Thebigmeatball Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, croutons, sweet onion, egg, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, red pepper flakes, and Cajun seasoning. Form the mixture by hand into meatballs.
• Heat the olive oil and melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Place the meatballs in the skillet, and cook, turning constantly, 20 minutes, or to desired doneness.

Steps:

• For the sauce: Swirl the oil and garlic in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the garlic is just lightly browned and fragrant, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and 1 cup water, and bring to a high simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the basil and 2 teaspoons salt and simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 20 to 25 minutes. Set aside and keep warm.
• For the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Tear the bread into very small pieces and put it in a small bowl. Pour the milk over the bread, and let sit until the bread is soft, about 5 minutes.
• Combine the bread mixture with the beef, pork, Parmesan, eggs, onions, parsley, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and red pepper flakes in a large bowl, and thoroughly mix with your hands. Divide the mixture evenly into 36 mounds, and roll each into a ball.
• Brush 2 rimmed baking sheets generously with oil. Evenly divide the meatballs between the sheets, and roll them around to coat in oil. Bake until golden brown and cooked through, rotating the sheets halfway through if needed, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer the meatballs to the warm sauce, and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat. Let the meatballs and sauce cool completely, divide evenly among four 1-quart containers and freeze for up to 1 month.
• To reheat: Let a container of the meatballs and sauce thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Transfer them to a microwave-safe container, and microwave in 2-minute increments, gently stirring after each, until the meatballs are heated through.

Steps:

• Preaheat oven to 350°.
• In a big mixing bowl, combine the beef, sausage, bread crumbs, parsley, cheese, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, and eggs (this works best if you use your hands).
• Place the meat in the center of a 13x9 inch baking dish; shape mixture into a smooth rounded dome 3-4 inches high.
• Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes.
• Spoon or drain off any fat in the dish.
• Pour the marinara sauce over the loaf and bake 20 minutes; let stand 10 minutes.
• Serve meatloaf cut in wedges with about 2/3 cup sauce per serving.
• Left-overs: cut into chunks and reheat in additional marinara sauce; serve spooned into hero or grinder rolls; add a few slices of mozzarella cheese and sauteed green pepper, if you wish.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and mix with hands until well blended. Form beef mixture into balls about 3 to 4 ounces each. Place in a greased baking dish, cover with foil and place in oven for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and check to make sure they have cooked completely through. Remove the foil and place back into oven for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes to let some of the juices absorb back into the meatballs. Drain remaining grease and serve with your favorite pasta and sauce.

Steps:

• Make the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and brush a baking sheet with olive oil. Pulse the bread in a food processor to make coarse crumbs. Transfer to a small bowl, add the milk and set aside to soak. Lightly beat the eggs in a large bowl, then add the beef, parsley, parmesan, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and the red pepper flakes; mix with your hands to combine. Add the bread-milk mixture and mix until just combined (do not overmix).
• Dampen your hands and shape the meat mixture into 4 large balls. Make an indentation in the center of each with your thumb and stuff with a mini mozzarella ball, then mold the meat around the cheese. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet and bake until browned and firm, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, 1 cup water, the basil sprigs and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the meatballs from the oven and add to the sauce, spooning some of the sauce on top. Continue cooking, occasionally spooning the sauce over the meatballs, until tender and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Serve with ricotta and chopped basil.
• You can form all of these meatballs a day ahead; cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.

Steps:

• To make the dough, in a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, granulated sugar, and yeast. Stir in the warm milk until well-combined, and set aside until small bubbles form at the surface, about 5 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, egg yolks, and salt. Add to the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, adding a cup at a time. After the third cup has been added, transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth, adding as much of the remaining 1/2 cup of flour as needed. The dough should be tacky and a little greasy. It shouldn't be sticky. If it is, add more flour a little at a time, but try not to add too much at this stage. Knead until smooth and springy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• In the meantime, preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and grease lightly with cooking spray or brush with oil. Set aside.
• To make the meatballs, in a large bowl, stir the ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, milk, parmesan, salt, pepper, parsley, cloves, granulated garlic, granulated onion, dried oregano, dried basil and crushed red pepper flakes until just combined. You don't want to overwork the mixture. Divide and shape into twelve even meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes and remove from the oven to cool.
• Once the dough has risen, transfer to a lightly floured work surface and lightly knead a few times to release the air. Divide into 12 even pieces (roughly about 2 1/3 ounces each). Working with one at a time, pull the ends of the dough towards the center to form a tight ball and then place on your work surface (no flour should be needed at this stage) and using a cupping motion firmly roll the dough with the palm of your hand to create a smooth tight ball. Place on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Continue shaping and rolling the rest of the dough, placing them all on the same baking sheet, evenly spacing them out. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside to rise for another 30 to 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
• Once done, use your finger tips (lightly greased to prevent sticking) to stretch the center of each slightly to create 2-inch-wide wells. Brush with egg wash and then fill the center of each with about a tablespoon of marinara. Sprinkle the centers with mozzarella and parmesan. Place a meatball in the center of each kolache. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and parmesan and bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with basil before serving. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheated before serving. Enjoy!