Oven Baked Meatballs and Potatoes
I like food which is prepared quickly and with only a few moves, just like these oven baked meatballs and potatoes. You place everything in a large tray and, after 45 minutes, you are already sitting with the family at the table.
I improvised the recipe, because I wanted to make things as simple as possible, but there are definitely some rules to follow. I recommend using minced meat which is slightly fattier for the meatballs, so they will cook faster and will be tender. If you want to use chicken or other lean meat, you'll need to cover it with some grated cheese. It will form a protective crust which won't allow the meatballs to dry in the oven.
Most of us nowadays have electric ovens, don't hesitate to use the ventilation mode for this recipe. This way, the potatoes and the meatballs will have a nice brown crust, without being too dry. Also, they will cook much faster than in the classic way.
Add 1 egg, 1 finely chopped onion, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of dried parsley and a little ground black pepper to the minced meat.
Mix everything with your hands until the mixture becomes uniform and holds well together.
Peel and wash the potatoes, then cut into wedges or halves, depending on how big they are.
Sprinkle over with 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of dried garlic, 1 teaspoon of oregano (or other spices you want) and 100ml of olive oil.
Toss well to coat the potatoes on all sides.
Grease with oil a large, deep baking sheet (or line with parchment).
Place the potatoes in there, and arrange the meatballs in between. I made bigger meatballs, to be faster, but also a little softer after baking.
Place the pan in the preheated oven at 220 degrees C, preferably with ventilation, for about 40-45 minutes.
Check periodically to see if they turn brown. In case you used lean meat, I recommend sprinkling the meatballs with grated cheese in the middle of the baking process. This way, they will not get too dry in the oven, while the potatoes are still cooking.
Serve with salad or pickles. These oven baked meatballs with potatoes are absolutely delicious and easy to prepare.
Enjoy!
