make-ahead meatballs

 

I love, love, love, love make-ahead meals!  There's something comforting about knowing that you've got the "emergency" meal in the freezer for those times when you run out of time...or ingredients!

The meatballs I'm featuring today are as easy as it gets.  I usually like to have a gallon size Ziplock bag of meatballs sitting in my freezer.  It's easy to pull out as many servings as I'm going to need, microwave, and go!


If you want to freeze these, let them cool a bit and then freeze in a freezer-safe storage bag.  When it's time to eat them, simply microwave until heated!

We love these.  They are a great way to stretch a pound of meat.  Think of it - one pound of meat either makes 4 hamburgers or 28 meatballs!  At 4 meatballs a person, that's 7 servings!  They are also low in fat and a great way to sneak in fiber and veggies.


Make-Ahead Meatballs

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup milk (or other liquid)
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats or soft bread crumbs
• 1 lb. ground meat
• Salt, pepper, and other preferred spices
• Onion, green pepper, spinach, or other preferred veggies

Whisk together egg and milk in a medium bowl.  Stir in oats, spices, and any veggies.  Crumble meat over the top and then use hands to mix in.  Form meat mixture into meatballs and place in greased baking dishes.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until cooked through.  Makes 28 meatballs.

Nutrition (calculated per meatball with ground turkey, oats, and no veggies): 40 cal, 2g fat, 1g sat fat, 0g trans fat, 21mg cholesterol, 103mg sodium, 2g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars, 4g protein, 0% vit. A, 0% vit. C, 1% calcium, 2% iron.