I never cared for pan fried meatballs. I grew up remembering my Grandmother and Mother always baking meatballs in the oven and when I attended Culinary Schooling, it was done that way there as well. So here is a wonderful recipe for you to try. On a scale of 1 to 5, this gets a 4.5!!
Make-Ahead Italian Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1/3 cup Progresso� dry bread crumbs (any flavor)
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup chili sauce
1/2 cup cold water
1 jar (12 ounces) tomato pasta sauce (any variety)
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1. Heat oven to 400�F.
2. Mix ground beef, onion, bread crumbs, milk, egg, salt and pepper. Shape mixture into thirty 1-inch balls. Place in ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches.
3. 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.)
4. Place meatballs on ungreased cookie sheet. Freeze uncovered about 20 minutes or until firm. Place partially frozen meatballs in heavy plastic bag or freezer container. Seal, label and freeze no longer than 3 months.
5. About 25 minutes before serving, mix chili sauce, water, pasta sauce and mustard in 2-quart saucepan. Add meatballs. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes or until meatballs are hot. Or, consider adding them to an old casserole recipe of your own, in place of the meat you would normally use! With them pre-made in the freezer, it will save you the time of having to cook meat before the casserole can be placed in the oven.