Clean-Out-the-Fridge Meatballs
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 36 to 40 meatballs
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 38 servings
- Calories
- 100
- Total Fat
- 7
- Saturated Fat
- 3
- Carbohydrates
- 3
- Dietary Fiber
- 0
- Sugar
- 0
- Protein
- 6
- Cholesterol
- 25
- Sodium
- 97
- Total: 1 hr
- Active: 30 min
Ingredients
Cooking spray
1 cup breadcrumbs of your choice
1/2 cup milk of your choice
2 cups finely diced vegetables of your choice (see Cook’s Note)
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh herbs of your choice, optional
2 to 6 cloves garlic, minced, optional
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup grated Parmesan or pecorino, optional (see Cook’s Note)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, optional
2 pounds ground meat or poultry of your choice
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Generously spray a wire rack with cooking spray and set inside a rimmed baking sheet.
- Stir together the breadcrumbs and milk in a large bowl and set aside to soak.
- Meanwhile, prep the vegetables and herbs if using. Give the breadcrumbs one more stir, then stir in the vegetables and garlic if using. Add the egg, then add the cheese and herbs if using. Sprinkle with salt (see Cook’s Note) and pepper if using. Stir gently to combine.
- Add the ground meat. Without mixing it in, pull apart the meat with two forks as if you were shredding pulled pork, breaking up the blocks into small clumps. Gently incorporate the clumps until all the ingredients are evenly combined. If desired, taste for seasoning: place 1 tablespoon in a small nonstick pan over medium-high heat and cook until cooked through, 2 minutes per side.
- Scoop out the mixture and gently roll into 1 1/2-inch balls (a #40 cookie scoop is great for this or 2 tablespoons) You should have 36 to 40 balls total. Arrange the balls on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden and cooked through in the center, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
Cook’s Note
For a smoother meatball, grate the vegetables. Pecorino is much saltier than the Parmesan. If using Parmesan, use 2 very large five-finger pinches of salt. If using Pecorino, use 1 very large five-finger pinches of salt. For a great go-to meatball, try 1 pound ground beef, 1 pound ground turkey, 1 cup panko, 1 small carrot, 2 stalks celery and 1/2 onion.