Best 6 Meatloaf Or Meatballs Recipes

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When it comes to comfort food, meatloaf and meatballs reign supreme. These classic dishes have been enjoyed by families for generations, and for good reason. They're hearty, flavorful, and relatively easy to make. Whether you prefer the traditional meatloaf with its savory glaze or tender meatballs swimming in a rich sauce, there's a recipe out there to suit your taste. With so many variations to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect meatloaf or meatball recipe to make your next meal a hit.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

CHEF JOHN'S MEATBALL-INSPIRED MEATLOAF



Chef John's Meatball-Inspired Meatloaf image

The main point of this Italian meatball-inspired meatloaf is to show you what happens when you make meatloaf like your grandparents did. During the Great Depression, this type of dish was a popular strategy for stretching what little meat you had into as filling a meal as possible.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Meatloaf Recipes

Time 2h

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 onion, diced
salt to taste
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups very dry white bread crumbs
1 ½ cups milk
2 pounds ground chuck
½ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
2 large eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
3 cups tomato sauce, or to taste

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • Heat olive oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion with a pinch of salt in hot oil and butter until onion is golden brown and soft, 5 to 10 minutes. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove skillet from heat and cool onion mixture to room temperature.
  • Place bread crumbs in a large bowl. Add milk and stir with a fork until combined. Let sit until all of the milk is absorbed into the breadcrumbs, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Combine ground chuck, cooled onion mixture, parsley, Parmesan cheese, eggs, 2 teaspoons salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Grab a handful of breadcrumbs and squeeze very gently to remove excess milk. Repeat with remaining breadcrumbs, transfer breadcrumbs to ground chuck mixture, and discard excess milk. Stir ground chuck mixture until evenly combined.
  • Turn chuck mixture out into prepared baking dish, and shape meat into a 3x4x10-inch meatloaf. Pour tomato sauce over the loaf and into the bottom of the dish.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 1 hour 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Let meatloaf rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 286.3 calories, Carbohydrate 19.4 g, Cholesterol 85.8 mg, Fat 14.5 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 19.6 g, SaturatedFat 5.9 g, Sodium 1129.3 mg, Sugar 6.3 g

OLD FASHIONED MEATLOAF MEATBALLS



Old Fashioned Meatloaf Meatballs image

Sometimes it is necessary for the mouse to outsmart the cat. My husband will not get near meatloaf due to childhood culinary trauma. I adore meatloaf and with a bit of tweaking to my favorite recipe and shaping them into meatballs, we both are happy. But, he still does not know it is meatloaf. I use leftovers to make meatball subs.

Provided by Brandess

Categories     Meat

Time 50m

Yield 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 teaspoon olive oil
3 celery ribs, finely chopped
1/4 cup carrot, grated
1/2 large onion, finely chopped
1 lb lean ground beef
1 lb lean ground chicken (can substitute lean ground turkey)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, divided
1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
1/3 cup ketchup
2 teaspoons creole seasoning (Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning)
1 teaspoon all purpose Greek seasoning (Cavender's All Purpose Greek Seasoning)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili sauce, Heinz
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat; add celery, carrot and onion, and sauté 7 minutes or just until tender.
  • Stir together celery mixture, ground beef, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, breadcrumbs, and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Shape into 2" meatballs using an ice cream scoop. Place the meatballs in a foil lined baking dish and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
  • Stir together 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, brown sugar, chili sauce, 1 tablespoon ketchup and red pepper flakes until blended; pour evenly over meatballs, and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until no longer pink in center. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

MEATLOAF MEATBALLS WITH HORSERADISH MASH AND GRAVY



Meatloaf Meatballs with Horseradish Mash and Gravy image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 2h5m

