Meatloaf Meatballs

Ingredients

• Preheat oven to 350
• 1 ½ lb. ground beef, 85/15
• ½ lb. ground pork
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. red chili flakes
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 Tbl. fresh oregano
• ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
• 1/3 cup ricotta
• 1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 Tbl. Dijon mustard
• 2 Tbl. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 (24-26 oz.) jar or box tomato garlic basil sauce or marinara sauce

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the beef and pork and blend together with your hands. Mix the salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and chili flakes in a small bowl then sprinkle on the meat mixture.
2. Add the eggs, oregano, basil, ricotta, mustard and worchestshire sauce. Now blend together well with your hands working all the ingredients together. Remove 1 ½ cups of the mixture and set aside.
3. Roll the remaining meat mixture into about 18 meatballs. Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
4. Heat the oil on medium high in a large cast iron skillet. Place 8-10 meatballs at a time in the hot oil an brown on all sides. Regulate your heat between medium and medium high. When browned, use tongs to remove and place on the cookie sheet. Continue until all meatballs have been pan seared.
5. Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 8-10 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, in the skillet that the meatballs were seared in, place the 1 ½ cups of meat mixture. Crumble and brown over medium heat. Add the tomato sauce. Reduce heat to low, blend, cover and let the mixture simmer.
7. Add the meatballs to the sauce, cover and let them simmer about 10 minutes. Ready to eat!

Notes

I buttered and grilled some thick artisan bread and served the meatballs on it.

Always room for more fresh basil when serving.

I like to slice thin pieces of asiago cheese~another great garnish would be black and/or green olives.

http://www.allyskitchen.com/meatloaf-meatballs/