Meatballs With a Surprise Inside

I found this recipe on-line a couple of years ago, when I was looking for something lo-carb and a bit different (and easy, as always). As usual I've tweaked it and changed it a little. These make the best super-simple meatballs, with a surprise melty cheese center.

Start with:

• 1 1/2 lbs of lean ground meat (I've only done this beef, but you might be able to use ground turkey with some seasoning adjustments)
• 1 pkg taco seasoning (this is just the regular envelope of taco seasoning you buy next to the taco shells or with the seasoning packets at the grocery store)
• 2 eggs
• 1 block of sharp cheddar, cut into cubes (I used a package of already cubed cheese that you find next to the grated cheese, mine was a mixture of mozzarella and cheddar cubes)

Combine the meat, taco seasoning, and eggs until well mixed. Take about a tablespoon (or a little more, depending on the size of your cheese cubes) of the meat mixture, and mold around a cube of cheese, to form a small meatball. Bake these on a cookie sheet with a lip, or in a shallow baking pan, at 425 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through and the cheese is melted.

You can change these up by varying the cheese and the seasoning in the meat. I've made the taco seasoned meatballs, and I've made them using a packet of spaghetti sauce seasoning in place of the taco seasoning. I usually grab a bag of mixed mozzarella and cheddar cheese cubes, both of these go well with either seasoning. If you want to change up the seasoning, and the cheese, I think the possibilities would be endless.

These meatballs are so simple and easy to make, and they beat pre-made, frozen meatballs, hands down. Use them for party food just as they are, or serve the taco meatballs with queso as a dipping sauce, and spaghetti sauce with the Italian. (I think the Italian meatballs would make a wonderful meatball sub, too).

Change the seasoning/cheese combination for something a little more sophisticated if you'd like, but try these, they are so easy, and taste so good.

Happy cooking, and happy eating!

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