Meatballs
Meatballs are always a big hit at a party, and for good reason! They are easy to make, and they hold up for hours in the crockpot. Healthy meatballs (yes, you can use those two words together) are super easy by just following a few tips and utilizing some sneaky swaps. First, start by selecting a lean meat such a lean ground beef or ground turkey breast. There's a stigma around leaner cuts of meat that they can't be as flavorful as their fattier parts...don’t worry about losing any delicious flavor in these leaner meatballs because we’ll add that with sauces and seasoning. Adding garlic, green onion, and a pinch of Montreal Steak Seasoning adds depth and flavor to these meatballs. The key to a light, juicy meatball is avoiding overmixing. Combine the ingredients just enough and then stop! Overhandling meatballs can result in a bite that is dense and dry (and we're not trying to eat paperweights here!).
Meatballs can be used as a meal, served as appetizers on skewers or toothpicks, or served straight from the crockpot. We love to cover ours in Walden Farms BBQ sauce, or for a spicy buffalo feel cover them in Frank’s Wing Sauce. They are also wonderful cooked with a diced tomato salsa. Serve these crowd pleasers straight from the crockpot, on fancy toothpicks as an appetizer, over spaghetti squash for a meal - there are tons of possibilities with this one!
INGREDIENTS:
- 16-24 oz.lean ground meat*
- 1-2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 4 oz. green onion, finely chopped
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp Montreal Steak Seasoning
- 200 calories seasoned bread crumbs or crushed plain cracker
*MRC Clients: refer to your menu for exact protein portion size. This recipe uses 4 servings lean ground meat.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line a rimmed sheet with foil or grease well. Place all ingredients in large mixing bowl and fold together. Note: mix until just combined - don't overmix. Roll into balls (smaller balls are easier to place on toothpicks).
- Place the meatballs on the sheet and cook for 20 minutes, until browned on the outside. Enjoy as is or place in a crockpot or stovetop pot on warm in your favorite sauce.
Makes 4 Servings | Serving Size: 1/4 recipe | One Serving Replaces: 4 oz. protein, 1 carbohydrate, 1 oz. vegetables
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