Easy Meatball Wellington Recipe – Health Starts in the Kitchen (2024)

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Tender, juicy meatballs, wrapped in puff pastry, and served with marinara sauce make a delicious main dish or appetizer for a dinner party. With only 3 ingredients, you’ll impress your family and friends with a simple yet elegant Meatball Wellington!

Easy Meatball Wellington Recipe – Health Starts in the Kitchen (1)

“Wellington” is a touchy subject at our house. Ray (my husband) always complains when he sees a traditional beef Wellington because I’ve never made one for him. A traditional Wellington is a puff pastry crust filled with perfectly medium-rare beef filet tenderloin and sautéed mushrooms with dijon mustard. It’s honestly a little fussy—even for someone who loves to cook, like me.Not that I don’t have the skills to make it but because it just never made it onto our weekly menu.

Until now.

I finally made him the Wellington that he begged for, only filled with meatballs instead of steak after my recent shopping trip to Kroger! — I love getting inspiration from traditional recipes and making them into something unique to share here on my blog!

Easy Meatball Wellington Recipe – Health Starts in the Kitchen (2)

I grabbedCarando® Fresh Italian-Style Meatballsand Bertolli®Rustic Cut Marinara Sauceto go with the puff pastry sheet I already had in the freezer.

Of course you can make your own ground beef meatballs from scratch, but the reality is that I’m a business owner who’s stretched in a million different directions and am always looking for delicious shortcuts for dinner. No need to chop onions, cloves garlic or parsley. No messy breadcrumbs or parmesan cheese – they’ve done all the hard work for you with their delicious meat balls!

I mean seriously you won’t even need to get out a large mixing bowl for this recipe, less mess and less fuss equals more quality time to spend with your family!

This easy recipe for meatball Wellingtons will become one of your family’s favorite recipes – it will be love at first bite!

How to Make Meatball Wellington

To make these easy puff pastry-wrapped meatballs, first you must pre-cook the meatballs- make sure to follow the heating instructions as they are stated directly on the packaging. If you use raw meatballs, they will be OK—but the puff pastry will NOT be as puffy.

Your Wellingtons will be soggy and the pastry shell will pull away from the meat. I know this for sure because I made these both ways, and pre-baking is essential.

Using one sheet of pastry for each 12-pack ofCarando® Fresh Italian-Style Meatballs, you’ll wrap each of the cooked/cooled carando meatballs with a square of dough cut into roughly 4-inch squares. (adjusting the size based on the large meatballs or small balls)

lightly flour your counter or work surface, then place puff pastry squares. Place meatball onto the center of pastry, then fold opposite corners onto each other, then press the pointy folded corners into the middle. Finally, use your hands to smooth the dough into a closed ball around the meatball.

Easy Meatball Wellington Recipe – Health Starts in the Kitchen (3)

Wrap puff pastry around a meatball then use water, melted butter, olive oil or egg wash (one beaten egg) to moisten the dough so that it securely sticks to itself. Place seam side down on a parchment-lined prepared baking sheet. Repeating for the remaining meatballs.

Easy Meatball Wellington Recipe – Health Starts in the Kitchen (4)

It’s BEST to lightly brush them with egg wash for the crispiest crust.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees, then bake for 20 minutes.

Easy Meatball Wellington Recipe – Health Starts in the Kitchen (5)

Serve Meatball Wellington withBertolli®Rustic Cut Marinara Sauceas a dip if you are serving them as an appetizer or snack. (Heat your sauce in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, bring to a low simmer)

Easy Meatball Wellington Recipe – Health Starts in the Kitchen (6)

But I love to serve with pasta to make it a complete meal!

Easy Meatball Wellington Recipe – Health Starts in the Kitchen (7)

When you cut them open, the meatballs are perfectly cooked, juicy, and so flavorful—encased in perfectly flaky puff pastry crust.

Easy Meatball Wellington Recipe – Health Starts in the Kitchen (8)

Next time you are at your local Kroger, pick up Carando® Fresh Italian-Style Meatballs (they can be found in the meat section) and Bertolli®Rustic Cut Marinara Sauce (found in the Italian foodsaisle)and make up abatch of thesedeliciousMeatball Wellington!

