Potato Meatballs: Soft Inside and Crispy Outside, Easy Recipe
Potato meatballs are a timeless classic of home cooking: simple, flavorful and loved by both adults and children. Perfect as a main course, appetizer or finger food, they are made with a few ingredients and can be fried or baked. Soft on the inside and golden on the outside, they’re also ideal for using up leftover ingredients.
Also try these meatballs:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Budget-friendly
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 20/30
- Cooking methods: Oven, Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 7 oz potatoes
- 2 oz cheese (grated)
- 7 oz mixed ground meat
- salt
- garlic
- ground turmeric
- 3 tbsp breadcrumbs
Tools
Large pot
Potato ricer or masher
Bowl
Baking sheet (for the oven version)
Steps
For the preparation of Potato Meatballs: Soft Inside and Crispy Outside, watch the video HERE.
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Let’s prepare the potatoes:
Boil the potatoes in plenty of salted water. Once cooked, drain and let them cool slightly. Mash them with a potato ricer or masher into a large bowl. Add the grated cheese and mash it together with the potatoes.
Add spices to taste, the ground meat and mix well. Add the breadcrumbs little by little until you obtain a soft but workable mixture.
Form the meatballs:
Take a small amount of mixture at a time and shape the meatballs. Roll them in breadcrumbs and continue until all the mixture is used.
Pan frying:
Fry the meatballs in hot vegetable oil until evenly golden. Drain on paper towels.
Oven:Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, give them a light spray or brush of oil and bake in a static oven at 356°F for about 20 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking.
Enjoy your meal!
Storage & tips:
❄️ Storage
Potato meatballs can be kept in the refrigerator for 1–2 days in an airtight container. They can be frozen either raw or cooked.
💡 Tips & variations
You can replace the meat with vegetables or legumes for a vegetarian version
Also great with a gooey mozzarella center
Perfect for cooking in the air fryer
FAQ (Questions & Answers)
Can I prepare the potato meatballs in advance?
Yes, you can prepare them and store them in the refrigerator for 1 day before cooking. It’s recommended to fry or bake them shortly before serving to keep them crispy.
Can I add melty cheeses inside?
Yes, you can add cubes of mozzarella or other melting cheeses in the center of the meatballs for a soft, stretchy core.
Which spices can I use?
Besides salt and pepper, you can add paprika, nutmeg, or aromatic herbs such as parsley or oregano to make the meatballs even more flavorful.
Can they be frozen?
Yes, the meatballs can be frozen either raw or cooked. If frozen raw, you can cook them directly from frozen, increasing the cooking time slightly.
Can I make a vegetarian version?
Absolutely! Just replace the meat with chopped vegetables, spinach, mushrooms or legumes such as lentils or chickpeas.
What is the best way to keep them crispy?
Fry them in hot oil or bake them in the oven at 356°F, turning halfway through cooking. Avoid covering them immediately after cooking to prevent them from softening.
