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Baked Meatballs

This recipe guides you in creating flavorful baked meatballs using a blend of ground pork, lamb, and beef, along with spinach, Parmesan, and spices. They are portioned precisely, coated in breadcrumbs, and baked in miniature muffin tins for consistent cooking and a tender result.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 20 people
Calories 2788.6 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl
  • 1 Digital Kitchen Scale For precise portioning
  • 1 Small Shallow Bowl For breading
  • 1 Miniature Muffin Tin For baking meatballs
  • 1 Sheet Pan To temporarily hold portions or for transport

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1/2 pound ground pork
  • 1/2 pound ground lamb
  • 1/2 pound ground round
  • 5 ounces frozen spinach thawed and drained thoroughly
  • 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs divided

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the pork, lamb, ground round, spinach, cheese, egg, basil, parsley, garlic powder, salt, red pepper flakes, and 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs. Using your hands, mix all ingredients until well incorporated. Use immediately or place in refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
  • Place the remaining 1/4 cup of bread crumbs into a small bowl. Using a scale, weigh meatballs into 1.5-ounce portions and place on a sheet pan. Using your hands, shape the meatballs into rounds, roll in the bread crumbs and place the meatballs in individual, miniature muffin tin cups. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden and cooked through.

Notes

1. Thoroughly drain the thawed spinach: Excess moisture from the spinach can make your meatballs watery and prone to falling apart. Squeeze it really well in a clean kitchen towel. 2. Do not overmix: Overmixing the meat mixture can result in tough, dense meatballs. Mix just until ingredients are combined. 3. The combination of pork, lamb, and ground round provides a rich flavor profile and excellent texture. 4. Using a kitchen scale ensures uniform meatballs, which cook evenly and present beautifully. 5. Baking in muffin tins helps maintain a perfectly round shape and allows for even cooking, resulting in a nice crust without frying. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce or as an appetizer.