Recipe Details

Smashed Meatballs

Literally, the first thing I learned how to cook. Handmade meatballs are the best in Italian comfort food. You can vary the meat mixture to your tastes, but I like this ratio. Quick tip for making any jarred pasta sauce taste better, add these! (2 tbsp red wine, 1 tbsp parmesan cheese, 1 tsp sugar).

  • Rating :

  • Prep Time : 40 Mins

  • Cook Time : 20 Mins

  • Ready In : 60 Mins

  • Category : Dinner

  • Tags : Dinner, Meatball, Italian

Planning:

Ingredients

  • - 3 lbs ground beef ( I prefer a leaner 90%ish one)

  • - 1 lbs of hot Italian sausage

  • - 1 tbsp of granulated garlic

  • - 1 cup breadcrumbs

  • - 2 slices of white bread (ripped into crumbs)

  • - 2 tbsp milk (ripped into crumbs)

  • - 4 eggs beaten

  • - ½ C Parmesan cheese

  • - 6 tbsp olive oil for griddling



Preparation:

    • 1. In large bowl, add milk to the ripped white bread. This makes a panade. What is a panade? A panade is a mixture of bread and milk, combined to form a paste, that is incorporated into ground meats so that they don't get too hard or dry when you cook them.


    • 2. Add all other ingredients except oil to bowl and hand mix thoroughly making a consistent mixture.


    • 3. I make 3 oz meatballs using a digital scale to get the amount and size consistent. Place in sheet tray. This recipe makes ~36 (3 oz) meatballs.


    • 4. You can cover these meatballs and refrigerate up to a day to let flavors meld, or not.


    Set your griddle to medium heat (~400F)


    Performance

    Coat griddle with 2 tbsp of olive oil, spreading evenly, add meatballs. I use a baking sheet with griddle press to gently smash meatballs and improve sear. Flip after 3 min and smash. Flip again smash, try to get all sides (6 sides on a cube, 18 mins total). Return to sheet tray.


    Serve, enjoy!