Growing up, my mother always cooked us certain family favourites, and her mother’s German Meatball recipe is definitely a favourite. These super-sized meatballs are fried in butter and then simmered,. They’re flavourful yet tender, and served in a European-style meat gravy. My grandmother’s German Meatballs are amazing served with potatoes and a vegetable, for a typical meat-potato-and-veg dinner, or chilled, sliced, and served on fresh, homemade bread for a super-yummy meatball sandwich. The yummy flavour is due to a secret and unexpected ingredient!
I loved the meat version that I grew up eating, but when I became a vegetarian I said good-bye to them and thought it was a flavour long-lost to me. But you know how plant-based ‘meat’ is having a moment now? Well, I found a package of plant-based ground beef and suddenly *craved* that familiar childhood flavour. I know, I know — if you’re a carnivore, you’ll consider plant-based ground beef to be an oxy-moron. My darling DH is a carnivore of cattle-farming heritage, so trust me, I know! But that’s the genius of this recipe; you can use ground beef if you eat meat, or simply replace the meat 1:1 for plant-based ground ‘beef’ (or ‘bif’, as I jokingly call it). Either way, the recipe works!
When you want a good, solid comfort food meal, but nothing too laborious, this is the meal that you want! Stick a few potatoes in the microwave, and steam a few green beans (or make these Pan-fried Lemony Green Beans!) while the meatballs are cooking, and an old-fashioned dinner is ready in 45 minutes.
Oh, and that secret ingredient? A pinch of nutmeg. I know, weird, right? But it totally works! You can’t taste it in the dish but somehow it just makes the meatballs that much tastier.
Now, let’s get to making these behemoths!
My Grandmother's German Meatballs
These flavourful yet tender meatballs are made the same way my grandmother did, fried then simmered, and served with an au jus gravy. Easier than you think, and oh so yummy!
Ingredients
- 1 lb (500 g) ground beef (I used plant-based ground 'beef')
- 1 egg
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1/2 c. breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp. salted butter
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients together (except for the butter) until just mixed.
- Divide meat mixture into 6, and roll into large balls using your hands.
- Melt butter in a saucepan and fry the meatballs over a medium-high heat until dark brown on all sides (about 15 minutes).
- Add 1/2 c. water to the pan, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Depending on how much au jus gravy you like, you can add another 1/2 c. of water to the saucepan, and simmer for another 10 minutes.
- The meatballs should be ready now; if you're using real meat, confirm that they are no longer pink on the inside but are thoroughly cooked, and serve!
Notes
I used freshly homemade breadcrumbs (I just popped some fresh bread in a blender for a few seconds), but you could use storebought. Whatever you have is fine!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1 meatballAmount Per Serving: Calories: 123Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 214mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 6g
While I made the recipe the way my mom always did, making large meatballs that are essentially a serving each, you could make mini meatballs if that’s your thing. You do you!
And again, while I served these with the European-style meat gravy (technically an ‘au jus’ gravy), you could easily thicken up the gravy with some flour, for a brown gravy type of sauce. It’s all about personal preference!
Let me know in the comments which type of gravy you serve with your meatballs! And if you make these meatballs, be sure to let me know what you think of my grandmother’s 100-year-old recipe!
Next Post: Likely my Brunch-Worthy Cinnamon Roll Bread. I need more of it in my life!
I just got up from the dinner table and wanted to let you know this recipe was a success! Nutmeg in meatballs? I could taste it, it was a surprise and a pleasant change from my usual garlic and onion seasoning.
Of course, I changed the recipe. First I tripled it because my men are big meat-eaters. I took two-thirds of the meat mixture and stuffed bell peppers which I had frozen from this summer’s garden. That was put in the oven to cook for dinner while I sauteed the meatballs in the butter. They are hidden in the back of the refrigerator to be used for another meal this week. My son tried to eat one but I shooed him away. I counted the meatballs (11) and told him there had better be that many when I fix them later. I think I am going to simmer them in spaghetti sauce…but I will decide later.
Your Grandma was a good cook.
Jeannie@GetMeToTheCountry
You have the best cooking anecdotes, Jeannie! So glad it was a hit! Mmm…meatballs simmered in tomato sauce…delish!