french onion lamb meatballs

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french onion lamb meatballs

French onion lamb meatballs made with your favorite French onion dip and other spices! Yes, these lamb meatballs will become your go to meatball recipe! These are crazy good spice lamb meatballs!

Spiced Lamb Meatballs

Spiced lamb meatballs are more than just rolling seasoned ground meat into balls and cooking. Really good meatballs, I mean moist tender and deeply flavored, but not overwhelmingly so, meatballs call for ingredients and techniques that give you that end result. And, that’s precisely what these french onion lamb meatballs are, the very best, most moist and tender flavorful meatballs you’ll ever taste!

Lamb Meatballs Recipe

Now most people think the perfect lamb meatballs recipe is a combination of beef, pork and sometimes veal. But, I’m here to tell you that ground lamb is the bomb when you’re making meatballs! You might think that the lamb would give the meatballs a real Middle Eastern slant, since that’s typically where you see ground lamb used, in Middle Eastern meatballs and kefta. However, this recipe for french onion lamb meatballs blasts that myth, or rather taste. And, you’re going to use an ingredient that maybe you’ve haven’t tried in a meatballs recipe, French onion dip/ 

French Onion Dips

French onion dips are perfect for fresh vegetables, chips, pretzels, crackers and snacking. But why not use French onion dip in recipes. That’s my thinking. Basically French onion dips are sour cream with spices. 

Originally known as California dip, French onion dip was ‘discovered’ in the 1950s in Los Angeles. As the story and legend goes, and unknown French cook combined sour cream and instant onion soup. Bam! It spread like wildfire once it was printed in a local newspaper! 

Meatball Dishes without Pasta

Seems that pasta and meatballs automatically go together, But, what meatball dishes can you make without pasta. OK, check out these ideas, my friends!

Bacon Sweet Potato Hash

Honey Ginger Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Oven Roasted Garlic and Herb Veggies

Super Antioxidant Kale Greens

Thai Red Curry Coconut Corn

Lamb Meatballs with Mint

Another ingredient used in these lamb meatballs is mint. You might not regularly use that in your meatballs. But, lamb and mint just go together. And, it’s quite popular in the Middle East, so here’s to lamb meatballs with mint. You could surely use fresh mint too. I’d recommend about two teaspoons of finely minced fresh mint. Oh, that would be divine! 

Meatballs Lamb

Ground lamb has a ton of nutritional value. Yes. it’s a little pricier than regular beef and pork, but the benefits are worth the extra investment. Lamb, which is mostly protein, does have varying amounts of fat in it. It’s a warehouse of vitamins and minerals like B12, selenium, zinc, niacin, phosphorous, and iron. And, because the lamb has a higher fat content than beef, you can cut out the pork in these meatballs and just stick with straight lamb. If you’re interested in looking at the comparison between lamb and beef, the check out this article. And, there, of course, are many more in cyberspace!

Bottom line on this recipe is that these meatballs meet all the important criteria to me for a great meatball! While the meatballs had a more Italian flair, I decided to serve with a distinctively Middle Eastern side versus pasta. So I simply put some olive oil, drained garbanzo beans in a skillet over medium heat and seasoned them with salt, pepper, harissa and ground cumin then served them over a mound of fresh European greens. I’m telling you this is about as fine a dish as you could order in a fancy dancy restaurant!

I have lots of meatballs recipes, so try something different with beef, chorizo, chicken! 

french onion lamb meatballs

french onion lamb meatballs

french onion lamb meatballs

Yield: About 4 hungry folks!

French onion lamb meatballs made with your favorite French onion dip and other spices! Yes, these lamb meatballs will become your go to meatball recipe!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. lamb, ground, grassfed and/or organic
  • ½ cup French onion dip
  • ½ cup parmesan, grated
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 ½ tsp. Garlic Herb Seasoning Mixture, WalMart organic brand
  • 1 tsp. dried mint
  • 1 tsp. sea salt
  • ½ tsp. dried rosemary
  • ½ tsp. red chili flakes
  • ¾ cup bread crumbs
  • ½ cup flat parsley, fresh, packed and finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 (28 oz.) can Cento San Marzano peeled tomatoes + 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup shaved parmesan
  • SIDE DISH to serve with Meatballs:
  • 4-5 cups fresh greens, mixture of arugula, spinach, baby kale, etc.
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 (14.5 oz.) cans garbanzo beans, drained
  • 2 tsp. harissa
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. salt

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, put the lamb, French onion dip, parmesan, eggs, garlic herb seasoning, mint, salt, rosemary and chili flakes. Blend together really well combining all the ingredients into a thick meat mixture.

