meatballs for this recipe?

Of course! After preparing and frying your favorite homemade meatballs, keep them warm on a foil covered plate. Then follow the additional steps of our recipe to make the scrumptious sauce.

What is a roux?

Roux is equal parts of fat, such as butter or olive oil, and flour cooked together. First you melt the butter or heat the oil, then you whisk in flour. The mixture is kept over medium-high heat until it becomes bubbly and starts to brown. It is important to keep stirring the roux so it doesn’t burn. Roux is mostly used to thicken sauces.

Swedish Meatballs with Frozen Meatballs

Amazingly delicious Swedish meatballs smothered in a rich and creamy sauce. This mouthwatering comfort food is done in only 30 minutes.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword easy Swedish meatballs, how to make swedish meatball sauce, how to make swedish meatballs, swedish meatballs from frozen meatballs, Swedish meatballs in sauce

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings meatballs

Calories 75kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

skillet
whisk

Ingredients

¼ cup butter + 1 tablespoon divided
2 tbsps olive oil
3 tbsps all-purpose flour
1½ cups beef broth
¾ cup heavy cream
1½ tsps soy sauce
¾ teaspoon dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste
36 frozen meatballs

Garnish:

freshly chopped parsley

Instructions

Over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter with 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet.
Fry meatballs in batches so they don’t stew or simmer. Then transfer them to a plate and cover with foil.
Add a ¼ cup butter to the juices in the pan to melt.
Whisk in the flour until smooth, then keep stirring until the roux turns bubbly and golden brown.
Add the broth and whisk until combined.
Slowly add heavy cream, soy sauce and dijon mustard. Whisk until blended thoroughly.
Season with salt and pepper to taste then bring to a boil and continue to simmer until the sauce has thickened.
Now add the meatballs back into the sauce and simmer for another 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and serve.

Notes

Serve Swedish meatballs over rice, mashed potatoes or egg noodles.
For a leaner version, try using chicken or turkey meatballs.

Nutrition

The post Swedish Meatballs appeared first on Family Dinners.

Meatball Calzones

Andrea + Stef — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 12:07:00 +0000

This meatball calzone only requires 8 ingredients and is a fun and easy 30 minute meal. We love using this easy calzone recipe when we don’t feel like leaving for takeout and because it’s budget friendly.

In case you were wondering, a meatball stromboli is not the same as this meatball calzone, but they are really similar. Strombolis are longer and thinner in shape. Historically there are other differences, but we are breaking the rules and adding a delicious red wine marinara, and you will be glad we did!

MEATBALL CALZONE INGREDIENTS

You may have all of these in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.

Meatballs: Choose from our Italian Meatballs, Air Fryer Meatballs, Chicken Meatballs, Turkey and Spinach Meatballs or Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs.
Dough: We are using store bought pizza dough but you can also make a homemade pizza crust.
Pizza Sauce: Use store bought sauce or our homemade marinara.
Cheese: shredded mozzarella
Egg.
Spices: Italian seasoning, garlic salt
Water.

POSSIBLE VARIATIONS

Try these popular calzone ideas!

Pepperoni and Mushrooms: Instead of using meatballs, place several pepperonis and sliced mushrooms inside.
Veggie: Go vegetarian and add olives, spinach, onions, and peppers.
Buffalo Chicken: Replace the regular meatballs and skip the marinara. Use buffalo chicken meatballs instead.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Enjoy this great recipe as a great addition to a full meal with these other recipes:

Italian Salad – Balance this Italian favorite with Olive Garden inspired salad.
Red Wine Sangria – This is one of my all time favorite sangria recipes. Use the rest of the wine leftover from your marinara recipe.
Parmesan Roasted Broccoli – A delicious veggie to round out the meal.

INSTRUCTIONS

If you’d like to print this recipe, scroll down to the recipe card where you can print the recipe or have it scaled to double or triple. You’ll also find nutrition information.

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES NEEDED:

knife
rolling pin (optional)
parchment paper
baking sheet
whisk
pastry brush
aluminum foil

PREHEAT OVEN: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

DIVIDE THE DOUGH: Split the dough into 2 pieces and roll together into balls.

KITCHEN TIP

If you prefer, make your own pizza dough.

ROLL IT OUT: Using a rolling pin or your hands, roll the dough doll into two large circles. To prevent the dough from sticking, flour your work surface and rolling pin.

ADD MEATBALLS: Transfer the calzone crust to the baking sheet and add 4 meatballs on one half.

