Mamma mia!
Everyone is going crazy for kale. The leafy green is chock full of fibre, and according to Medical News Today, eating kale is beneficial for maintaining healthy skin, hair and strong bones, as well as helping with digestion and lowering the risk for heart disease. Adding kale to meatballs ups the nutrient content and adds vitamin B6, calcium, folate, vitamin E, vitamin B2, iron, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids. My mighty meatballs pack a healthier punch to their kale-free alternative.
I start with a basic meatball recipe and jazz it up with chopped kale and some savoury Italian cheese and spices. You could buy fresh kale, wash it, chop it and add it to the meatball mixture (as I have in the past), and add your bread crumbs, Italian cheese and spices separately. But I like to do things the Pragma Mamma-way! When you are tight for time, use frozen, pre-chopped kale and pre-mixed Italian breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. I like Cookin’ Greens frozen, chopped kale best.
When I was commuting to/from my down town job, I needed to get in the door and get dinner on the table in a jiffy. Having the ingredients pre-made and pre-mixed really cut down on my prep time, enabling me to make these meatballs in a snap. You can also freeze the meatballs for a quick future dinner!
My Quick Italian Kale Meatballs are a favourite of both of my daughters. Adding milk makes them super moist and melt-in-your-mouth yummy. Even my super picky English husband will eat them! Topped with organic tomato sauce and fresh Romano lupa grated cheese and paired with pasta and veggies, this recipe will be a welcome addition to your family menu. You can also substitute the lean ground beef for lean ground chicken or ground turkey too.
I hope you try and enjoy my mighty meatballs. They are super easy to make and a breeze to freeze! Let’s eat – andiamo a mangiare!
My Quick Italian Kale Meatball Recipe
- Prep time: 5 minutes
- Cook time: 15-20 minutes
- Total time: approximately 25 minutes
- Makes about 13-15 meatballs
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 lb organic lean or extra-lean ground beef
- 1 large egg
- 1⁄3 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs and cheese (pre-mixed)
- 1 cup frozen or fresh, chopped kale
- 1⁄4 cup milk
DIRECTIONS:
- Mix ground beef, egg, Italian breadcrumbs and cheese and milk in a large bowl with a fork. I use food handling gloves and knead the mixture well
- Shape mixture into 1-1/2-inch balls
- Place the meatballs on a lightly greased or aluminum foil-lined baking tray/dish
- Bake (uncovered) in a 375 degree Fahrenheit oven, about 15-20 minutes. Cut one open to make sure they are cooked inside (I like a touch of pink). I finish my meatballs off with 1 minute under the broiler to brown them
- Drain off any excess fat. Add sauce, cheese and serve. BRAVO! 🙂
Loving the photos and the idea! Really creative cooking, look forward to trying it myself 🙂
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Glad you like it! Let me know how they turn out 🙂
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This sound like a great way to get my kids to eat kale!! I keep getting kale in my Csa basket and making nothing but smoothies out of them!
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Thanks! I am the same, kale smoothies all the time LOL! Let me know if they like them 🙂
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very tempted to get kale looking at your recipe..though I will make a vegetarian version of this..looks good
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Thanks, glad I can inspire 🙂 A vegetarian option sounds amazing! Please share when you do 🙂
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These look super yummy. WIll be trying this recipe soon. Thanks for sharing
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Thanks! Hope you like them 🙂
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I LOVE kale and try to include it in as many of my meals as possible. Nothing a little extra green can’t hurt 😉
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So true!
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I absolutely LOVE kale and I try to include it in every meal. Will definitely be trying these meatballs out with some spaghetti. Any excuse to get a little extra green 😉
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You got it girl 😉
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I love kale! I had never thought about putting it in a meatball though. Definitely adding this to my weekly menu.
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Fabulous! Thanks, glad you liked it 🙂
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Kale meatballs, yes!! These look so good, thank you for sharing this healthy recipe!
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My pleasure! I hope you enjoy them 🙂
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They look so delicious! I’m a fan of meatballs but for some reason never make them, putting them in this weekend menu plan! Thanks or the easy recipe | carmelapop.com
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You are welcome 🙂 I hope your family enjoys them!
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Love the idea of adding a serving of veggies to meatballs!
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Every little bit counts! Thanks for the comment 🙂
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These looks so good! We just recently started eating kale and we love it! Thanks for giving us another recipe!
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Awesome, hope the family enjoys them 🙂
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What a great way to add this superfood into your diet! My fiancé isn’t to keen on kale but this may be a great way to sneak it past him 😉
xo – Michelle
http://www.borncreativeblog.com
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LOL same with my hubby! Every little bit counts. Hope he likes them and thanks for the comments 🙂
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Reblogged this on A PLACE TO WONDER and commented:
A delish recipe! 😍
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Thanks Veronica! Going to check out your blog some more now 🙂
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