Make Ahead Italian Meatballs Food

MAKE-AHEAD ITALIAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Mix ground beef, onion, bread crumbs, milk, egg, salt and pepper. Shape mixture into thirty 1-inch balls. Place in ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches.
• Bake uncovered about 15 minutes or until no longer pink in center and juice is clear. (To serve immediately, continue as directed in step 5--except decrease simmer time to 15 minutes.)
• Place meatballs on ungreased cookie sheet. Freeze uncovered about 20 minutes or until firm. Place partially frozen meatballs in heavy plastic bag or freezer container. Seal, label and freeze no longer than 3 months.
• About 25 minutes before serving, mix chili sauce, water, pasta sauce and mustard in 2-quart saucepan. Add meatballs. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes or until meatballs are hot.

MAKE-AHEAD MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls, about 12 dozen. , Place meatballs on greased racks in shallow baking pans. Bake at 400° for 10-15 minutes or until no longer pink, turning often; drain. Cool. , Freeze option: Freeze cooled meatballs in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Reheat on a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan in a preheated 350° oven until heated through.,

MAKE-AHEAD BAKED MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat eggs.
• Add the next five ingredients.
• Add beef; mix well.
• Lightly pat meat mixture into a 1-inch thick rectangle.
• Cut the rectangle into squares the desired size of your meatballs.
• Shape each square into a ball.
• Place in single layers on ungreased 15X10 inch baking pans.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until no longer pink; turning occasionally; drain.
• Serve or cool and place desired number of meatballs into freezer containers.
• May be frozen for up to 3 months.

MAKE-AHEAD FREEZER MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except beef.
• Mix in beef well, and shape into meatballs.
• Place all on single layer in pan.
• Bake 20 minutes at 350.
• Remove and drain on paper towels, and let cool 15 minutes.
• Put in freezer bag or freezer container or use immediately.

MAKE-AHEAD SHEET-PAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Place bread in a large bowl, pour milk over, and let sit until moistened, about 5 minutes. Squeeze bread with your hands to remove excess milk; discard milk. Tear bread into pea-size pieces and return to bowl.
• Add beef, sausage, eggs, Parmesan, and salt to bread. Using your hands, gently mix until evenly distributed (do not overmix).
• To serve immediately:
• Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 500°F. Lightly coat three 18x13" rimmed baking sheets with oil. Fill a small bowl with cool water. Moisten your hands and roll meat mixture between palms into ping pong-size balls (about 1.5" diameter; 1.2 oz. each), occasionally moistening hands as needed. Arrange meatballs 1/2" apart on prepared sheets.
• Roast meatballs, rotating racks top to bottom once halfway through, until lightly browned and cooked through, 8-10 minutes.
• To freeze to serve later:
• Line two 18x13" rimmed baking sheets with parchment. Fill a small bowl with cool water. Moisten your hands and roll meat mixture between palms into ping pong-size balls (about 1.5" diameter; 1.2 oz. each), occasionally moistening hands as needed. Arrange meatballs 1/4" apart on prepared sheets. Freeze on sheets until firm, about 1 hour. Transfer to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag and freeze up to 3 months.
• To cook meatballs from frozen, preheat oven to 500°F. Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet with oil. Transfer desired amount of frozen meatballs to prepared sheet and roast, turning once halfway through, until lightly browned and cooked through, 10-12 minutes.

ITALIAN-STYLE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium-low heat, warm 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, but not browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Dump the onion mixture into a large bowl and let cool. Wipe the skillet clean.
• Add the meat, breadcrumbs, mustard, parsley, egg, salt, and some pepper to the cooled onions and mix.
• Use your hands to roll the mixture into 1-1/4 inch (3 cm) meatballs. You should have about 15 meatballs.
• Place the flour on a plate or in a baking dish and roll the meatballs in the flour to coat. Dust off any excess.
• In the same large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Working in batches, if necessary, add the meatballs and brown on all sides.
• Return all the meatballs to the skillet, then carefully add the canned tomatoes and 3/4 cup (200 ml) water. Be cautious: the skillet will be hot and might spit.
• Cover and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) and the flavors have melded, 20 to 25 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, if needed.☞TESTER TIP: If you prefer a spicy sauce, season with some red pepper flakes.
• While the meatballs are cooking, cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling salted water according to the package instructions.
• Drain the pasta in a colander, and transfer to a serving bowl. Top with the meatballs and sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan.