KITCHEN TIP

If you are using larger meatballs, slice them in half.

TOP WITH SAUCE: Drizzle the marinara or pizza sauce on top of the meatballs, keeping it away from the edges.

KITCHEN TIP

If pizza sauce gets on the edges it will not seal. Make sure you keep pizza sauce away from the edges or dry it off if it does get on the edge.

ADD CHEESE: Cover the meatballs and sauce with mozzarella cheese.

FOLD THE CALZONE: Fold the dough over to make a semi-circle and press edges together. Fold the sealed edges up towards the calzone and press again.

KITCHEN TIP

Apply the egg wash liberally to the tops of the raw calzones. The egg wash will make the crust crispy and shiny.

MAKE EGG WASH: In a small bowl, whisk the water and egg together. Brush the egg wash using a pastry brush, on the outside of the calzone.

KITCHEN TIP

Substitute your favorite pizza topping for the meatballs.

SEASON: Sprinkle the garlic salt and Italian seasoning on top. Repeat for the other calzone.

COOKING TIME: Cover the calzones with foil so it does not touch the tops. Bake for 15 minutes then remove the foil. Continue baking for another 15 minutes until the crust is golden brown.

STORAGE TIPS

Refrigerate: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat my microwaving or warming in the oven or air fryer.

Freeze: Place the cooled meatball calzones in a freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 2 months.

Defrosting: Thaw in the fridge overnight, or cook frozen at 350 degrees in the air fryer or oven until it’s warm all of the way through.

RELATED RECIPES

Pesto Fettuccine and Meatballs: A flavorful twist on a classic pasta recipe.

Chicken Parm Sandwich Bake: All of your favorite Italian flavors packed into one sandwich.

Meatball Sliders: These are filled with gooey mozzarella cheese on a sweet Hawaiian roll.

Meatball Stuffed Biscuits Recipe

Mozzarella meatball biscuit balls are the best appetizer for parties and game days. They are also simple to make, which makes them an easy weeknight dinner idea.

See Recipe

Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders

These chicken meatball sliders are great for game day appetizers or a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

See Recipe

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do calzones have pizza sauce?

Technically, if a calzone is a traditional Italian recipe, there is no red sauce on the inside. But we really like having the sauce on the inside so they aren’t dry.

Does a calzone taste like pizza?

Our calzones use traditional pizza ingredients, so maybe a little. However, there is a little more dough used in ours compared to other ingredients so the texture is different.

What are the best toppings for calzones?

The options are endless! We recommend using your favorite pizza combo such as all meat, tons of veggies, pepperoni and mushroom, or even sausage and broccoli.

marinara, meatballs, mozzarella, pizza

Meatball Calzone

These homemade calzones are so easy to make and ready in no time. Switch up the pizza toppings and you'll never eat the same version twice!

Course Appetizer, Main Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 36

Servings

Calories 760kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Ingredients

1 can refrigerated pizza dough
8 meatballs cooked
½ cup marinara sauce
½-1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg
¼ teaspoon garlic salt
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon water

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Divide the pizza dough into 2 pieces.
Using your hands or a rolling pin, roll out each piece to make a circle. You may need to flour your surface and rolling pin a little to prevent sticking.
Place parchment paper on a baking sheet.
Transfer one calzone crust to the baking sheet to make calzone.
Place 4 meatballs on one side of the pizza crust. Cut up meatballs if they’re large.
Drizzle 1 tablespoon of marinara or pizza sauce on the pizza crust in the middle, keeping it away from the edges.
Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese
Fold over dough to make a half circle shape. Pinch edges together to seal then fold the pressed edges up toward the calzone and press again.
Whisk egg and water together to make an egg wash.
With a pastry brush, brush the egg wash on the outside of the calzone.
Sprinkle calzone with /18 teaspoon garlic salt and ¼ teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
Repeat with the next calzone.
Loosely tent calzone with foil so the foil doesn’t touch the tops of the calzones. Please in the oven and cook for 15 minutes. Remove the foil then cook for 15 more minutes until the crust is a deep golden brown.

Notes

If pizza sauce gets on the edges it will not seal. Make sure you keep pizza sauce away from the edges or dry it off if it does get on the edge.
Apply the egg wash liberally to the tops of the raw calzones. The egg wash will make the crust crispy and shiny.
Omit the sauce for a traditional calzone. You can dip the calzone in sauce, if you prefer.
Substitute your favorite pizza topping for the meatballs.
If you prefer, make your own pizza dough.

Nutrition

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