meatballs

Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs

Dec 18, 2019

Cranberry Meatballs – like the classic grape jelly meatballs but made with cranberry sauce for the perfect holiday appetizer! Made in the crockpot, only 3 ingredients!

Originally published December 21, 2011, updated on December 18, 2019.

Hi guys, today I am updating an old post (from 2011! How have I been on the internet that long?!) for Cranberry Meatballs that had terrible pictures because I thought about this recipe the other day and remembered how much I love it.

You know that grape jelly meatballs that you see at every party and potluck? The ones that you can’t explain why you love them but you can’t stop eating them? These cranberry meatballs are pretty much those meatballs but made with jellied cranberry sauce instead of the grape jelly. They aren’t quite as sweet as the grape jelly ones so if you find those a little too sweet, these will be perfect for you.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs are the perfect holiday appetier and so easy. Only 3 ingredients and cooked in the slow cooker!

If you are looking for other holiday appetizer recipes, I recommend my Cranberry Brie Bites and Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms.

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Paleo Pizza Turkey Meatballs – Paleo Meal Prep

Jan 02, 2019

Doing a paleo meal prep? These Paleo Pizza Turkey Meatballs are easy, flavorful, and full of veggies! Serve with zucchini noodles and paleo-friendly pasta sauce for a quick, comforting dinner.

Hi guys! Happy New Year!

Can I tell you how happy I am for the holidays to be over and to get back to regular life? I like my routines and the holidays have them all sorts of messed up.

Kids go back to school next week and then I’ll officially be back to normal life. I can’t wait to drop them off and then wander around the grocery store alone.

In silence.

With no one asking for anything.

I’m also ready to not have tins of cookies and fudge hanging around the house at all times.

Okay, so these Paleo Pizza Turkey Meatballs!

They’re so easy because they’re just the Italian turkey sausage and veggies! And they’re so delicious because who doesn’t love Italian sausage and veggies?!

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Korean BBQ Meatball Lettuce Wraps

Apr 27, 2018

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cooked Perfect® Fresh Meatballs for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Quick and easy dinners don’t have to be boring! Korean BBQ Meatball Lettuce Wraps are ready in about 20 minutes and the whole family will love them!

Hi guys. I’m going to share my current obsession with you today.

You know how much I love all things Korean bbq, right?

Like, if I absolutely had to pick my favorite food – we’re talking last meal here – it would be Korean bbq.

I’ve even got my kids hooked on it which on one hand is good but on the other? I don’t wanna share my bulgogi fries with anyone! Not even my own children.

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Meatball French Bread Pizza

Aug 18, 2017

Meatball French Bread Pizza – perfect for pizza night! French bread with pizza sauce, homemade meatballs, and lots of cheese. Easy and delicious!

Heeeey guys, happy Friday!

Do you guys do pizza on Friday night? We usually do but we’ve been off our usual routine this summer and I’m trying to get back into it. School starts in, like, a week and a half here. Ugh.

I took them school shopping the other day. I don’t wanna talk about it.

ANYWAY.

Our babysitter got my oldest kiddo really into cooking a few months ago. Like, I would come home at night and find pancakes in the fridge for the next morning or brownies on the counter with a note that said they were just for me. Every time I went out, they would make something together.

So now, he really enjoys being in charge of pizza night. He loves for me to buy the pizza dough from Trader Joe’s or French bread for pizzas like this Meatball French Bread Pizza. And then I always serve my really easy Cheesy Breadsticks on pizza night.

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Paleo Swedish Meatballs

Jan 22, 2015

This is the week that will never end.

I swear, the short weeks are the worst. Especially since we’re snowy and for whatever reason, school hasn’t been canceled or even delayed. Yesterday all of Fort Carson was on a “phased arrival for non-mission essential” whatever but the kids still had to be at school bright and early.

Lucky for me, I have one kid that goes to a school within walking distance. So he’ll either walk with his friends or I’ll walk with him. But then the other one’s preschool is a good drive away. So I called the secretary yesterday morning and said, “I’m not driving in this.”

And she said, “Excuse me?”

And I said, “My kid’s not coming to school.”

And she said, “Ummm…..”

So. We skipped preschool yesterday. Rebels.

At least I called, right?

A few weeks ago, when we made our family trip to IKEA, I tortured my husband (who is doing a strict Paleo diet) by pointing out every sign for their Swedish meatballs. Neither of us have ever tried the meatballs but the pictures were enough to make us both sad that we couldn’t have any.

And I’m not gonna lie, I’ve been thinking about them ever since.