ITALIAN MEATBALLS (HOW TO BAKE, FRY OR POACH)

Steps:

• Before starting on our meatballs, we make our sauce, so it can get a head start simmering. Heat olive or canola oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until soft, about five to eight minutes. Add the garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
• Stir in the tomato paste and chianti. Cook until the chianti is nearly fully reduced.
• Pour in the crushed tomatoes with the juice. Tie the thyme, rosemary and oregano together with kitchen twine. Add the bundled herbs with bay leaves and stir in salt and pepper. Mostly cover, leaving a crack open, and bring to a simmer. Stir occasionally and keep the heat as low as possible to maintain a simmer.
• Now we start on the meatballs. In a bowl, combine the bread crumbs and heavy cream or milk. Allow the bread crumbs to soak as you prepare the other ingredients.
• Beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the garlic cloves, Parmesan, onion, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and anchovy paste if using. Drain the bread crumbs in a fine-mesh sieve. Stir in the bread crumbs.
• Add the ground beef and pork. Using a gentle touch, stir with a wooden spoon to form one cohesive mixture. You could even use your hands to mix the ingredients together. Mix just until combined.
• Lightly oil your hands and form into balls slightly larger than the size of a golf ball. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. In batches, add meatballs without overcrowding the pan. Brown on one side and then roll over to the other side. Repeat until the meatballs are lightly browned on all sides.
• After frying, drop the fried meatballs directly into the simmering sauce. Simmer on low to medium-low heat about two hours, stirring occasionally. Try to be as gentle as possible when stirring. If you're in a hurry, you could simmer the meatballs for only 20 minutes, but two hours is best for optimal flavor and texture.
• After simmering for two hours, stir in the freshly chopped basil and turn off heat. Serve the meatballs with pasta or as a party appetizer. Enjoy!
• Before starting on our meatballs, we make our sauce, so it can get a head start simmering. Heat olive or canola oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until soft, about five to eight minutes. Add the garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
• Stir in the tomato paste and chianti. Cook until the chianti is nearly fully reduced.
• Pour in the crushed tomatoes with the juice. Tie the thyme, rosemary and oregano together with kitchen twine. Add the bundled herbs with bay leaves and stir in salt and pepper. Mostly cover, leaving a crack open, and bring to a simmer. Stir occasionally and keep the heat as low as possible to maintain a simmer.
• Now we start on the meatballs. Heat oven to 450 degrees. In a bowl, combine the bread crumbs and heavy cream or milk. Allow the bread crumbs to soak as you prepare the other ingredients.
• Beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the garlic cloves, Parmesan, onion, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and anchovy paste if using. Drain the bread crumbs in a fine-mesh sieve. Stir in the bread crumbs.
• Add the ground beef and pork. Using a gentle touch, stir with a wooden spoon to form one cohesive mixture. You could even use your hands to mix the ingredients together. Mix just until combined.
• Lightly oil your hands and form into balls slightly larger than the size of a golf ball. Place on a large parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. After baking, drop the baked meatballs directly into the simmering sauce. Simmer on low to medium-low heat about two hours, stirring occasionally. Try to be as gentle as possible when stirring. If you're in a hurry, you could simmer the meatballs for only 20 minutes, but two hours is best for optimal flavor and texture.
• After simmering for two hours, stir in the freshly chopped basil and turn off heat. Serve the meatballs with pasta or as a party appetizer. Enjoy!
• Before starting on our meatballs, we make our sauce, so it can get a head start simmering. Heat olive or canola oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until soft, about five to eight minutes. Add the garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
• Stir in the tomato paste and chianti. Cook until the chianti is nearly fully reduced.
• Pour in the crushed tomatoes with the juice. Tie the thyme, rosemary and oregano together with kitchen twine. Add the bundled herbs with bay leaves and stir in salt and pepper. Mostly cover, leaving a crack open, and bring to a simmer. Stir occasionally and keep the heat as low as possible to maintain a simmer.
• Now we start on the meatballs. In a bowl, combine the bread crumbs and heavy cream or milk. Allow the bread crumbs to soak as you prepare the other ingredients.
• Beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the garlic cloves, Parmesan, onion, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and anchovy paste if using. Drain the bread crumbs in a fine-mesh sieve. Stir in the bread crumbs.
• Add the ground beef and pork. Using a gentle touch, stir with a wooden spoon to form one cohesive mixture. You could even use your hands to mix the ingredients together. Mix just until combined.
• Lightly oil your hands and form into balls slightly larger than the size of a golf ball. Drop directly into the simmering sauce. Simmer on low to medium-low heat until cooked through, about two to three hours, stirring occasionally. Because they're going in without a crust, it's normal for a few meatballs to break up during the cooking process. Most meatballs will remain intact. Try to be as gentle as possible when stirring.
• After simmering for two hours, stir in the freshly chopped basil, remove the other herbs and turn off heat. Serve the meatballs with pasta or as a party appetizer. Enjoy!

MAKE-AHEAD MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add the next five ingredients. Add beef; mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls, about 12 dozen. Place in single layers in ungreased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pans. bake at 400 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until no longer pink, turning often; drain. Cool. Place about 30 meatballs each into freezer containers. May be frozen for up to 3 months. Yield: 5 batches (about 30 meatballs per batch).