51 meat ball recipes

Kentucky-style burgoo soup made with mixed cooked meats, okra, lima beans, corn, and garden vegetables in a rich beef-and-chicken broth. A lighter take on the legendary Bluegrass State stew.

Fried turtle meat simmered in a dark roux-based tomato sauce with mushrooms, shallots, bell pepper, lemon peel, and cayenne, served over hot rice. An authentic Louisiana Cajun dish that's as wild as the bayou itself.

Black-eyed pea and crab salad with bacon, roasted peppers, and fresh herbs in a bright vinaigrette. A Stephan Pyles-style Southwestern recipe served on gorditas or crisp tortillas.

A lighter green chili loaded with beans, green peppers, jalapenos, green chiles, and cumin in chicken broth. No tomatoes, all heat, ready in 30 minutes flat.

Turkey pumpkin chili with great northern beans, kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, and canned pumpkin. A lean, high-fiber fall chili loaded with cumin, oregano, and chili powder.

Cajun seafood gumbo with shrimp, lump crab, ham, and okra built on a dark cocoa-colored roux. Finished with file powder for authentic Louisiana flavor and body.

A good spring dinner selection, light and healthy.

Pickled pumpkin balls scoop fresh pumpkin flesh into pretty spheres and simmer them in spiced cider vinegar syrup with cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and lemon peel. A retro relish for fall meats.

Honey glaze for roasting meat with black pepper, dill, fennel, and cinnamon cooked to soft ball stage. Scales per pound and works on pork, ham, chicken, or beef roasts.

Spanish meatball soup (albondegas) with beef stock, tomato sauce, potatoes, carrots, and celery: hearty broth with tender meatballs and chunked vegetables, garnished with green onions.

Consumer Reports vegetarian burger: a grain-and-bean veggie patty of cooked barley, chickpeas, and oatmeal bound with finely chopped vegetables and soy sauce. Versatile enough for patties, sausages, or meatballs.

Hearty Italian wedding soup simmered for hours with beef shanks, tiny meatballs, vegetables, tomatoes, and small pasta shells. Topped with grated Parmesan for a soul-warming bowl.

Italian-style tomato sauce simmered with kelp seaweed (alaria or laminaria), garlic, oregano, and Worcestershire. A mineral-rich, umami-packed sauce for spaghetti, meatballs, or browned meat.

A 2-ingredient sauce of currant jelly and prepared mustard, microwaved until smooth. Sweet, tangy, and ready in 5 minutes. Glaze a ham, dip meatballs, or drizzle over chicken.

Crispy deep-fried beef meatballs spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and curry powder swim in a rich coconut milk gravy with fenugreek and lemongrass. A bold Sri Lankan main dish.

Spicy, tangy Thai turkey meatballs with red curry paste and fish sauce, served with a sweet-sour cucumber dipping sauce. A quick party appetizer ready in 30 minutes that feeds a crowd.