Make-Ahead Italian Meatballs

Make-Ahead Italian Meatballs
30 min.
30
41kcal

Suggestions

These Italian meatballs are a classic, crowd-pleasing appetizer that are perfect for any occasion. With a blend of ground beef, onion, bread crumbs, and spices, these meatballs are packed with flavor and have a satisfying texture. The secret to their deliciousness lies in the simple yet flavorful sauce made with chili sauce, pasta sauce, and a hint of mustard. The meatballs are first baked to perfection, then simmered in the sauce, resulting in a mouthwatering dish that will have your guests coming back for more.

What sets these meatballs apart is their make-ahead convenience. You can easily prepare them in advance and freeze them for up to 3 months. When you're ready to serve, simply thaw and reheat in the sauce, making them a fantastic option for busy weeknights or unexpected guests. The recipe yields a generous 30 meatballs, ensuring you'll have plenty to go around at your next gathering.

Whether served as a starter, snack, or antipasti, these Make-Ahead Italian Meatballs are sure to be a hit. With their juicy texture, savory taste, and the convenience of being able to prepare them ahead of time, they're a must-try for any cooking enthusiast. Impress your family and friends with this classic Italian dish that's both delicious and easy to make.

Ingredients

  • cup chili sauce 
  • 0.3 cup breadcrumbs dry progresso® (any flavor)
  •  eggs 
  • pound ground beef lean
  • 0.3 cup milk 
  • 0.5 cup onion chopped
  • 12 ounces pasta sauce (any variety)
  • 0.1 teaspoon pepper 
  • teaspoon salt 
  • 0.5 cup water cold
  • teaspoon mustard yellow

Equipment

  • frying pan
  • baking sheet
  • sauce pan
  • oven
  • ziploc bags

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 400ºF.
  2. Mix ground beef, onion, bread crumbs, milk, egg, salt and pepper. Shape mixture into thirty 1-inch balls.
  3. Place in ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches.
  4. Bake uncovered about 15 minutes or until no longer pink in center and juice is clear. (To serve immediately, continue as directed in step 5--except decrease simmer time to 15 minutes.)
  5. Place meatballs on ungreased cookie sheet. Freeze uncovered about 20 minutes or until firm.
  6. Place partially frozen meatballs in heavy plastic bag or freezer container. Seal, label and freeze no longer than 3 months.
  7. About 25 minutes before serving, mix chili sauce, water, pasta sauce and mustard in 2-quart saucepan.
  8. Add meatballs.
  9. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes or until meatballs are hot.

Nutrition Facts

Calories41kcal
Protein39.91%
Fat24.26%
Carbs35.83%

Properties

Glycemic Index
5.8
Glycemic Load
0.29
Inflammation Score
-1
Nutrition Score
2.8608695890592%

Flavonoids

Isorhamnetin
0.13mg
Kaempferol
0.02mg
Quercetin
0.54mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:41.05kcal
2.05%
Fat:1.09g
1.68%
Saturated Fat:0.45g
2.8%
Carbohydrates:3.64g
1.21%
Net Carbohydrates:3.14g
1.14%
Sugar:1.91g
2.12%
Cholesterol:15.07mg
5.02%
Sodium:276.96mg
12.04%
Alcohol:0g
100%
Alcohol %:0%
100%
Protein:4.05g
8.1%
Vitamin B12:0.37µg
6.12%
Vitamin B3:1.18mg
5.88%
Zinc:0.86mg
5.73%
Selenium:3.66µg
5.23%
Vitamin B6:0.09mg
4.67%
Phosphorus:45.63mg
4.56%
Potassium:131.36mg
3.75%
Iron:0.63mg
3.53%
Vitamin B2:0.05mg
3.13%
Vitamin C:2.45mg
2.97%
Vitamin E:0.4mg
2.66%
Vitamin A:122.41IU
2.45%
Vitamin B1:0.03mg
2.13%
Copper:0.04mg
2.13%
Fiber:0.5g
1.99%
Magnesium:7.46mg
1.86%
Vitamin B5:0.17mg
1.73%
Manganese:0.03mg
1.53%
Folate:5.09µg
1.27%
Calcium:11.21mg
1.12%