This recipe is for 10+ old baby & up
Beef meatballs are always a staple in my house, we make this recipe at least once a week and it always comes out amazing!
Meat has always been a little trickier to chew for Zion in his early months of starting solids, these meatballs are the perfect texture when starting out. They are moist, soft, tender and a great way for our little one’s to work on their chewing skills. This ideal meal is family-friendly, excellent for adults, older kids, toddlers and babies. A beautiful, hearty dish that is loaded with iron, protein, healthy fats, zinc, choline, B vitamins, all very important nutrients for our growing little humans. They are made with simple, clean, healthy ingredients and have no bread crumbs or flour, making them gluten-free.
Creating the softest beef meatball recipe is essential, especially when you’re making them for babies, toddlers, or anyone who prefers a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Soft meatballs are not only easy to chew but also packed with flavor and nutrition, making them an ideal lunch or dinner option for the whole family. The foundation of your meatballs is, of course, the beef. Opt for ground beef that has a little bit of fat, such as 80-85% lean ground beef. The fat content helps keep the meatballs moist and tender as they cook. Leaner beef, such as 90% or 95% lean, may lead to drier, tougher meatballs, so balancing flavor with some fat is important. While the texture is crucial, flavor should never be compromised. Adding finely chopped onion and grating potato into the meatball not only boosts the nutritional content but also contributes to the softness of the meatballs. The moisture from these vegetables adds to the overall tenderness. I recommend adding a veggie to the sauce for example zucchini, peas, green beans or carrots, whatever you prefer.
Tip for best success:
When preparing the meatball mixture, it’s important to work your beef gently. Once you incorporate all the ingredients together work the beef for several minutes, this is what will make your meatballs softer. Once mixed, form the meat into small, even-sized balls, about the size of a golf ball, to ensure they cook evenly.
Substitutions:
Beef- I like to use 85% lean ground beef, but you can replace with ground lamb or ground chicken
Egg- You can add an extra potato, grated zucchini or flax egg in place of the egg
How to serve:
For older kids you can serve as is over pasta, rice or mashed potatoes.
For younger babies you can mash meatball with veggie and serve.
What you need:
An oven-safe pan, I like to use stainless steel.
If you enjoyed this recipe, here are a few more you can check out:
The Softest Beef Meatballs
Ingredients
Optional
Directions
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Chop onion and put to the side
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Grate potatoes and add egg, along with seasonings turmeric, cumin and black pepper
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Add ground beef and mix everything really well
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Work your beef for a few minutes This step is very important and what will help soften your meatballs
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Prepare your meatballs
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When ready add avocado oil or any neutral oil to oven-safe pan
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Add onion, salt, paprika, cumin, turmeric, garlic powder and sauté for a few min till golden brown
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Add tomato paste and mix
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Add water and bring to a boil
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Once boiling start adding your meatballs and slowly swish pot around with no utensils If you are adding veggies to the sauce add them at this point
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Add to oven for 60 min on 375 F
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Let cool and enjoy!
These came out incredibly soft and delicious, I was pleasantly surprised! Missing meatballs during meal prep along the way but don’t tell my baby!
My.only regret was not adding any veggies in to make it a more balanced meal. Served these with rice and another time with quinoa.