How to Marinate Meatballs

By: Aya Pauli

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Marinating meatballs is not the classic way to make these savory spheres, but it is a simple way to get super-tasty results. Meatballs traditionally consist of seasonings and ground meat rolled into small balls. The meatballs may also contain breadcrumbs, egg and finely chopped vegetables. However you make them, the tasty tidbits benefit from soaking in a marinade as much as any meat.

Marinating Raw Meatballs

You can use any type of marinade for raw meatballs. Place the raw meatballs in a plastic, glass or ceramic dish and cover them with marinade. Pour enough marinade in the dish to fill it at least 2 inches deep. Roll the balls around to coat each one evenly. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. Marinate meatballs anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on how intense you want the marinade's flavor to be.

Marinating Cooked Meatballs

Unlike raw meatballs, cooked meatballs are usually marinated in a sauce rather than a traditional marinade. Place the meatballs in a plastic, glass or ceramic container and cover with at least a 2-inch-deep pool of sauce. Roll the meatballs around in the sauce and cover the container with a lid. Place the meatballs in the refrigerator and marinate for as long as you wish. Remove meatballs from fridge and reheat them in the sauce before serving.