Name: Applesauce Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 egg; 1/2 cup milk; 1 1/2 cups croutons; 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef; 2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce; 3 tablespoons onion (chopped); 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon pepper; 1 10 ounce can tomato soup; 1/2 soup can water; 8 ounces noodles (cooked); 1 tablespoon butter

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Are you looking for delicious meatball recipes with ground beef? These Farmhouse Applesauce Meatballs are the best meatballs I’ve ever eaten! Our family loves the basic ingredients that that add a nice flavor and keep these meatballs moist!

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Moist Meatball Recipe

There are two ingredients that really make this recipe stand apart from other meatball recipes. The applesauce is key in keeping the meatballs moist and juicy. The croutons soaked in the egg and milk serve as a great binder while helping pack more flavor into each meatball.

Tomato soup is mixed with water and poured over the meatballs to keep them especially moist while they bake. Flavors blend together so well in these baked applesauce meatballs to make a delicious meal that everyone in our family enjoys! Meatballs work well for us because even young kids can chew them easily which make the entire meal more enjoyable.

While this makes a big pan of meatballs we usually reheat the leftover to make another meal or two throughout the week. Meatballs do freeze well in an airtight container. Make sure that the meatballs have cooled off before putting them in the freezer. We usually package up leftovers after we’re done eating and put them in the refrigerator to get cold. Then any portions of food that we want to freeze are moved to the freezer from there.

How to Shape Meatballs

I used a medium sized cookie dough scoop to form my meatballs, but one of these meat ballers looks pretty neat! Using a tool helps ensure all meatballs are the same size and shape, but you can use your hands to shape meatballs too. Just form balls in the palm of your hand.

A smaller sized cookie dough scoop could be used to make appetizer sized meatballs and serve with a toothpick. This is one of our favorite ground beef recipes that can be a main dish or appetizer idea.

However you decide to shape meatballs it is important that each ball be close to the same size. Meatballs that are the same size will cook more evenly and have a more uniform quality. If meatballs are uneven the small ones may bet dried out and the larger ones may not get thoroughly cooked.

Recipes with Applesauce

Our family has been making all kinds of recipes with applesauce lately. The kids love snacking on applesauce and I love the moisture it adds in this delicious Cinnamon Applesauce Cake, Applesauce Raisin Cookies and Farmhouse Applesauce Bars.

We always have applesauce in the cupboard because it makes a great snack or easily enhances so many easy recipes!

How to Make Baked Applesauce Meatballs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F & grease 9×13 inch baking dish
Beat egg and milk until smooth, add croutons & mix well
Mix in ground beef, applesauce, onion, salt and pepper
Shape into meatballs and place in baking dish
Mix soup and water together and pour over meatballs
Bake 25 – 35 minutes
Serve meatballs over noodles

What Do I Need to Make Applesauce Meatballs?

Ground beef
Applesauce
Milk
Egg
Croutons
Onion
Salt
Pepper
Tomato soup
Water

Other Easy Family Dinner Ideas:

We hope you enjoy all of these recipes as much as we do!

Printable Recipe for Moist Applesauce Meatballs