Spicy Cajun "Boudin" Meatballs

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped green or red bell pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cups cooked white rice
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• Hot pepper sauce

Instructions

1. Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic. Cook for 4 to 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender and begin to brown, stirring occasionally.
2. Transfer vegetables to large bowl; let cool for 5 minutes.
3. Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
4. Combine ground beef, vegetables, rice, egg and Cajun seasoning in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 24 (1-1/2 inch) meatballs.
5. Place meatballs on rack in broiler pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
6. Bake in 400 degree F oven 16 to 19 minutes or until 160 degrees F.
7. Serve with hot sauce, as desired.

Total Recipe Time: 45 to 60 minutes
Yield: 24 meatballs

Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.

For easy clean up, line broiler pan (not rack) with aluminum foil.

Recipe and photo credit: The Beef Checkoff.

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