Ingredients Meat & Poultry Beef Recipes Ground Beef Recipes Mini Meatballs 3.2 (188) 21 Reviews Small but mighty, these beef and bacon mini meatballs are made ahead and frozen. You can cook them from frozen whenever you need them for dinner. By Martha Stewart Martha Stewart Martha Stewart is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and lifestyle expert who has taught millions of people through generations the joy of entertaining, cooking, gardening, collecting, crafting, and home renovating via her eponymous magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Emmy-winning television shows, and 99 books (and counting). Based in Katonah, N.Y., where she helms her 156-acre Bedford Farm, Martha is America's first self-made female billionaire. Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 18, 2023 Rate PRINT Share Prep Time: 20 mins Total Time: 20 mins Yield: 40 These mini meatballs are always a hit. They’re simple to make, freeze well, and can be cooked from frozen—and because they’re small, they cook fast, whether you bake them in the oven or simmer them in sauce. We use ground beef and bacon for this mini meatball recipe, plus garlic and a little Parmesan cheese for extra oomph. In classic meatball fashion, they come together with egg and breadcrumbs. We love these mini meatballs so much that we make them whenever we have time and stash them in the freezer. Having them on hand means you’re more than halfway to dinner or an irresistible appetizer. 8 Ways to Use Mini Meatballs Mini meatballs are small but mighty. There are many ways to serve them, from soup to pasta and beyond. Bake and serve as an appetizer with marinara sauce, honey-chipotle sauce, or your favorite dipping sauce. Bake and serve with lingonberry jam or red-currant jelly for a Swedish-style dish. Spaghetti and meatballs is a classic for good reason, and works just as well with mini meatballs as with larger ones. Cook the meatballs from frozen in the pasta sauce. Meatball soup. Mini meatball sliders. Mini meatball pizza. Mini meatball skillet bake. Mini meatball casserole. For equal-size meatballs, scoop out the meat mixture using a teaspoon. Use 2 teaspoon scoops for each meatball. Then roll between your palms to shape into balls. Ingredients 1 pound lean ground beef 2 slices bacon (2 ounces), finely chopped ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley 2 garlic cloves, minced 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon plain dried breadcrumbs 1 large egg ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg Coarse salt and ground pepper Directions Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine beef, bacon, parsley, garlic, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, egg, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Shape meatballs: Shape mixture into 40 meatballs. Freeze meatballs: Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet or on 2 large plates. Freeze 1 hour. Once frozen, transfer to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag; label and date. Cooking Mini Meatballs From Frozen The meatballs can be frozen for up to three months. There's no need to thaw before using; they will cook quickly right out of the freezer. To use the meatballs straight from the freezer: 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 2. Place meatballs on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Alternatively, simmer the meatballs from frozen, covered, in soup, pasta sauce, or other liquid until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Other Meatball Recipes to Make: Test Kitchen's Favorite Spaghetti and Meatballs Meatball Casserole Swedish Meatballs with Cream Sauce Giant Meatballs With Ricotta Pork Meatballs Beef-and-Mixed-Grain Meatballs Originally appeared: Everyday Food, March 2005 Rate It PRINT Updated by Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years.