Juicy Pork Meatballs - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

What can I use instead of breadcrumbs in meatballs? ›

Rolled Oats

Oats are the perfect substitutes for breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf. While they aren't ideal for a crispy coating, they add the right amount of texture to bind meat, eggs and flavorings together into a delicious Italian-inspired feast.

Ways to Serve Pork Meatballs

My favorite way to serve these pork meatballs is over freshly cooked rice and with steamed broccoli or bok choy on the side. Serve them as-is with a small dish of toothpicks for a party appetizer. Check out all off my Party Food Ideas here.

Filler ingredients like breadcrumbs or flour are important too because they stop the meatballs becoming dry. The breadcrumbs absorb the juices from the meat as it cooks, trapping them within the meatball. Again quantity is important here; too much and your meatball will be more like stuffing or a dumpling.

We're talking about the fat content of your meat. If you want to walk away with 100% profit, you should use ground meat that's at least 20% fat. A higher fat content ensures that your meatballs stay juicy. If you've ever had a sad, dry meatball, a lean fat content is most likely one of the reasons why.

Quinoa flakes are a fantastic replacement for breadcrumbs, particularly for those seeking a gluten-free option. Quinoa is packed with essential amino acids, protein, and fibre. To use quinoa flakes as a breadcrumb substitute, pulse them in a food processor until they resemble breadcrumbs.

Almond Flour

Almond flour is another outstanding breadcrumb alternative. It's available in stores or can be made at home. Simply blend blanched almonds in a mixer grinder to create a fine, coarse powder. Packed with essential nutrients, the natural oils in almond flour give your food a golden, crispy coating.

Egg and breadcrumbs are common mix-ins to add moisture and tenderness. Another binder option that people swear by is a panade, which is fresh or dry breadcrumbs that have been soaked in milk. “The soaked breadcrumbs help keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking,” as food writer Tara Holland explained in the Kitchn.

What does adding milk to meatballs do? ›

Milk: Milk adds moisture, ensuring the meatballs don't dry out during the cooking process. Onion: An onion lends bold flavor. Meat: You'll need a pound of ground beef and a pound of ground pork. Egg: An egg adds moisture and helps bind the meatballs together.

Add a lightly beaten egg, but not too much. Egg acts as a binder for the ingredients, but you only need a small amount. One small egg will do for one pound of minced meat. Alternatively, if you're following an egg-free diet, you could soak fresh bread in milk, squeezing out any excess milk, to use as a binder.

Will meatballs fall apart without breadcrumbs? No. In fact, if you add too many breadcrumbs, you risk them becoming too dry and falling apart. But when you make them with just ground beef and seasonings, they are perfect.

Cornflakes or Bran Cereals

"They're also a great casserole topping, but avoid using them as a binder since they're not good at absorbing liquid and flavor," says Sofia Norton, RD. Their light and airy, but still crisp, texture makes them a good panko crumbs alternative.

Crackers. Crushed-up crackers make an excellent bread crumb substitute in baked dishes like meatballs or meatloaf. The crackers work just as well as the bread crumbs to hold the meat mixture together, and using varieties like salty saltines or buttery Ritz is a great way to add an extra burst of flavor to your dish.