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Number Of Ingredients 29

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 onion, finely chopped
2 small ribs celery, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Salt and pepper
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
1/4 cup dry sherry or white wine
3 slices 1-inch-thick, good-quality white bread, crusts trimmed
About 1 cup whole milk
2 pounds ground sirloin
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 large egg plus 1 yolk, lightly beaten
Olive oil cooking spray
2 1/2 to 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and chunked*
Salt
1 cup sour cream
1/4 to 1/2 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
3 to 4 tablespoons horseradish, to your taste
Coarse black pepper
1/4 to 1/3 cup chopped chives
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Coarse black pepper
3 cups beef stock
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten

Steps:

  • For the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Heat a saute pan over medium to medium-high heat; melt the butter. Add the onion, celery and garlic; season with salt, pepper and thyme. Cook to tender, 7 to 8 minutes. Deglaze with the sherry or wine; cool.
  • Soak the bread in milk while the veggies cool.
  • Place the meat in mixing bowl; season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the liquid out of the bread and crumble into the bowl. Add the cooked vegetables, parsley, Worcestershire, mustard and eggs; combine to mix but do not overwork.
  • Place parchment paper on a baking sheet and roll the meat into 24 balls. Spray with cooking spray and roast about 15 to 18 minutes until lightly crispy and golden and cooked through. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal. Reheat, covered, in a preheated 375-degree F oven with a splash of water or they will stick in the bottom of the dish. Once meatballs are hot, uncover and crisp up for 5 minutes.
  • For the mash: Fill a pot halfway with cold water. Peel and add the potatoes as they are chopped or, if you peeled up the potatoes ahead, place in a pot and fill with fresh water. Add enough water to cover the potatoes, then cover the pot and place over high heat to bring to a boil. Once the water boils, remove the lid, salt the water and cook, uncovered, at a low boil until tender to fork. Drain and return to hot pot. Mash the potatoes with the sour cream and cream, a liberal dose of pepper, horseradish and chives; salt to your taste. If you wish to make the potatoes ahead of time and hold them for a couple of hours, place an inch of water in a large pot and bring to boil, then reduce heat to low and place a smaller pot, filled with the potatoes, into simmering water and cover that pot.
  • For the gravy: Melt the butter in saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour and bring to a bubble; whisk in the stock and Worcestershire, season with pepper and thicken. Temper the egg yolk by lightly beating a ladle of gravy into it, then whisk into the sauce. Cool and store; reheat over medium heat, adding a little more stock, if necessary, to loosen.
  • Serve in shallow bowls. Spoon in enough potatoes to gently mound up in a bowl, then arrange a few meatballs in the center of the mound. Ladle gravy down over top and garnish with parsley.

MEATBALL MEATLOAVES



Meatball Meatloaves image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 slices good-quality white bread or sliced peasant bread, torn
1 cup whole milk
1 1/2 pounds ground beef, pork and veal mix
1 egg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 to 2/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, a couple generous handfuls
Extra-virgin olive oil, for liberal drizzling, plus 2 tablespoons
2 cubanelle peppers, chopped
1 red onion, chopped
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups beef stock
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  • In a large bowl, add the bread and the milk and let soak for a few minutes then wring out the moisture. In another large mixing bowl add the meat and the soaked bread. Add the egg, salt and pepper, to taste, the garlic, parsley, cheese and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Mix to combine and form into 4 mini oval loaves, about 2-inches thick.
  • Arrange the loaves on a medium nonstick baking sheet and drizzle the tops with a little extra-virgin olive oil. Roast in oven for 20 minutes.
  • While meat is roasting, put a medium skillet or sauce pot on the stove over medium heat, and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the peppers and the onions, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and saute for 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, cook for 1 minute, then sprinkle in the flour and stir for 1 minute more. Whisk in the stock and Worcestershire, and season again with salt and pepper, to taste. Reduce the heat and let simmer until ready to serve.
  • Remove the meatloaves from the oven to a serving platter and serve with lots of chunky pepper and onion gravy on top.

