Leftover meatballs?

[maslex]

We usually make spaghetti and meatballs at least 2-3 times a month. Then later in the week, I will take some of the leftover meatballs and either make meatball grinders or cut them up and throw them into a baked ziti.

I'm looking for other ideas. Have any?

 

[sunshinehighway]

I cut them up and put them on pizza when there's only a few left.

 

[lynxstch]

When I make batches of meatballs, I don't put them all in pasta sauce. I leave some plain, freeze in Ziploc bags and when in the mood, I defrost a bag and then I add them to home made brown gravy, and serve over noodles, and you can add sour cream at the last minute and it makes it like a meatball stroganoff

 

[maslex]

I cut them up and put them on pizza when there's only a few left.

Oh, that's different. Do you use the leftover spaghetti sauce as pizza sauce?

When I make batches of meatballs, I don't put them all in pasta sauce. I leave some plain, freeze in Ziploc bags and when in the mood, I defrost a bag and then I add them to home made brown gravy, and serve over noodles, and you can add sour cream at the last minute and it makes it like a meatball stroganoff

This sounds like a winner-winner meatball dinner. Care to share your home made brown gravy recipe? Do you use noodles like penne, ziti or like egg nooddles? We normally cook our meatballs in the spaghetti sauce all day. With the ones for the brown gravy recipe, do you bake the meatballs ahead of time?

 

[cah5525]

Manhattan meatballs! My favorite. Mix some BBQ sauce with apricot jam - serve with rice.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Oh, that's different. Do you use the leftover spaghetti sauce as pizza sauce?



This sounds like a winner-winner meatball dinner. Care to share your home made brown gravy recipe? Do you use noodles like penne, ziti or like egg nooddles? We normally cook our meatballs in the spaghetti sauce all day. With the ones for the brown gravy recipe, do you bake the meatballs ahead of time?

Yes I use the sauce. You can really taste a difference when you use homemade sauce. Since pizza doesn't require a large amount of meatballs, it works well when you only have a few left.

 

[ronandannette]

Manhattan meatballs! My favorite. Mix some BBQ sauce with apricot jam - serve with rice.

Something like this except I'd use the old tried and true chili sauce and grape jelly. Great with rice for sure. OP, are the leftovers already in spaghetti sauce? If so these ideas wouldn't work.

 

[FiggieFan]

I slice them up and use them in lasagna, better than ground beef!

As above post said, chili sauce with grape jelly is awesome if they haven't been cooked in red sauce.

 

[maslex]

Something like this except I'd use the old tried and true chili sauce and grape jelly. Great with rice for sure. OP, are the leftovers already in spaghetti sauce? If so these ideas wouldn't work.

Normally yes. We cook up a big batch of meatballs in the sauce for a few hours and eat some with spaghetti. Then I usually put the rest of the meatballs in the fridge for later in the week to use on meatball grinders or cut them up into pieces and use in a baked ziti. But I'm looking for something different.

Someone mentioned NOT to put all the meatballs in the spaghetti sauce and make a brown gravy and serve over noodles. I think that's what I'll try this week. Sounds really good and easy.

I'm assuming the chili sauce and grape jelly is something of a sweet/sour sauce?

 

[lynxstch]

This sounds like a winner-winner meatball dinner. Care to share your home made brown gravy recipe? Do you use noodles like penne, ziti or like egg nooddles? We normally cook our meatballs in the spaghetti sauce all day. With the ones for the brown gravy recipe, do you bake the meatballs ahead of time?

Glad to share!

I always bake a big batch of meatballs. I use some for pasta, some for subs, some for Swedish meatballs. So yes, the meatballs are baked ahead of time, frozen and defrosted most of the way. I just add them to the hot gravy and let them simmer till fully warm again. I always use egg noodles, but you could use any pasta you like!

