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Baked Meatballs with Potatoes and Pumpkin

Meat
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At home we love meatballs paired with just about anything, and this sheet pan version is one of my absolute favourites because it practically cooks itself and is super healthy.

We scatter the chopped vegetables across the baking sheet and place the meatballs right on top so everything cooks together here at Cocinandomelavida. You have to try it—they turn out so tender and tasty!

Prep: 20 minCook: 50 minServes: 4

Ingredients

  • 900 g minced beef
  • 400 g minced pork
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 or 2 slices of sandwich bread
  • Plant-based milk for soaking the bread
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs
  • 3 potatoes
  • 250 g pumpkin
  • 1 large onion
  • Extra virgin olive oil cooking spray
  • Spices to taste
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste

Step by step

  1. 1Preheat the oven to 180 ºC.
  2. 2Soak the bread crumbs or crustless bread slices in the plant-based milk.
  3. 3In a large bowl, mix the minced meats with the finely minced garlic, spices to taste, breadcrumbs, the squeezed-out soaked bread, and the eggs.
  4. 4Peel and dice the potatoes, onion, and pumpkin into medium bite-sized pieces.
  5. 5Spread the vegetables over a baking tray lined with parchment paper and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. 6Shape the meat mixture into balls with your hands and arrange them evenly directly over the vegetables.
  7. 7Mist everything lightly with olive oil spray.
  8. 8Bake at 180 ºC for 45-55 minutes, until the meatballs are golden brown and the vegetables are tender.

Tips and tricks

Baking time is approximate; it depends on your oven's strength and the size of your meatballs.

Cut the potatoes and pumpkin into similar-sized cubes so they cook through at the same rate.

You can season the meat with sweet paprika, cumin, chopped fresh parsley, or garlic powder to give it an extra boost of flavour.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use regular dairy milk to soak the bread?

Yes, whole or semi-skimmed cow's milk works perfectly well and will not change the final texture.

How do you store leftovers of these meatballs with potatoes and pumpkin?

Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. You can also freeze them once they have cooled down completely.

How can you tell when the vegetables are done in the oven?

They are ready when you can easily pierce the potato and pumpkin cubes with a fork, which usually takes between 45 and 55 minutes at 180 ºC.

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