MEATLOAF SURPRISE MEATBALLS



Meatloaf Surprise Meatballs image

Looking for a distinctive appetizer for your next party? Enjoy these potato nuggets stuffed beef meatballs that are made with Progresso® bread crumbs.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Appetizer

Time 50m

Yield 32

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 lb ground beef round
3/4 cup Progresso™ Italian style panko crispy bread crumbs
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons grated onion
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 egg
32 frozen (do not thaw) miniature potato nuggets (from 28-oz bag)
1/3 cup packed brown sugar

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350°F. Line broiler pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray.
  • In large bowl, mix beef, bread crumbs, 1/3 cup of the ketchup, the parsley, onion, salt, pepper and egg. Shape meat mixture into 32 (1 1/4-inch) meatballs, placing 1 potato nugget in center of each. Place meatballs in pan.
  • Bake 25 to 28 minutes or until thoroughly cooked.
  • In large serving bowl, mix remaining 2/3 cup ketchup and the brown sugar. Add hot cooked meatballs, tossing to coat completely. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 100, Carbohydrate 12 g, Fat 1/2, Fiber 1 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 300 mg

OH MEATBALLS!, OH MEATLOAF!



Oh Meatballs!, Oh Meatloaf! image

This recipe can be made as a meatloaf or meatballs and is from Bird's dear old dad. with a secret ingredient (soy sauce) that no one will even taste or believe is in the recipe. The blending process is against traditional methods of lightly mixing the meat but what do experts know?, they said eggs were bad for us at one time, lol. My dad's method makes this the most tender, moist and delicious meatballs or meatloaf you will ever eat. The ketchup topping is simple, and the oven thickens it and makes a tangy sauce that there is never enough of as everyone is always wanting extra. The meatballs freeze well for leftovers or OAMC. You can just pull out any number of frozen meatballs for use in later dishes such as with a Bechamel sauce for an easy Swedish Meatball appetizer, or for spaghetti, or Meatball Parmesan hoagies, or...

Provided by 2Bleu

Categories     Meat

Time 35m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 lbs ground beef
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 teaspoons italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 small onion, chopped (or 1 tsp onion powder)
2 eggs
6 slices white bread, cubed into 1/2-inch pieces
2 cups ketchup (for meatloaf only)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425°F Place ground beef into a large bowl and sprinkle with soy sauce, spreading around the meat. Turn meat over to coat.
  • Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly using your hands. Start by keeping hands open wide, then close down as you reach into meat, squishing and turning with your wrists. Continue till mixed well until meat is 'stringy' (this is non-traditional as most chef's tell you not to overmix).
  • MEATBALLS: Shape into small 1" balls and place on a baking sheet 1/2" apart. Bake for about 15 minutes or until cooked through.
  • MEATLOAF: Place meatloaf into a loaf pan or 8x8 baking dish. Pour ketchup over top. Bake for 45 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Tips:

  • Use a combination of ground beef and ground pork: This creates a more flavorful and moist meatloaf or meatballs.
  • Choose high-quality ground beef: Look for ground beef that is at least 80% lean. This will help to keep your meatloaf or meatballs from becoming dry.
  • Add plenty of seasonings: Don't be afraid to experiment with different herbs and spices. Some popular choices include garlic, onion, parsley, thyme, oregano, and paprika.
  • Use bread crumbs or crackers to bind the meatloaf or meatballs: This will help to keep them from falling apart.
  • Don't overmix the meat: Overmixing can make the meatloaf or meatballs tough.
  • Cook the meatloaf or meatballs at a moderate temperature: This will help to prevent them from drying out.
  • Let the meatloaf or meatballs rest before slicing: This will allow the juices to redistribute, making them more tender and flavorful.

Conclusion:

With so many delicious variations to choose from, there's sure to be a meatloaf or meatball recipe that everyone will enjoy. Whether you prefer a classic recipe or something more unique, these tips will help you create a delicious and satisfying dish.

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