Meatballs with Hidden Veg

A family dinner that sneaks in a little extra veg

Getting more veggies onto the dinner table can be tricky, especially when you're feeding kids who can spot a piece of zucchini from across the room.

These Meatballs with Hidden Veg make it a little easier.

Beef mince is combined with grated carrot and zucchini, parmesan, garlic and herbs to create juicy, flavour-packed meatballs with the veggies mixed straight in. They're simple enough for a weeknight dinner, make around 18–20 meatballs and take just 25 minutes from start to finish.

Better yet, they're incredibly versatile. Serve them with spaghetti, add them to a salad or Greek-style bowl, pair them with rice, or keep a few aside for an easy snack.

Why these meatballs work for busy families

The best family recipes are the ones you don't have to overthink.

These meatballs use simple ingredients, come together in one bowl and give you plenty of options when it comes to serving them. The grated carrot and zucchini mix through the beef mince, while parmesan, garlic and Italian herbs bring plenty of flavour.

And because one batch makes around 18–20, they're just as handy for tomorrow's lunch as they are for tonight's dinner.

Meatballs with Hidden Veg recipe

Total time: 25 minutes
Makes: 18–20 meatballs
Meal: Lunch, dinner or snack

Ingredients

• 500g beef mince
• 1 brown onion, diced
• 2 tsp garlic
• ½ cup carrot, grated
• ½ cup zucchini, grated
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup parmesan
• 1 egg
• Italian herbs
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil, for cooking

Method

1. Place the beef mince in a large bowl. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, zucchini, breadcrumbs, parmesan, egg, Italian herbs, salt and pepper.
2. Mix until well combined.
3. Roll the mixture into small balls, using around 1½ tablespoons of mixture for each, and place on a tray or plate.
4. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat and add a light spray or drizzle of olive oil. Cook the meatballs in batches, turning occasionally, for 8–10 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Alternatively, brown them in the frying pan before transferring them to the oven to finish cooking.
5. Serve with pasta, rice or salad, or enjoy 2–3 as a snack.

Your questions, answered

Will the kids notice the vegetables?
The carrot and zucchini are already grated and mixed through the meatballs, but if you have particularly veggie-savvy little ones, you can blend the vegetables even finer before adding them to the mixture. This helps them disappear into the meatballs while still getting some extra veg into a family favourite.

Can I add other hidden veggies?
Carrot and zucchini work perfectly in this recipe, but you could experiment with other finely grated vegetables you have on hand. Just be mindful of adding too much extra moisture to the mixture.

What can I serve with them?
That's what makes this recipe so useful. Keep it classic with spaghetti and tomato sauce, serve them with rice and vegetables, add them to a salad or Greek-style bowl, or enjoy 2–3 on their own as a snack. The original recipe is designed to work across all of these options.

Can I finish the meatballs in the oven?
Yes. Brown them first in the frying pan to get some colour, then transfer them to the oven to finish cooking through.

How big should I make the meatballs?
Around 1½ tablespoons of mixture per meatball. This should give you approximately 18–20 from one batch.

Family meals don't need to be complicated

Eating well gets much easier when you're not making one meal for yourself and another for everyone else.

Simple recipes like these are designed to fit into family life, quick enough for a weeknight, versatile enough to use in different meals and tasty enough that the whole family can enjoy them.

25 minutes, one batch and plenty of ways to serve them. That's the kind of healthy eating that's much easier to keep coming back to.

And it's exactly the kind of simple, family-friendly recipe you'll find inside the TRANSFORM app.