Meatballs, Meatloaf and Patties, Oh My!

Ok, I think I’m on a roll... at least for this week. Here’s another amazing recipe. It’s a meatball, meatloaf, baked meat shaped recipe. It’s very easy to make and takes no time at all to whip up for dinner.  Another bonus, kids will love it and it’s healthy for everyone too!

Baking times for this recipe will vary depending on the size or meatball, patty or loaf you make. I will give some approximate times but the best and easiest way to test for meat doneness, is to use a thermometer. I have an in oven one I use when doing this as a meatloaf since it’s can be placed in the loaf and left in until it’s done. For smaller things such as the patties, mini loaves or meatballs I use an instant read thermometer which can be purchased at almost any store (walmart, home outiftters, happy cooker, superstore) but do try to get a digital instant read. It will make taking the temperature much easier AND quicker! Send me a message if you’d like to know which one I have and I’ll be happy to pass on the information.

Each type of cooking size, loaf, balls, mini loaves can be served many ways. The meatballs are great in spaghetti, with mushroom gravy (I’ll post this another time), with sweet and sour sauce (another one I should post ... sorry) or on a sandwich with mayo – yum! The meatloaf and mini meat loaves are great served with sides of rice, potatoes, broccoli or whatever you tend to like.  The patties are great as burgers, sandwiches, atop of fries.... ok that might be a stretch but you get the idea. These are really easy to make and certainly multi-use.

Easy Meatballs/Loaf/Patties

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

•          1lb meat of your choice (ground beef, ground turkey, ground pork, etc)
•          1 handful (approx ¼ - 1/3 cup bread crumb or crushed cereal*)
•          1 medium onion
•          1 med – large carrot
•          1 large egg
•          3 cloves or crushed or diced garlic
•          1 tsp salt 
•          ½ tsp ground black pepper

•        Spices (choose one set)

•    1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp dried oregano
•    1 tsp dried basil
•    ¼ cup salsa, drained, 1 tsp cumin
•    Any combination or spices YOU like

Directions

1.        Preheat the oven to 350⁰F
2.        Pulse the garlic in a food processor, place in a large mixing bowl
3.        Pulse a roughly chopped onion in a food processor until finely chopped and add to large mixing bowl
4.        Pulse carrot in a food process until finely chopped and add to large mixing bowl
5.        Add egg, cereal, spices, salt and pepper to mixing bowl with vegetables, mix until all ingredients are combined well.
6.        Add meat of your choice and mix with hand until JUST combined. You don’t want to over work the meat.
7.        Place mixture into pan/shape of your choice
1.        1, 9” loaf pan,
2.       1-2, large sheet pans for meatballs
1. I recommend using an ice-cream scoop to make the meatballs, this way they are all the same size and cook evenly
3.        1 sheet pan for 4 mini meat loaves or patties
4.        Bake for:
5.        Meatloaf – Bake for approx 1 hour or until meatloaf reaches 160⁰F internally
6.       Meatballs – Bake for approx 30 minutes or until 160⁰F internally
7.        Mini meatloaves  - Bake approx 45 minutes or until 160⁰F internally
8.        Serve and Enjoy!

*I like to use either Corn Flakes or Rice Crispies