Add the bread crumbs and parsley and blend together. Don't overwork the mixture, just enough to incorporate all ingredients. The mixture is now ready for rolling into meatballs.

Pinch about two heaping tablespoons and roll in to a meatball. Repeat until all the meat is rolled into meatballs. There should be about 10 to 12 meatballs. Of course, the size of your meatballs will determine the total number you get from the mixture.

Put a Dutch oven (medium size) on a medium blaze. Let it get hot. Add the olive oil. Add five to six meatballs and brown on all sides. Use tongs and remove these meatballs to a bowl. Add the remaining meatballs and brown. Then return the first batch of browned meatballs to the pot.

Cover the meatballs with the tomatoes and water. Cover with a lid. Cook for thirty minutes on medium stirring occasionally.

Reduce heat to low and simmer until ready to serve. The tomatoes will cook down and become a ‘marinara’ type sauce consistency. Stir occasionally.

Whille the meatballs are cooking, prepare the garbanzo beans. Heat a medium skillet on medium heat. Add the olive oil, beans, harissa and cumin. Toss and blend well. Cook about 7-10 minutes over medium low heat.

When serving, put some of the greens on the plate, top with some of the beans and several of the meatballs and sauce.

Notes

Shaved parmesan reggiano for garnishing and serving with meatballs.

For the breadcrumbs, I put leftover broken naan chips in the food processor and pulsed into a sandy mixture.

The French Onion Dip is found in the refrigerated section of your grocer. It is made with sour cream.

Your sharing is GOLDEN! Thank you!

Your sharing and comments help me stay in business! Share a photo if you make the recipe #allyskitchen Thank you! xo Ally


french onion lamb meatballs

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32 Comments

  1. Hey Ally.. Thank you so much for your wonderful simple recipes!.. I Always look forward to them and I hope you’re having a great time in Italy!.. I’m asking you for a small favor if you could give me the YouTube link for these onion dip meatballs Cuz I watched the video on FB but couldn’t find the equivalent clip on YouTube.. Thanks a million luv.. Stay safe& see you back home soon!.. Samia.. Xoxo

    1. Hi, dear Samia! Thank you for those special warm comments. I so appreciate it and it makes my work so much more worthwhile! Crazy but, I have 8 meatball recipes but not one for this particular recipe. However, I think if you watch a couple of the others, you’ll get the hang b/c there’s not a huge difference in technique e of making. Just ingredients change and time to cook! So here are some links, darlin. See you back home real soon! xoxx ~ally

      https://youtu.be/UiJ2P3gIpks
      https://youtu.be/OOXgNGY8rZE
      https://youtu.be/MPkMlc7mdRM
      https://youtu.be/YC0YcJlKMAc

      1. Anonymous says:

        Thanks a lot Ally!.. Yes all your videos are amazing I particularly like this one cuz it’s almost under 1 min and it makes like looks so easy!.. But I saved it oin my messenger and I can go back and watch it again!.. I was also wondering about your favorite crusade cooking ceramic pan with a cover that you mentioned where do I find the link for that one?.. Thanks again!.. Enjoy the fresh air of Italy and have a great Grape picking day!.. 💖😇☀️🌺🌹😍

      2. Thanks a lot Ally!.. Yes all your videos are amazing I particularly like this one cuz it’s almost under 1 min and it makes life looks so easy!.. But I saved it in my messenger and I can go back and watch it again!.. I was also wondering about your favorite crusade cooking ceramic pan with a cover that you mentioned where do I find the link for that one?.. Thanks again!.. Enjoy the fresh air of Italy and have a great Grape picking day!.. 💖😇☀️🌺🌹😍

        1. Hi there, Samia! Thank you so much. You know videos are tricky. Different social media platforms want different lengths, so some of mine are short and sweet and others like longer. Glad you saved it. You can go back and re-watch. On the left sidebar of any recipe (under the Great American Grandma pix), you’ll see my ‘fave’ cooking pans from Le Creuset. You’re speaking of the braising pan. And, while it’s an ‘investment’ it’s totally worth it. I use those pieces all the time. Just click that link and it’ll take you to Amazon and the pan. And, yes, I’m an Amazon Affiliate, so if you purchase it from my link, I might let like 20 cents commission! Thanks so much, and Italy is a breath of fresh air after nearly 2 years of this pandemic! xoxx ally