Do you love meatballs?

Check out this recipes next:

  • Super Gyro Lamb Meatballs
  • Cheese Stuffed Buffalo Turkey Meatballs
  • Asian Pork Meatballs
  • Salmon Meatballs with Lemon Dijon Cream Sauce
  • Salmon Meatballs with Caper Dill Tarter Sauce
  • Artichoke Chicken Broccoli Meatballs

This post has been sponsored by Carando and Bertolli®. All thoughts and opinions aremy own.

Yours in Health,

Easy Meatball Wellington Recipe – Health Starts in the Kitchen (9)

P.S. You can add some shredded mozzarella into the center of your meatballs for a cheese stuffed meatball Wellington, too!

Easy Meatball Wellington Recipe – Health Starts in the Kitchen (10)

Meatball Wellington

Tender, juicy meatballs wrapped in puff pastry served with marinara sauce make a delicious main dish or appetizer to a dinner party. With only 3 ingredients you'll impress your family and friends with a simple, yet elegant Meatball Wellington!

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Prep Time: 1 hour hour

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 5

Ingredients

  • Carando® Fresh Italian-Style Meatballs or meatball of your choice
  • 1 sheet puff pastry
  • Bertolli®Rustic Cut Marinara Sauce or tomato sauce of your choice
  • 1 large Egg(s) beaten

Optional Garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees

  • Bake meatballs at 350 for 20 mintues or until cooked through to 160 degrees F

  • Transfer meatballs to a paper towel lined plate and chill them in the refrigerator for 40 mintues.

  • While meatballs are chilling, remove 1 sheet of pastry from the freezer and allow it to thaw at room temerature.

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

  • Place puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and lightly roll it out to make it roughly 12 by 16.

  • Cut puff pastry into 12 squares. Wrap each cooked/chilled meatball with 1 square of puff pastry. Brushing with beaten egg to seal the edges.

  • Place wrapped meatballs, seam side down on a baking pan that has been lined with parchment paper.

  • For the crispiest puff pastry, chill them in the freezer for 30 minutes prior to baking.

  • Brush with beaten egg and bake at 400 for 20 mintues or until golden brown.

  • Enjoy immeately with marinara sauce.

Video

Notes

For a mozzarella stuffed meatball wellington, cut cheese into 1/2 inch cubes (or a heaping tablespoon of grated) and stuff into the center of the meatballs PRIOR to baking. Make sure to fully enclose the cheese in the meat so that it doesn’t leak.

Nutrition

Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 139mg | Potassium: 46mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 61IU | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @hayley_inthekitchen or tag #hayley_inthekitchen!

Easy Meatball Wellington Recipe – Health Starts in the Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What is the best meat for Beef Wellington? ›

Traditionally, the dish centers around beef surrounded by pâté, mushrooms and some form of ham that is then wrapped in puff pastry and baked in the oven. The best cut of beef for beef Wellington: We're starting with one of the most tender cuts of beef ever—the tenderloin!

What is the best puff pastry for Beef Wellington? ›

A center-cut beef tenderloin is also known as a Châteubriand. For best results, use a high-quality all-butter puff pastry, such as Dufour. Alternatively, make your own using this recipe. Foie gras pâté can be used in place of the fresh foie gras.

What does adding milk to meatballs do? ›

When it comes to adding liquid to meatball mixtures, milk is often used for its versatility, depth of flavor, and richness. Without the use of milk, you may be faced with a plate of dry meatballs. Milk adds a certain level of moisture that helps produce perfectly tender meatballs.

What not to do when making meatballs? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meatballs
  1. Not seasoning the meat.
  2. Not adding any moisture to the meat.
  3. Over-mixing the meat.
  4. Not shaping the meatballs correctly.
  5. Not forming evenly-sized meatballs.
May 1, 2019

Why is the bottom of my Beef Wellington soggy? ›

How To Prevent A Soggy Beef Wellington. When pre-cooking the beef tenderloin for a beef Wellington, making sure to sear it and not just brown it is a crucial step in preventing sogginess. Searing locks in some of the juices so they don't seep out and pool in the bottom of the pastry.

