A triple-meat blend is the secret to these always-moist, homemade, baked meatballs. These are the ultimate culinary multitaskers for carnivores.They can be small or big. They can be built upon beef, pork, chicken, turkey, lamb, or any combination thereof including fish. They can be stuffed or coated. They can be lavishly seasoned or simply salted. Then when it comes time to meet the heat, meatballs can be roasted, baked, simmered, sautéed, braised, fried, or grilled.I often make up big batches of these guys, bake ’em, cool and freeze ’em in muffin pans, then transfer to heavy-duty zip-top bags for storage. They’ll keep for up to six months and you can revive them simply by simmering for a few minutes in a pot of sauce or soup.This recipe first appeared in Season 9 of Good Eats.
Combine the pork, lamb, beef, spinach, cheese, egg, basil, parsley, garlic powder, salt, red pepper flakes, and 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs in a large mixing bowl. Using your hands, mix until all ingredients are well incorporated. Use immediately or place in refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Place the remaining 1/4 cup of bread crumbs into a small bowl. Cover a scale with plastic wrap, weigh meatballs into 1 1/2-ounce (43-gram) portions, and place on a half-sheet pan. Using clean hands, shape the meatballs into rounds, roll in the breadcrumbs, and place in miniature muffin tin cups. Bake until golden and cooked through, about 20 minutes.