There are already a few fun meatball recipes on my website because I love them so much, but I wanted to add one more simple meatball recipe that could be used for the majority of meals. In that way, you can freeze some of these tasty meatballs and use them later in different quick weeknight meals. I’m all about making things easy and uncomplicated!.
This recipe for homemade meatballs is very basic, quick, and easy to make when you need something quick, easy, and straightforward. Another good thing about keeping these meatballs simple is that they can be used with more sauces and meals because they don’t have a strong flavor.
As always, I’ve included a few ways to make these meatballs fancier if you want to.
Breadcrumbs and eggs are added to meatballs to help them stay together. This also makes the meatballs a little more tender. There have been times when I made meatballs without eggs and breadcrumbs (see my Beef Kofta Meatballs), but they don’t hold together as well and the meat is more firm, like a hamburger.
As an alternative to the egg or breadcrumbs, you can try a flax egg (1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water) for the egg and oatmeal, rice, or crushed gluten-free crackers for the breadcrumbs.
As a busy home cook I’m always looking for ways to repurpose ingredients and prevent food waste. One of my favorite tricks is turning leftover cooked ground beef into incredibly delicious meatballs. With just a few extra ingredients, you can transform plain crumbled beef into a flavorful savory meal the whole family will love.
In this article, I’ll explain my simple process for crafting amazing meatballs using cooked ground beef you have on hand Whether you have beef leftover from tacos, chili, bolognese sauce or another dish, this is a great way to give it new life Let’s get rolling!
Why Use Leftover Cooked Ground Beef?
Using previously cooked ground beef to make meatballs is a genius kitchen hack for several reasons:
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Saves time – no need to brown raw meat from scratch
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Uses up leftovers – gives old beef new purpose
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Adds flavor – cooked beef has more depth than plain raw
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Prevents waste – repurposes what would be tossed
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Budget-friendly – takes inexpensive ingredients up a notch
Cook once, eat twice! With this easy meatball technique, you don’t have to labor over browning ground beef twice. Just whip up flavorful meatballs.
Helpful Tips for the Best Meatballs
When crafting meatballs with leftover beef, there are a few tips to follow:
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Use beef crumbled into small pieces – makes mixing and forming easier
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Don’t use beef that was cooked more than 2-3 days ago – for best flavor/texture
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Add a binding agent like breadcrumbs, egg, or cheese – helps meatballs hold together
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Mix in savory spices and herbs – boosts flavor significantly
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Chill the mixture before forming – prevents meatballs from falling apart
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Bake on a parchment-lined pan – keeps meatballs from sticking
Now let’s talk about the easy recipe method!
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make about 24 medium meatballs, you’ll need:
- 3 cups cooked ground beef, crumbled
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs or panko
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Marinara sauce, for serving
That’s all! Just a handful of items turns boring leftovers into amazing meatballs.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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In a large bowl, combine crumbled cooked beef, breadcrumbs, egg, parmesan (if using), garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Use your hands to mix everything together well.
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Form the mixture into 24 balls, about 1 1/2 inches wide. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
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Chill meatballs in the fridge for 30-60 minutes. This helps them hold their shape better when baking.
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Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake meatballs for 18-20 minutes, until browned on the outside and warmed through.
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Transfer meatballs to a plate and toss with marinara sauce to coat. Serve while hot.
In less than 30 minutes, you can have tender, oven-baked meatballs ready to enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Leftover ground beef meatballs are endlessly versatile. Some tasty ways to serve them:
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Over pasta – toss meatballs with marinara and spaghetti
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Meatball subs – stack on hoagie rolls with cheese and sauce
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Appetizers – serve bite-size meatballs with toothpicks
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Entree – plate with mashed potatoes or rice pilaf
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Soup – drop them into minestrone or tomato soup
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Salad topper – add flavor and protein to green salads
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Snack – eat on their own for high-protein bite
Get creative with recipes! Meatballs are a handy way to use up leftovers.
Extra Flavor Ideas
Part of the fun of DIY meatballs is customizing flavors. Consider mixing in any of the following:
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Fresh herbs – basil, parsley, cilantro, mint
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Spices – cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne
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Cheese – parmesan, cheddar, feta, bleu
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Sautéed veggies – onion, mushroom, zucchini
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Sun-dried tomatoes
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Olives or bacon bits
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Soy sauce or worcestershire
Let the ingredients in your fridge guide you. The possibilities are endless!
Storing and Freezing Meatballs
One of the benefits of preparing meatballs in advance is that they store well. Here are some tips:
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Refrigerate cooked meatballs for 3-4 days
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Freeze meatballs for 2-3 months in an airtight container
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Let cool completely before freezing
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Reheat frozen meatballs in oven at 350°F until warmed through
Having homemade meatballs in the freezer makes whipping up last-minute meals a breeze!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much cooked ground beef do I need per serving?
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For main course meatballs, plan on using 1/2 cup cooked ground beef per serving.
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For appetizer-sized meatballs, use around 1/4 cup per serving.
Can I use other types of cooked meat?
Yes! You can make meatballs with cooked turkey, chicken, pork, sausage, etc. Just follow the same method.
Do I need to bake the meatballs?
Baking helps ensure meatballs are cooked through and firmed up. But you can also pan fry in batches for 8-10 minutes per side.
What if my cooked beef is kind of dry?
No worries – incorporating a binder like egg or breadcrumbs adds moisture. Extra sauce also helps.
Satisfying and Sustainable
Whipping up meatballs is one of my all-time favorite ways to transform leftovers into something delicious. This simple cooking method saves time and money while reducing waste.
Next time you have leftover crumbled beef, don’t toss it out! With just minutes of effort, you can make amazing oven-baked meatballs the whole family will devour. Give it a try and get creative with your own flavor combinations. Meatballs make great use of ingredients already on hand.
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Can I Use Different Meat?
Yes, meatballs work great with several different types of ground meat. Just remember that different kinds of ground meat have different amounts of fat and water, so switching the meat can make the meatballs taste and feel different.
The recipe below uses Italian sausage, which has a ton of herbs and spices already in the meat. Because of that, the meatballs only needed a small amount of extra seasoning added. So if you use a different kind of ground meat instead of Italian sausage, make sure to add more seasoning to the meatballs.
How to Use Homemade Meatballs
If you want an easy and satisfying meal, nothing beats spaghetti with red sauce and meatballs. But that’s not the only way to eat meatballs! Here are some other ideas:
- Make meabtall subs (hoagie rolls, red sauce, meatballs, mozzarella)
- They would taste great in Minestrone if you added them to a soup.
- Use them in place of plain beef in Stroganoff
- Serve on top of mashed potatoes with a brown gravy
- Toss with pesto and serve on veggie noodles
- Put it in a calzone or slice or put it on top of a pizza.
- Add to a bowl meal (rice, veggies, any sauce)
- Add to baked pasta (like Roasted Vegetable Baked Ziti)