Meatball Madness USDA Recipe for Child Care Centers

Age Group: Ages 6-18
Serving Size: 25-50
In our Meatball Madness recipe, lean ground turkey, spices, and vegetables are shaped and baked in a muffin tin, and then topped with a dollop of mashed potatoes.
CACFP CREDITING INFORMATION
Two meatball cups provide 2 oz equivalent meat/meat alternate and 7⁄8 cup vegetable.
4 from 2 votes

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Instructions
 

  • Heat water to a rolling boil.
  • Pour water, milk, potato flakes, margarine, and salt in a commercial mixer (batch as needed). Using a paddle attachment, mix on low speed. Mashed potatoes should appear stiff. DO NOT OVERMIX.
    For 25 servings, mix for 2–3 minutes.
    For 50 servings, mix for 4–5 minutes.
  • Transfer 3 gal 1½ cup (about 6 lb 7 oz) mashed potatoes to a steam table pan (12" x 20" x 2½").
    For 25 servings, use 1 pan.
    For 50 servings, use 2 pans.
  • Critical Control Point: Hold for hot service at 140 °F or higher.
  • Set aside for step 13.
  • Place ground beef, ground turkey, milk, eggs, oats, tomato paste, onions, celery, bell peppers, carrots, pepper, salt, garlic powder, and celery seed in a commercial mixer (batch as needed).
  • Using a paddle attachment, mix on low speed for 2-3 minutes. DO NOT OVERMIX.
  • Lightly coat a muffin pan (20½" x 14") with pan-release spray. Using a No. 16 scoop, portion ¼ cup 1⅛ tsp (about 2²⁄5 oz) meatball mixture into each muffin cup. Flatten the top of each meatball.
    For 25 servings, use 3 muffin pans.
    For 50 servings, use 6 muffin pans.
  • Bake:
    Conventional oven: 400 °F for 25–30 minutes.
    Convection oven: 375 °F for 20–25 minutes.
  • Critical Control Point: Heat to 165 °F or higher.
  • Remove from oven.
  • Transfer meatballs to a steam table pan (12" x 20" x 2½") lined with parchment paper; 25 meatballs per pan.
    For 25 servings, use 2 pans.
    For 50 servings, use 4 pans.
  • Using a No. 20 scoop, portion ¾ cup 2 Tbsp 2 tsp (about 2 oz) mashed potatoes on top of each meatball.
  • Critical Control Point: Hold for hot service at 140 °F or higher.
  • Serve 2 meatball cups.

Nutrition INFORMATION

Nutrition Facts
Meatball Madness USDA Recipe for Child Care Centers
Amount Per Serving 2 meatball cups
Calories 272 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 28mg9%
Sodium 437mg19%
Potassium 219mg6%
Total Carbohydrate 36g12%
Dietary Fiber 5g21%
Total Sugars 5g6%
Protein 17g34%
Vitamin D 14IU93%
Calcium 73mg7%
Iron 3mg17%
*
*Marketing Guide
25 Servings:
Mature onions: 7 oz
Celery: 7 oz
Green bell peppers: 10 oz
Carrots: 5 oz
50 Servings:
Mature onions: 14 oz
Celery: 14 oz
Green bell peppers: 1 lb 4 oz
Carrots: 10 oz

Notes

*See Marketing Guide for purchasing information on foods that will change during preparation or when a variation of the ingredients is available.
Cooking Process #2: Same Day Service.
Yield / Volume
25 Servings:
About 13 lb 3 oz
About 1 gal 2 qt 2⅓ cups 2 tsp/
25 meatball cups
50 Servings:
About 26 lb 6 oz
About 3 gal 1 qt ¾ cup/
50 meatball cups