Ingredients
1-1.25 lb ground beef or chicken sausage, or a combination of both
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 minced onion OR about 1 Tbsp dried flaked onion.
2-3 cloves of minced garlic
seasons such as Italian Seasoning blend OR a combination of your favorite dried herbs such as oregano, basil, fennel seed, thyme, sage, marjoram. About 3 Tbsp total
for optional spice, add a dash of red pepper flakes
about 1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
egg (optional, I tend to leave it out)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 and place the rack in the middle of the oven. Have a 9x12 baking dish ready on your workspace. If you are doubling the recipe, prepare two dishes. Using a baking dish is preferable to a cookie sheet as it helps contain the liquid with its sides. Greasing is not necessary.
To make the meatball mixture, mix all the ingredients in a big bowl and use your hands to combine them thoroughly. If necessary, add additional bread crumbs. The mixture should have a good consistency that holds together well. While the egg helps bind the meatballs and makes them easier to shape, you can skip it. Alternatively, you can substitute a bit of milk for the egg.
Shape the meatballs according to your preference. Remember that the smaller the meatball, the shorter the cooking time, so keep this in mind. It's fine to place them close together in the baking dish since they will shrink while cooking, and it's acceptable if they touch slightly. Note that the closer they are to each other, the longer the cooking time will be.
Bake in a preheated oven for 15-25 minutes or until cooked through. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the meatball. Aim for clear or minimal liquids in the dish (avoid overbaking!). About halfway through baking, gently shake the dish to reposition the meatballs; no need to flip or stir them. For added assurance, cut one meatball in half to check if it's cooked inside.
Once finished, you can incorporate it into your meal, such as mixing it with tomato sauce, adding it to soups, serving it with a side of rice, or including it in whatever dish you are preparing for the evening! It's also a fantastic option for packing kids' lunches.