Mini Spicy Meatballs

I LOVE MEATBALLS!!!!

There, I've said it. I just wanted that to be out in the open and for you all to hear it from me first - I love them hot, cold, baked, bubbling in marinara sauce, over pasta, in a sub....hey, slap them on a flip flop and I'd still probably eat them (thanks Guy Fieri for that analogy 😊)

Whenever I make my own meatballs I tend to have a basic ingredients list and then I get to the spices and stand for about 10 minutes in front of my spice rack (i.e. a large Tupperware container in the pantry) to decide which way I want to take them; italian seasoning for that subtle aromatic flavour, mesquite for a more smoky hint, maybe cajun for that spicy 'slap'. Today, after enlisting the opinion of my hubby by thrusting various tubs under his nose and asking what do you want your meatballs to taste like?, we went with the cajun and a huge hit it was too, if I do say so myself. This mix would also make great meatloaf or even burgers - maybe mini sliders!! )

Recipe: Mini Spicy Meatballs

1 kg ground beef
1 cup milk
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
3/4 cup quick cook oats
1 Tbs cajun seasoning
2 tsp dried parsley
2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 tsp salt

Line your rimmed baking trays with wax paper.

Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.

Form the prepared mixture into small balls, and transfer to the baking tray.

Bake at 400 F until cooked through but still moist for about 20 min.

Mini Meatball ingredients - oops, it wasn't until after I'd downloaded my photos that I realised I hadn't included the main ingredient in this shot - the ground beef!!!

begin throwing everything in one big bowl - don't you just love recipes like that? 😊

you can mix it all together using a spoon if you really don't like to get your hands all gooey.

when it's at an almost pate stage it's ready to form.

pinch off a little mixture and roll between your palms to make 'balls'.

place them all onto the prepared trays ready to either cook or freeze - I managed to get 88 out of today's batch and don't they look adorable 😊