When you’re home late from the office, the gym, or picking the kids up from after school activities, not many of us want to spend hours cooking up a storm in the kitchen after a long, busy and tiring day. Long cooking sessions for me, are usually reserved for the weekends when I have the time to wade endlessly through recipe books, shop for elaborate ingredients, and spend a few hours in the kitchen trying out a new recipe. I love cooking, but during the week as soon as I’m in the door, all I want to do is spend minimal time in the kitchen. Dinner has to be as quick, easy, as healthy as possible, and hit that dining table preferably in under an hour. Also, I want to have most of the ingredients to my masterpiece sitting in my pantry.
That’s not much to ask right? I’m a huge fan of meatballs, but most meatball recipes usually conjure up thoughts of plain old beef mince and some Italian tomato sauce, and they can be long and arduous to prepare. Although the traditional meatball recipe like these are fabulous and hearty, there is a large selection of the modern kind of meatball recipe that puts a different spin on old traditional styles. Cue these amazing, tasty, and quick to prepare meatball recipes with easy to find ingredients, many of which you will just have to open your pantry door for. You’ll never look at meatballs the same way again. Try them, you won’t be sorry and you’ll be adding them to your weekly menu in no time!
1. Pineapple Meatballs
This meatball recipe is packed with flavor and super easy to make. Combine meat, eggs, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, a pinch of salt and pepper in a large bowl, shape into balls then cook. The fabulous sauce that accompanies these meatballs is loaded with pineapple, providing you with lots of B & C vitamins. From kitchen to table in around 45 minutes this beauty will have you wanting more and the kid’s will love it too.
2. Red Thai Meatball Curry
The meatballs in this one can be made and chilled up to one day ahead of time so all you have to do is whip up an easy ingredient sauce. A lot of these ingredients you’ll find in your standard weekly grocery shop. Lots of chili in this one, but the recipe is easily adaptable to your own palate. The health benefits of chili are many and varied, including aiding digestion, helping to relieve migraines, muscle, joint and nerve pain. It’s also a good source of vitamins A and E, beta-carotene, folic acid and potassium. Great for warding off colds and flu in the winter months.
3. Asian Quinoa Meatballs
Now here’s a modern take on the humble meatball. Amazing Asian infused flavors with the added health benefits of quinoa. These are power packed with protein, vitamin B2 and iron. Perfect for a post gym workout. These can be prepped in 15 minutes and cooked to tender perfection in just 20. At just 56 calories per meatball using turkey, they can also be substituted with beef as another option. Serve with a side of rice if desired.
4. Spaghetti with Tuna Meatballs
Just 30 minutes is all this tasty, easy and healthy recipe will take to get to your table. Perfect for a busy weeknight. Combine bread, garlic, Parmesan cheese, lemon rind in a processor and blitz till it forms a crumb like texture, add in the tuna, eggs, parsley and process again till it’s mixed through. Roll into balls, and add to the pan with the pasta and stock until cooked. Voila!
5. Italian Meatball, Tomato, Spinach & Bocconcini Pizza
Yum. Made with Lebanese bread, it is as easy as cooking the meatballs, spreading with pasta and topping with the spinach, tomatoes, bocconcini and the cooked meatballs. Bake and serve with avocado, capsicum and extra spinach leaves. Spinach has an extremely high nutritional value and is rich in antioxidants and it is a great source of vitamin A, so you can feel good about eating this one.
6. Paleo Greek-Style Meatballs
The benefits of a Paleo diet are well known and documented, these meatballs are super easy to make and full of flavor. Accompany with your favorite salad and dinner is done. Easy and healthy
7. 30 Minute Light Italian Meatball Soup
Lean Beef, celery, tomatoes, garlic, parsley & basil. Your body will thank you for being light in calories, packed full of amino acids and B Vitamins, and it’s super quick to prepare. In just 30 minutes, there is no excuse not to make this one.
8. Lamb & Haloumi Meatball Salad
This is a match made in food heaven, lamb meatballs, haloumi and tzaziki dressing. Be careful when buying haloumi as some brands are so salty they’re inedible. Look out or buy from a good deli and insist on trying it before you buy. Because of it’s robust taste, you won’t need a lot of it and therefore will cut down on fat and calories. Just delicious.
9. Indian Meatballs with Lentil Pilaf and Yoghurt
Here’s a spicy Indian take on meatballs. Yum! These are packed full with the goodness of ginger, garlic, coriander and cumin, with the added health benefit of lentils. Lentils are full of protein, iron, zinc and folate, and this recipe can be prepped & cooked in 30 minutes flat. Absolutely perfect.
10. Baked Apple & Pork Meatballs
Pork, apples, sage & garlic. The benefits of garlic are fairly well known, but one of the biggest is the boost it gives your immune system. These meatballs can be made and frozen in batches for an even quicker mealtime. And apple and pork, now that is matrimonial food bliss.
All in all, these ten meatball recipes are packed full of goodness, are tasty and quick, and they definitely won’t see you standing for hours in the kitchen prepping and cooking. These truly are the perfect recipe for busy people.