          1. Anonymous says:

            Hey Ally… My pleasure to use your Amazon link for the pan.. Only if I could find it.. lol.. I just watched one of your videos on YouTube for making the Harissa recipe and I couldn’t find “fave’ cooking pans from Le Creuset on the left side bar.. Maybe I missed somewhere .. https://youtu.be/munFa3Iylq8
            Yes I agree a good braising pan makes all the difference and I’m about to make a major cleanup of my old pans!.. Thanks to what I learned from you and Bobby parish.. lol.. He also recently featured an amazing pan from Coseway?.. on one of his FB stories for making Shrimp Burritos with Desi.. Unfortunately I also couldn’t find this lovely pan anywhere.. But it could be a cast iron.. God knows?..Thanks a lot for your help and have a great day!.. Xoxo.. Samia

          2. Hey Ally… My pleasure to use your link for the pan from Amazon .. Only if I could find it.. lol.. I just watched one of your videos on YouTube for making the Harissa recipe and couldn’t find “fave’ cooking pans from Le Creuset on the left side.. Maybe I missed somewhere .. https://youtu.be/munFa3Iylq8
            Yes I agree a good braising pan makes all the difference and I’m about to make a major cleanup of my old pans Thanks to what I learned from you and Bobby parish.. lol.. He also recently featured an amazing pan from Coseway?.. on one of his FB stories for making Shrimp Burritos with Desi.. Unfortunately I also couldn’t find this wonderful pan anywhere… It could also be a cast iron.. God know?… Thanks a lot for your help and have a great day!.. Xoxo.. Samia

            1. Oh, Samia! You’re the best, and I always love reading your comments. It makes me smile. OK, let’s do this, IF you can wait. I’m in Tuscany now and will be home in a few days. At that time, when I have better more consistent wifi, I shall get you the link. Unfortunately, here in the country it’s slow and frustrating. I did the same thing w/my pots and pans. Did a major cleanout and after some serious consideration of what worked best for me was the Le Creuset. I purchased k5 pieces. A small investment, but it will be handed down in my last will and testament! lol! xoxx Ally

            2. Hi, Samia…I went to my website on another browser, Microsoft, and the sidebars links for the pots/pans are perfectly there. Maybe if you try another browser, you’ll see it!

              Tried to insert a screenshot but not able to. Arrrghhhh!

  2. Anonymous says:

    Hey Ally.. Thank you so much for your wonderful simple recipes!.. I Always look forward to them and I hope you’re having a great time in Italy!.. I’m asking you for a small favor if you could give me the YouTube link for these onion dip meatballs Cuz I watched the video on FB but couldn’t find the equivalent clip on YouTube.. Thanks a million luv.. Stay safe& see you back home soon!.. Samia.. Xoxo

  3. ELEANOR LUND says:

    I love this recipe, not only is it easy to follow, the meatballs are really most on the inside!

    1. Dear Eleanor! Thank you for leaving this kind comment…and, I’m assuming you have made them! Yes, they are moist inside and that’s very important. So appreciate your support! ~ally xoxo

    1. Ohhhhh, my sweetness!! Honestly the side dish is ahhhhhhhhhhmazing!! Thank you, luv! xox

  4. Christine says:

    Love lamb! These meatballs sound awesome.

    1. Thank you, dear Christine! Yes, they are yummmy meatballs!!

    1. I have to concur, dear Abbe! Tis mighty fine…thank you, luv! xo

    1. Ohhhhh, that’s the best comment ever! Thank you, luv..they’re really deeelish!!

    1. Dear sweet Michaela! Thank you, luv! It’s truly a simple no brainer but packs plenty of flavor!! xo

  5. So much flavors here, Alice! It all starts with the wonderful lamb meat balls and then the seasoning is the bomb, French onion dip, garlic herb seasoning, harissa, cumin powder, olive oil, rosemary and dried mint! I can almost imagine how tasty this should be, and your video makes me drool

    1. Hadia…honestly when I was doing this I was thinking of you and a few of my dear Middle Eastern foodie luvs who have taught me so much about the spectacular foods of that region. I can’t get enough! Thank you so very much!! xo

  6. I love lamb.. but these are so different than anything I have ever had. I wish we lived closer! I sure would like to eat anything you good! A must try soon!

    1. Claudia, oh, how I wish we did live closer…I would be swapping out dishes w/you every single day!! Thank you, luv!! xo

  7. Okay missy… THIS is officially the dish I want you to make when next we cook together! Chick peas and all!!! Dang Delicious!

    1. Miss Pea!! It’s a deal!!! I shall make these b/c we’re both Middle Eastern divas who salivate for these flavors…and chickpeas, OMG, I could eat my weight in them!! xo

    1. My sweet Lynnneepoooo!! Fanks, darlin!! oxox

  8. Love, love, love lamb of any kind and these meatballs look and sound amazing. They are next on my “to do” list!!

    1. Mary!!! I know you’re a lamb lover!! And, these meatballs are so stinkin’ simple and quick! Yet, have all the flavor of hours of cooking!! xoxo Thank you!

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