So I made these Paleo ones which really wasn’t that hard since meatballs are just balls of meat. So pretty much Paleo to begin with. There’s no bread crumbs or anything like that but they have a great texture regardless. And the sauce has coconut milk instead of sour cream or regular cream or whatever typically goes into Swedish meatballs.

If I put these in front of you and left out the fact that they’re Paleo, you’d never know. You get no hint of the coconut milk. They really taste like traditional Swedish meatballs. And you could totally mash or rice some cauliflower so you have something to absorb all that delicious sauce.

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Thai Pork and Veggie Meatballs

Aug 04, 2014

Meatballs are one of the few things all 3 of my kids will eat without complaint. And this recipe is proof that I can literally put anything in meatballs and they will eat them.

As I was shredded the zucchini for these, my 4 year old walked into the kitchen and said “Eww, I don’t like zucchini!”

Umm… guess who asked for more meatballs not once but twice!

If we’re being technical here, these aren’t really Thai meatballs. Honestly, I’m not even sure Thai meatballs are a thing. I think Thai-Inspired would be a better title but…

Yeah.

So these are pork meatballs with a little ground turkey which I love because I love love love the flavor of pork but not necessarily the fat/calories so I feel like I can eat more if I mix in some super lean ground turkey. The meatballs have lots of shredded zucchini and carrots mixed in with some curry powder, fresh ginger, garlic, all kinds of good stuff. And then you cover them with a peanut sauce before baking!

Except I don’t eat peanut butter because I do try to eat paleo when I’m not drinking wine and eating my weight in Qdoba 3-cheese nachos so I used almond butter in this “peanut” sauce. You could totally use peanut or even sunbutter if you prefer the taste of those!

Anyway, the sauce is SO good. I could drink it! Coconut milk, almond butter, and curry powder just make the yummiest combination.

These are super simple and I anticipate making these often in the coming months.

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Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs

May 15, 2014

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs take just a few minutes of prep in the morning and you will come home to the most delicious meatballs in a sweet and sour pineapple sauce. A kid favorite and so simple!

My kids have been obsessed with meatballs lately.

I guess I should say more obsessed because meatballs have always been a favorite. But lately, they can’t get enough. I made spaghetti the other night and all the meatballs were gone well before the noodles were!

Since a couple of my boys are currently going through weird picky stages, I’ve decided we’re having meatballs for every meal!

Okay maybe not, but I figured I could make them more often and switch it up from the usual spaghetti.

My kids ate the entire batch of these Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs!

In one sitting.

The sauce is sweet and sour but it isn’t the usual red sweet and sour sauce like the one I use in my sweet and sour chicken – this one is made from pineapple juice, brown sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce.

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Turkey Teriyaki Meatballs

Mar 18, 2014

My kids love meatballs. I could literally put a bowl of meatballs – no sauce, no pasta, nothing – in front of them and they would tell me it was the best meal they ever had.

I’ve had these Turkey Teriyaki Meatballs bookmarked forever but kept putting it off because I wasn’t sure if they would dig the teriyaki sauce. I finally made these a few weeks ago and my kids gobbled them up. There were zero meatballs left when my husband came home from the gym. Whoops.

They really are delicious and pretty healthy. And I especially love that the recipe only calls for things that I always have in the house! I served them on brown rice and drizzled some of the sauce over the rice but you could just serve them on toothpicks as an appetizer if you wanted.

Three years ago: Salted Butter Break-Ups
Four years ago: Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Five years ago: Parmesan Pull-Aparts

Turkey Teriyaki Meatballs

from Tracey's Culinary Adventures

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

1 1/4 lb. ground turkey
2 cloves garlic minced
2 teaspoons grated ginger
1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 egg lightly beaten
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the sauce:

1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons grated ginger
2 cloves garlic minced

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (for easy clean-up) and spray with cooking spray.
Add all of the ingredients for the meatballs to a large bowl and use your hands to combine until evenly distributed – try not to overmix. Using about 2 tablespoons of the mixture (I just eyeballed it), form the meatballs by rolling the mixture into a ball in your hands. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.
To make the sauce: Whisk together all of the sauce ingredients in a small pan and place over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 10 minutes.
When the meatballs have finished cooking, remove them from the oven and brush liberally with the sauce then return to the oven for 5 minutes. Serve with remaining sauce.

Easy Cheesy Meatball Lasagna

Mar 04, 2014

Lasagna is one of those meals that you really can’t beat. It seems like everyone loves it and it doesn’t require a whole lot of fancy ingredients or complicated steps.