Why is Beef Wellington so hard to make? ›

Beef wellington is not an easy dish to prepare with perfection. For starters, getting the tenderloin steak right is a challenge in itself. It has to be tender on the inside but decently firm on the outside, so it doesn't get mushed inside. The pâté and the duxelles are like preparing two individual dishes themselves.

How to make Beef Wellington without a soggy bottom? ›

To prevent a soggy bottom on your Beef Wellington, make sure your duxelle is cooked well to let the mushrooms release all their moisture. Also, the prosciutto will help to act as a barrier to keep the liquids inside. Brushing an egg wash on the inside of the pastry can also help form a barrier while it cooks.

How do you keep Beef Wellington crispy? ›

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper so it doesn't stick to the pan (and it makes cleaning easier). Place the desired amount of beef wellington on the lined baking sheet and loosely cover with aluminum foil, which ensures the puff pastry gets crispy without burning.

Can I use phyllo dough instead of puff pastry? ›

Think of phyllo dough as an easy prepared dough you can use instead of reaching for puff pastry or pre-made pie dough, it doesn't need to be used in solely in these more traditional recipes.

Why do you put baking soda in meatballs? ›

Baking soda, otherwise known as sodium bicarbonate, appears often in köfte recipes. It raises the PH level of the meat, making it harder for the meat's protein molecules to bond. This in turn allows the meat to retain water as it cooks. And more water means a moist meatball.

Is it better to use milk or water in meatballs? ›

Milk, definitely. Water doesn't add flavor or fat, so it detracts from the finished meatballs. If I don't have milk, or I'm making them for people who don't eat milk with meat (a significant portion of my family keeps kosher) I use beef or chicken stock. It adds moisture and flavor, which is what you want.

Can I substitute sour cream for milk in meatballs? ›

If you only have high-fat options, such as sour cream, heavy cream, and buttermilk, you can use one of these ingredients as an effective milk alternative. However, you may need to add a bit of water or broth to thin out the consistency of any thicker substitutes before making an effective panade.

What is the secret of a tender meatball? ›

They are super flavorful but what makes them so so tender and moist is this: Plain Greek Yogurt. The lactic acid from the yogurt tenderizes the meat while adding subtle flavor. The addition of egg and parmesan cheese help keep the meat together so that you get delicious weeknight meatballs in minutes.

What can you use instead of breadcrumbs in meatballs? ›

Rolled Oats

Oats are the perfect substitutes for breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf. While they aren't ideal for a crispy coating, they add the right amount of texture to bind meat, eggs and flavorings together into a delicious Italian-inspired feast.

What makes meatballs unhealthy? ›

According to the USDA, 3 ounce serving contains 243 meatball calories and a significant 18.9 grams of fat. In fact, 30 percent of the calories in meatballs comes from fat. Of that total, 6.5 grams are saturated fat — the kind that can increase your risk of heart disease, according to Mayo Clinic.

How do you buy meat for Beef Wellington? ›

Center-cut beef tenderloin – for this recipe you'll want a 2-3 pound beef tenderloin. I do not recommend a larger cut of meat, as it will be hard to cook the meat at the same time and temperature as the puff pastry. You'll want to use a center-cut beef tenderloin, if possible.

Can you use other beef for Wellington? ›

The best cut of meat for Beef Wellington is a nice beef tenderloin, but you could really make this with a fillet steak or filet mignon if you want to try making smaller, individual beef wellingtons rather than a large one that you slice.

What can I use instead of parma ham in Beef Wellington? ›

If you do not have – or don't want to use – Parma ham, you can use lean bacon or a salty ham instead, if you really want to, you can omit it entirely, but I find the extra saltiness in the flavours works perfectly.

What supermarket stocks Beef Wellington? ›

Tesco Finest 2 Beef Wellingtons 505G - Tesco Groceries.

References

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