Baked Meatballs Recipe (No Breadcrumbs) - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

What is a healthy substitute for breadcrumbs in meatballs? ›

Rolled oats are an excellent substitute for breadcrumbs, especially in savoury dishes. Not only do they add a slightly nutty flavour, but they are also rich in fibre, protein, and several vitamins and minerals.

Meatball recipes usually include a panade ( bread or bread crumbs soaked in milk or stock). It lightens the texture and adds moisture to the meatballs in much the same way it works in meatloaf. You can leave out the breadcrumbs but you may find your meatballs are denser and chewier than you like.

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.

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.

An egg is usually a good start, as that can help with the tenderness and texture, but the king of meatball binders is breadcrumbs soaked in milk (also known as a panade). Soaking the breadcrumbs first makes them pliable and soggy, which allows them to easily and evenly mix into the ground meat.

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.

Generally, breadcrumbs navigation is more advantageous for sites with deep site architecture. Because it helps users navigate between multiple levels. Breadcrumbs aren't quite as useful on very small or flat sites.

Use breadcrumb navigation for large websites and websites that have hierarchically arranged pages. An excellent scenario is e-commerce websites, in which a large variety of products is grouped into logical categories. You shouldn't use breadcrumbs for single-level websites that have no logical hierarchy or grouping.

Is milk or egg better for meatballs? ›

Egg is used as a binding agent, and some type of bread crumb or cracker is added to give meatballs a bit more depth. When it comes to adding liquid to meatball mixtures, milk is often used for its versatility, depth of flavor, and richness. Without the use of milk, you may be faced with a plate of dry meatballs.

Because they only show one linear path, standard breadcrumbs are not actually very useful for navigating a website. There is, however, an advanced breadcrumbing technique we used at PainWise designed to encourage users to explore when viewing the website on a desktop computer or tablet.

Milk: Adds moisture and tenderizes the meat, making our meatballs juicy and tender once cooked. Egg: Adds more moisture and helps the mixture firm up once cooked. Parmesan: My secret ingredient for the best meatballs! Parmigiano-Reggiano adds flavor and salt to our mixture.

Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together. Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.

Too much time spent forming the balls can also make them tough, and you're more likely to overwork them if you can't get them off your hands. To avoid this sticky situation, keep a dish of cold water next to you as you work, and dip your fingers in as you make the balls.

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.

Instead of breadcrumbs, try corn flake crumbs or brown rice crumbs. Instead of wheat crackers, try rice crackers. Instead of pasta sauce (usually with garlic and onions), try FODY Marina. Instead of sugar snap peas, try green beans.