Today I’m bringing you a twist on the classic. Ragú asked me to turn lasagna into a New Tra-Dish with a fun spin. Since I love lasagna so much, I wanted to make it easier and faster to prepare while keeping the taste pretty close to the original.

I’m sure you guys know that lasagna is kind of a labor of love. You have to make the sauce which can take hours depending on your recipe, cook the meat, boil the noodles, and then layer, layer, layer.

In my version, you use the Ragú Old World Style® Traditional Sauce – which, if you didn’t know, has 11 juicy tomatoes in each jar – and frozen meatballs to cut down the recipe prep by more than half! I love using Ragú in recipes like this because it has than authenic Italian taste that I love and really tastes like it’s been simmering on the stove all day.

Everyone in my house loved this recipe! I think all kids love meatballs so of course mine went nuts when they realized there were meatballs in the lasagna. The whole dish took me about 15 minutes prep thanks to Ragú, the meatballs, and the no-boil noodles. This makes it a perfect weeknight meal!

For more easy and delicious Ragú recipes, head over to their Facebook page and then stop by the Ragú Better and Better Sweepstakes for a chance to win great authentic Italian themed prize packs, including the grand prize of a trip to Italy for 4!

Easy Cheesy Meatball Lasagna

15 ounce container ricotta cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 egg
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
salt and pepper
12 ounce package frozen Italian-style meatballs, thawed and cut in half
2 24-ounce jars Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce
1 pound no-boil lasagna noodles
1 cup mozzarella cheese
½ cup Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350.

In a mixing bowl, beat together ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper until everything is combined. Set aside.

To assemble, spread about 1 cup of Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce onto bottom of a 9×13” casserole dish. Top with lasagna noodles in a single layer. Spread ⅓ of the ricotta mixture on the noodles. Spread 1/3 of the halved meatballs out on the noodles. Sprinkle with ⅓ of the mozzarella cheese. Top with ⅓ of the remaining sauce. Continue this pattern until you use all the ingredients. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over top.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes or until the noodles are cooked and the cheese is bubbly. Allow to cool about 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 18 years and older. Ends 5/6/14. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, alternate method of entry, and prize descriptions, visit www.RaguSweeps.com. Void where prohibited.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Ragú®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Mar 27, 2013

Ranch is one of my favorite things in the entire universe. I like it with on salads, with chicken nuggets, with french fries, and especially with buffalo wings.

When I was asked to create a recipe using Hidden Valley Ranch, my mind went immediately to buffalo! I didn’t really feel like frying wings so meatballs seemed like a good compromise.

These turned out super delicious. I put some of the Hidden Valley Ranch mix into the meatballs and then served it with extra ranch on the side. I was in ranch heaven. The meatballs themselves are nice and juicy and have so much flavor going on. My kids don’t really love spicy things so I left the sauce off their portions (there’s still sauce in the meatballs) and they ate them up! Definitely a winner around here!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, finely diced
1 stalk celery, finely diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound ground chicken
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1 egg
3 tablespoons Hidden Valley Ranch powdered salad dressing mix
3 tablespoons buffalo wing sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup buffalo wing sauce
Hidden Valley Ranch, for serving

Directions

Preheat oven to 400F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with oil.
Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until veggies are soft. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds or until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
Put ground chicken, bread crumbs, egg, Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix, 3 tablespoons buffalo wing sauce, salt, and pepper in a mixing add. Once veggies are cool, add those as well. Combine with either a wooden spoon or your hands. Shape into 1-inch balls and place in prepared pan.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.
While they are baking, heat the 3 tablespoons of butter and 1/4 cup buffalo wing sauce over low heat until butter is melted. Stir to combine.
Once the meatballs are baked, place a heatproof bowl and pour the butter/buffalo sauce mixture over top. Toss gently to make sure the meatballs are covered.
Serve with Hidden Valley Ranch and celery sticks.

Hidden Valley Original RanchSalad Dressing and Seasoning Mix is a simple way to add a flavorful kick to a classic recipe.Click hereto find more classic recipes remixed with Hidden Valley Ranch. Also check out the Ranch Remix contest for your chance to win great prizes!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Hidden Valley Ranch Remix. The opinions and text are all mine.

Turkey Eyeballs (Turkey Pesto Meatballs)

Oct 30, 2012

I’m definitely dreading dinner tomorrow night. My kid gets to wear his costume to school andÂ alllllll afternoon I’ll have to listen to “Is it time yet?!” and then there will be a huge fight at dinner time because he’ll be too busy pretending to be a Power Ranger to eat. I’m hoping a fun dinner like this will ease my pain.

