We Missed National Meatball Day! But These 12 Best Meatball Recipes Are Worth the Wait
March 9th came and went, and with it, the gods of whoever invents National Fill-in-the-Blank Days crowned the humble yet mighty meatball! We may be a few days late to the party, but here at Chewing The Fat, every day is a great day for homemade meatballs.
Over the past decade, meatball recipes have been some of the most popular on the blog. I’ve made Vietnamese meatballs, Moroccan meatballs, Sicilian meatballs—I’ve tucked them into meatball soup, meatball Stroganoff, and just about everything in between. I’ve cooked them with beef. pork. lamb, bison, pork and chicken. No matter what the variation, easy meatball recipes are always a hit.
So, in the spirit of National Meatball Day, I’m sharing 12 of the best meatball recipes that readers have loved the most. Whether you’re looking for classic Italian meatballs, spicy lamb meatballs, or healthy chicken meatballs, there’s something for everyone. And if you’re keen on reading more about Meatballs, Matteo Bruno’s book is right up your alley…order it here just by clicking on the cover.
Seamus Mullen’s glorious Spanish-inflected lamb meatballs
They’re packed with the flavor of almonds, basil, parsley, mint, oregano, and thyme and then served in a savory tomato sauce and a dollop of fresh ricotta cheese. There’s even a health component to this recipe that’s well-worth reading. http://chewingthefat.us.com/2014/11/seamus-mullens-herbed-lamb-meatballs.html
An Italian American Classic
From the kitchen of the mother of one of New York’s hottest chefs, this is the genuine article: Pillows of ground beef lightened with Italian bread and egg and flavored with garlic and Parmigiano or Gran Padano cheese. In this post, there’s also dish about another New York Chef whose mother’s meatballs created quite the controversy. http://chewingthefat.us.com/2014/10/old-stoves-saveur-magazine-and.html
North African Meatballs are well represented…
The first of four recipes from the same part of the world, this glorious take on North African flavors offers a version made with a choice of ingredients from beef to ground turkey or lamb which is what we used to make this luscious tomato-y stew.http://chewingthefat.us.com/2013/09/north-african-lamb-boulettes-and-amys.html
From the other side of the Mediterranean…
Sicily–come these meatballs with their use of Dried Currants and Pignoli nuts. The tiny little currants give these balls a pop of fruit flavor and the pignolis a subtle crunch.http://chewingthefat.us.com/2010/03/sicilian-style-meatballs.html
Back in the good old USA…
These Bison meatballs would be an all-American meatball were it not for the way we served them. Healthy as all get out, just like the West where they came from.http://chewingthefat.us.com/2013/10/spaghetti-western-bison-meatballs-in.html
A dish with true Moroccan flavors.
The meatballs require a lengthy poke around the spice rack but chances are, you’ll have everything you need. The stew surrounding them is made with familiar pantry ingredients. All you really need to make sure you buy is fresh cilantro, 5 ounces of baby spinach, and a package of couscous.http://chewingthefat.us.com/2012/01/moroccan-beef-meatball-tajine.html
Who’d have thought a Vietnamese take on the meatball would be so wildly popular with kids?
This chicken recipe has the double advantage of slipping into sliders with ease.
http://chewingthefat.us.com/2010/10/vietnamese-chicken-meatballs.html
If we had to pick a personal favorite, this would be it.
Showcasing the genius of New York’s The Meatball Shop, spicy Pork creates a light and scrumptious meatball. But what stands out is the creamy Parmesan sauce that tops this indulgent dish.http://chewingthefat.us.com/2014/01/the-meatball-shops-spicy-pork-meatballs.html
We’re back on the road to Morocco.
This time, it’s for a family recipe that yields the tenderest meatball of the bunch. And the way it’s served is not only different, but it was also a major taste discovery for us.http://chewingthefat.us.com/2012/07/grandmas-melt-in-your-mouth-moroccan.html
Here’s a meatball that replaces one key ingredient in that classic dinner party dish of the 50s,
Beef Stroganoff, and makes it an easy weeknight meal.http://chewingthefat.us.com/2012/11/make-ahead-meatballs-for-beef-stroganoff.html
It’s never a surprise when an Ina Garten recipe draws hundreds of readers.
But this one with its tender chicken meatballs, continues to astonish me with its staying power. It still gets hits almost every single day.http://chewingthefat.us.com/2013/02/ina-gartens-italian-wedding-soup-and.html
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Morocco scores the most popular slot among meatball recipes.
What is a surprise is that our winner is also the 7th most viewed recipe in the history of the blog. http://chewingthefat.us.com/2012/05/moroccan-lamb-meatballs-in-tomato-sauce.html