Gravy is simple as can be. I make a roux with about 1/4 cup flour, some cracked black pepper, and about 1/3 cup water. (If I have leftover beef drippings from cooking a roast in the freezer, I use that instead of the water -defrosted). Heat the drippings or water in a saucepan on low till warm, quickly whisk in the flour, it will look like a paste. Slowly add 3 cups beef stock (or beef broth, whichever I have on hand.) Stir any lumps out with your whisk, and cook until thickened.

If I am short on time, I've been known to use the gravy packets. But the taste of homemade is much better (at least to my hubby!)

 

[ronandannette]

Normally yes. We cook up a big batch of meatballs in the sauce for a few hours and eat some with spaghetti. Then I usually put the rest of the meatballs in the fridge for later in the week to use on meatball grinders or cut them up into pieces and use in a baked ziti. But I'm looking for something different.

Someone mentioned NOT to put all the meatballs in the spaghetti sauce and make a brown gravy and serve over noodles. I think that's what I'll try this week. Sounds really good and easy.

I'm assuming the chili sauce and grape jelly is something of a sweet/sour sauce?

Sort of, but it's one of those weird things where the "whole is more than the sum of it's parts". It's actually surprisingly good and all you do is mix equal amounts of the two to make however much sauce you want for the amount of meatballs you have. It works great with an Italian flavour profile if your meatballs have (for example) oregano and basil in them and the more onion you use the better. Be sure to adjust with salt and pepper to your own taste.

 

[lynxstch]

Manhattan meatballs! My favorite. Mix some BBQ sauce with apricot jam - serve with rice.

mmm..now this one sounds different, and good! How much bbq sauce to how much jam, please?

 

[lovemygoofy]

What about meatball soup? There's all kinds of versions.

I don't like meatballs personally so I don't cook them often.

Everyone once in a while we have spaghetti and meatballs or meatballs cooked with chili sauce and cranberry jelly with some red pepper and served on egg noodles and some parm cheese.

Another friend makes up meatball mixture but instead of balls she flattens them into patties and makes hamburgers with sauce on them and serves grilled on garlic bread. Very decadent!

 

[maslex]

Glad to share!

I always bake a big batch of meatballs. I use some for pasta, some for subs, some for Swedish meatballs. So yes, the meatballs are baked ahead of time, frozen and defrosted most of the way. I just add them to the hot gravy and let them simmer till fully warm again. I always use egg noodles, but you could use any pasta you like!

Gravy is simple as can be. I make a roux with about 1/4 cup flour, some cracked black pepper, and about 1/3 cup water. (If I have leftover beef drippings from cooking a roast in the freezer, I use that instead of the water -defrosted). Heat the drippings or water in a saucepan on low till warm, quickly whisk in the flour, it will look like a paste. Slowly add 3 cups beef stock (or beef broth, whichever I have on hand.) Stir any lumps out with your whisk, and cook until thickened.


If I am short on time, I've been known to use the gravy packets. But the taste of homemade is much better (at least to my hubby!)

I've made a roux before but have never used water. I've always used flour & butter. So using water works out pretty well? 1/4 cup four, 1/3 cup water and then 3 cups beef stock?

 

[sunshinehighway]

Sort of, but it's one of those weird things where the "whole is more than the sum of it's parts". It's actually surprisingly good and all you do is mix equal amounts of the two to make however much sauce you want for the amount of meatballs you have. It works great with an Italian flavour profile if your meatballs have (for example) oregano and basil in them and the more onion you use the better. Be sure to adjust with salt and pepper to your own taste.

You can use cranberry sauce instead of grape jelly too. Both are really good. The cranberry recipe usually has a pinch of cayenne too.

 

[aprilgail2]

I make enough to have leftover meatballs to freeze for next time we have spaghetti and meatballs!

 

[cah5525]

I have chili sauce! Always surprised at what ill find in my cupboards- dont even remember buying it.

Going to try it with the grape jelly.

For the poster who asked about the proportions for the manhatten meatballs sauce, its 1/2 c BBQ sauce and 10 oz of apricot jam