Are you ready for the best meatballs ever?

[Lost In Xanadu]

Ok, for like the last 2 years (seriously, 2 years) I have been experimenting with making meatballs. I started with my grandmother's recipe... great recipe but left the meatballs a little dry. Watching Tyler's Ultimate, Barefoot Contessa and Good Eats on the Food Network, I have come up with a hybrid using elements from all 4 to come up with the best meatball I have ever eaten, anywhere.

 

 

 

3 lb ground Chuck (I start with this because 3lb value packs sold at my grocery store)

1.5 lb bulk Italian sausage

1 C Italian bread crumbs

1/2 - 3/4 C milk

1/4 cup Parmesan and/or Romano cheese (I use both)

1-2 TB sauteed garlic

1 TB Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 eggs

1/2 tsp kosher salt

black pepper to taste

crushed red pepper to taste (obviously can omit totally if desired)

 

Preheat over to 400

 

mix bread crumbs and milk... should be quite soupy at first, but by the time the garlic is ready, is should be a very thick paste once the breadcrumbs absorb the milk.

 

saute the garlic in the olive oil, when done - mix garlic and oil into the breadcrumb mixture.

 

add cheese and eggs, mix until well incorporated. This should loosen the breadcrumb mixture to a pancake batter consistency.

 

add salt and pepper and meat

 

mix well by hand until uniform consistency

 

 

Roll into golf ball sized meatballs and place in baking dish (or dishes) - I use 2 13x9 glass baking dished and they fit perfectly in them.

 

Bake until golden brown, and the internal temp is at least 155.

[Khan]

sounds great...gonna have to try it. Looks like that makes a ton of meatballs?

 

One of the things I do sometimes is to cook the meatballs in the sauce instead of frying or in the oven. They add a nice flavor to the sauce.

Edited June 15, 2011 by RushNut

[Tick]

Excellent! I make good meatballs, but I'm always looking to make better!

[Lost In Xanadu]

QUOTE (RushNut @ Jun 15 2011, 08:54 AM)

sounds great...gonna have to try it. Looks like that makes a ton of meatballs? One of the things I do sometimes is to cook the meatballs in the sauce instead of frying or in the oven. They add a nice flavor to the sauce.

Yeah, they always go swimming in the sauce for a while before serving, but I don't like the greasiness actually cook them in the sauce adds.

[rushfanNlv]

I now have plans for the weekend

 

I might add more garlic but I really like garlic.

[Lost In Xanadu]

QUOTE (rushfanNlv @ Jun 15 2011, 02:26 PM)

I now have plans for the weekend I might add more garlic but I really like garlic.

Yeah, I'm always a little heavy on the garlic too

 

I like 2TB+ range myself.

[HowItIs]

Looks yummy!!! My usual meatball recipe is pretty straightforward (read; boring) so I think I'll give yours a try. Thanks!

[micgtr71]

Mmmm, sounds good!

[ColdFireYYZ]

QUOTE (RushNut @ Jun 15 2011, 09:54 AM)

One of the things I do sometimes is to cook the meatballs in the sauce instead of frying or in the oven. They add a nice flavor to the sauce.

I can't stand it when meatballs are cooked in sauce. I like them with no sauce at all, and I often eat them cold.

[rushfanNlv]

Do you uses a 1/4 cup or each cheese for a total 1/2 cup of cheese or mix both together in the same 1/4 cup for a total of 1/4 cup of cheese? Guess I can't go wrong either way.

[rushfanNlv]

Made these last night, KILLER meat balls. When I make more, I'm going to add just a little more red pepper flakes buz I likes em hot!

 

Thanks!

[Lost In Xanadu]

QUOTE (rushfanNlv @ Jun 19 2011, 11:56 AM)

Made these last night, KILLER meat balls. When I make more, I'm going to add just a little more red pepper flakes buz I likes em hot! Thanks!

Awesome! We don't put in much red pepper because of the kids, but I always add extra to the top (along with more parm/romano) once they are served.

[PassTheAmmunition]

Beer Meatballs

 

Meatballs

~2 lb ground beef1.5 lb bulk Italian sausage

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1/2 ketchup

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup finely diced onion

2 beaten eggs

salt

pepper

oregano

parmesan (all to taste)

 

roll into small meatballs - small as or smaller than ping pong balls. think hors'deuvre size with toothpick.

 

Beer Sauce

 

2 12oz bottles of your favorite golden beer (lager/pilsner) - I recommend a decent german beer like Beck's

2 12oz bottles Heinz Chili Sauce

 

Thats right, thats the sauce. 2 bottles of beer and 2 bottles of chili sauce. Some people add grape jelly to make them a little sweeter. I say nay nay on the jelly. But to each their own...

 

 

Honestly these never fail to get compliments. And its MEAT and BEER. Come on people it doesnt get any easier or better

[danielmclark]

My recipe is very similar to yours, but for the meat I go with a pound each of ground sirloin, ground lamb and ground pork. If I'm feeling rich (or if it's on sale) I'll use ground veal instead of sirloin.

[iluvgeddy05]

I have never made meatballs, but in my defense, I have only been truly cooking a little over a year now. These sounds delish.

[Janie]

That recipe is almost exactly like the Cooks Illustrated one except they use buttermilk.

 

I've always pan-fried meatballs. How long do you cook them in the oven?

[Digital Man]

QUOTE (PassTheAmmunition @ Aug 2 2011, 04:59 PM)

Beer Meatballs Meatballs ~2 lb ground beef1.5 lb bulk Italian sausage 1/2 cup bread crumbs 1/2 ketchup 1/2 cup  milk 1/2 cup finely diced onion 2 beaten eggs salt pepper oregano parmesan (all to taste) roll into small meatballs - small as or smaller than ping pong balls.  think hors'deuvre size with toothpick. Beer Sauce 2 12oz bottles of your favorite golden beer (lager/pilsner) - I recommend a decent german beer like Beck's 2 12oz bottles Heinz Chili Sauce Thats right, thats the sauce.  2 bottles of beer and 2 bottles of chili sauce.  Some people add grape jelly to make them a little sweeter.  I say nay nay on the jelly.  But to each their own... Honestly these never fail to get compliments.  And its MEAT and BEER.  Come on people it doesnt get any easier or better

Do you cook the meatballs first or just let 'em sit in the sauce in a slow cooker for a few hours?

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

QUOTE (PassTheAmmunition @ Aug 2 2011, 04:59 PM)

Beer Meatballs ---- Honestly these never fail to get compliments.  And its MEAT and BEER.  Come on people it doesnt get any easier or better

It's like PagsCon in a meatball!

[GhostGirl]

[Janie]

LIX, I need more info on your balls before I eat them.

 

How long do you let those bad boys bake before serving them?

 

(This is reminding me of the SNL skit about Alec Baldwin's Shweaty Balls.)

[Lost In Xanadu]

Here you go Janie!

 

Bake for like an hour, I don't flip them.. Just bake till golden brown, and throw right into the sauce. I've tried making them early and then putting them in sauce later and it doesn't work.

[Janie]

QUOTE (Lost In Xanadu @ Dec 30 2011, 02:46 AM)

Here you go Janie! Bake for like an hour, I don't flip them.. Just bake till golden brown, and throw right into the sauce. I've tried making them early and then putting them in sauce later and it doesn't work.

Thanks LIX!