Frugal Recipe: Damn Good Meatballs

Protein For The Win!
By Helen Chin Lui of The Healing Place in Medfield, MA

Prep time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 1.5 hours
Serves: 10-15 people (recipe can be cut in half)

Ingredients:

For the Meatballs:
1 pound of ground beef (85%)*
1 pound of ground pork
1 pound of ground veal
3 large or extra large eggs
1 medium to large, chopped onion (depending on taste)
4 chopped cloves of garlic
2 teaspoons of dry oregano and basil
1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups of dry breadcrumbs or 2 cups of fresh gluten free bread
½ cup of chopped, fresh, parsley
salt and pepper to taste

*Note: If you can’t find ground veal, increase ground beef and pork by additional half pound. If you do not like pork, increase the beef. If you want a healthier version try using 100% ground turkey meat. (We are not turkey meat fans in the Lui household.)

Directions:Turn oven on to 350 degrees
Have a one or two large baking pan ready
Mix all ingredients together by hand in a large mixing bowl.
     Note: Do NOT over mix or the meatballs be tough (sorry!)
Roll meatball 1-2″ size (we like them big at the Lui household)
Place meatballs on baking pan side by side (as many as you can)
Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. (you do not have to turn over half way through the cooking.)
    Note: If you are making small meatballs the meatballs are going to cook faster.
Set aside.
In the meantime make the sauce

Ingredients and Directions:
In a large saucepan (big enough to accommodate sauce and meatballs,) add the following ingredients.
3 cans of 16oz Hunts tomato sauce (I like the plain sauce)
3-4 chopped garlic
1 teaspoon of oregano and basil
½ cup of Parmesan cheese
½ cup of chopped, fresh, parsley
½ dried pepper flakes
1 small, chopped, onion
½ cup of either milk, soy or almond milk
Bring to a boil and turn down the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Once cooked, you have a choice of how you want to finish cooking your meatballs.

Crock pot cooking: If you are serving this for a party, you can place meatballs in a crock-pot and pour sauce over it and cook on low for the 5-6 hours.

Pot Cooking: Or you can put the meaballs into the sauce and bring to boil and turn down the heat to low and cook for about 1 hour.

Oven Baked: Or you can bake your meatballs by placing the meatballs in a large, clean, roasting pan and pour sauce over it and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees with a cover on. The last 15 minutes take off cover so that the meatballs will brown. If you like cheese (who doesn’t?) during the last 15 minutes you can sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the meatballs and bake until the cheese melts.
Serve with bread or your favorite pasta. Yummy!!!!

Frugal Fit Fun For Everyone! Subscribe Today


For More Great Tips, Get My Best-Seller On Amazon:

I hope you enjoyed this article about how to live healthier on a frugal budget and maximize your performance!

Interested in more articles about frugal fitness? 

Read My Posts:

Stay Frugal & Fit My Friends!

Frugal Fitness World Wide Wellness
Free Workouts & Nutrition On A Budget
"Crushing Fitness Costs Worldwide"


Also visit the Bootstrap Businessman

New Frugal Finance Blog Posts & Articles