These eyeballs were such a hit with the kids! I mean, of course it’s fun to pretend to eat eyeballs!

The meatballs themselves are as fantastic as they sound. Put pesto in anything and I’ll probably love it. And they couldn’t be easier since the meatballs are baked in the sauce. If you aren’t a fan of turkey, you could use beef or chicken or whatever ground meat you typically buy.

What’s your plan for dinner tomorrow?

One year ago: Southern Comfort Apple Pie
Two years ago: Falafel
Three years ago: Pomegranate Butter Chicken

Turkey Eyeballs (Turkey Pesto Meatballs)

from Lick the Bowl Good

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground turkey
1/4 cup pesto
1/4 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
sliced black olives about 7 olives
3 cups marinara sauce

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F.
In a large bowl, combine turkey, pesto, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, salt, and black pepper. Use your hands to make sure everything is incorporated evenly.
Using about 1 tablespoon of the mixture per meatball, roll into balls and place on a plate. Press a slice of olive on top of each meatball.
Pour the marinara sauce into a 9 x 9 inch baking pan and top with the meatballs.
Cover with foil and bake until meatballs are cooked through, about 20 minutes. Serve over noodles,.

Honey Chipotle Turkey Meatballs

Jul 16, 2012

So you know how I keep telling you guys that I suck at cooking dinner these days? Well I’m trying something new. I’m letting the boys each pick out a recipe every week so that they harass me until I eventually cook. I know, novel idea, cooking what my family wants and all. Anyway.

I sat both kids down in front of my Pinterest boards over the weekend and my 2 year old picked out these meatballs. (He also picked out the crinkle fries and corn on the cob. Smart kid.) Honey and chipotle is one of my favorite combinations and I knew it would be a hit with the boys as well. I did worry a little about the heat but I ended up using only 1 1/2 chipotle peppers just to be safe.

They loved the meatballs, of course. Even the baby dug them! This was a quick and easy and definitely something I’ll be making again. My husband is going to love them because they’re pretty similar to his beloved Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers.

One year ago:Â S’mores Treat
Two years ago: Â Bruschetta

Honey Chipotle Turkey Meatballs

from Tracey's Culinary Adventures

Ingredients

1 Â½ pound ground turkey
Â½ yellow onion diced small
2 garlic cloves minced
Â½ teaspoon salt
Â¼ teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoons honey
2-4 tablespoons chopped chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
4 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the turkey, onion, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Use your hands to make sure itâ€™s uniformly mixed but be careful not to overmix. Form into 16 golf ball-sized meatballs.
Put a large ovenproof skillet over medium to medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once it is shimmering, add the meatballs. Cook until they are browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Move the skillet to the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and pour the sauce over the meatballs. Bake for another 5 minutes (swirling the pan at the halfway point), or until the sauce has reduced to glaze the meatballs and the meatballs are cooked through. Make sure not to overcook!

Asian Turkey Meatballs with Sesame Lime Dipping Sauce

Apr 10, 2012

One of the good things about the husband being deployed is that I can cook whatever I want. (Also, I can cook whenever I want and you bloggers know how important that is! Dinner at 3 pm to take advantage of perfect light? Totally flies right now.) But it’s taken me awhile to get into the groove of cooking. I’ve had a serious affair with Subway this past month – seriously though, $5 for lunch AND dinner! Five bucks! – but I’ve decided that it’s time for us to break up.

I’ve had a list of “when the husband deploys” recipes for months now and this was on it. It’s just not something he would like but I knew it would be something I’d love. Even my 2 boys loved them – I got 18 meatballs out of the recipe and there were no leftovers! This is perfect for a night when you need something quick, healthy, and crowd-pleasing.

One year ago: Strawberry Ricotta Cake
Two years ago: Sticky Lemon Rolls with Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze

Asian Turkey Meatballs with Sesame Lime Dipping Sauce

adapted from Skinny Taste

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

¼ cup panko crumbs
1-1/4 lbs lean ground turkey
1 egg
1 tbsp ginger minced
1 clove garlic minced
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 green onions chopped
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil

For the dipping sauce:

4 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon chopped green onion

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450F.
In a large bowl, use your hands (or a wooden spoon) to mix ground turkey, panko, egg, salt, scallions, ginger, cilantro, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Take a heaping spoonful of meat and shape into a ball, transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining mixture. Bake until cooked through, 15 - 18 minutes. Brush with the dipping sauce (below).

For the dipping sauce:

Whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice, water, and green onion.
(Serve remaining sauce alongside the meatballs.)