HEALTHY BEEF MEATBALLS

I've played around with meatballs for a while now, switching from beef to turkey and back again, trying to find the perfect combination between comfort and health. Last night, I think I finally nailed it. I used Trader Joes' 96% lean ground beef, a ton of spices, some egg and oats for bread crumbs. Seriously, give these a try for a yummy comforting, fall-vibe dinner! Ingredients: 2 pounds 96% lean ground beef 1/2 cup diced onion 2 tsp garlic (chopped or minced) 2 eggs 1/2 cup ground oats 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 tsp oregano 1 tbsp smoked paprika 1 tsp red pepper 2 tsp salt 2 tsp pepper 3 tbsp parmesan cheese 3 cups tomato & basil sauce Directions: 1. Preheat oven at 425 degrees. 2. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish and evenly coat the entire surface. Set aside. 3. Combine beef, onion, garlic, eggs, parsley, oregano, paprika, salt, pepper, and cheese in a large bowl mixing by hand. 4. Grind oats into powder in a food processor. Add them to the mixture. 5. Roll the mixture into round, golf ball-size meatballs (about 1 1/2 inches), making sure to pack the meat firmly. Place the balls in the prepared baking dish, being careful to line them up snugly and in even rows vertically and horizontally to form a grid. The meatballs should be touching one another. 6. Roast for 15 minutes, or until the meatballs are firm and cooked through. 7. Add tomato sauce over the meatballs and place back in the oven for another 10 minutes. I served these with spaghetti squash, topped with parmesan and added a big garden salad as a side! ENJOY