Kotleti (recipe for Ukrainian baked meatballs)

If you like juicy baked meatballs, you’re going to love this Ukrainian kotleti recipe. Made with simple ingredients, they taste like heaven

This Ukrainian kotleti recipe is proof that baked meatballs can be truly juicy. They are baked in a hot oven to “seal in” all the flavors. As a result, you’ll get perfectly browned and tender ground meat patties with a crunchy crust.

What is kotleti?

They are round or oval-shaped meatball-type patties. Traditional Ukrainian meatballs are usually made with pork or beef, but you can use chicken or turkey as well.

This dish has many different names: kotleti, ground meat patties, pork and beef croquettes, or minced meat cutlets. No matter what you call them, they are simply perfect. The very thought of these juicy meatballs, makes your heart beat faster; your brain simultaneously activates all 40 million olfactory receptor neurons and starts receiving signals as if you are really inhaling the molecules of your favorite childhood dish at this moment, and the salivation reflex works as if you have Niagara Falls in your mouth!

Yes. Kotleti are really addictive!

If you are looking for a classic Ukrainian recipe and you like easy comfort food meals, you are in the right place.

The best recipe for ground meat patties

I love ground meat patties. A lot. And over the years I have tried a huge number of different recipes. But the pork – and – beef croquettes from my childhood always win.

Classic Ukrainian kotleti are usually pan-fried. But I don’t like cooking them in a skillet. Well, I don’t like frying in general eh eh… you have to fry ground meat patties in batches, standing by the stovetop which takes too much time. Instead, cook the meatballs in the oven – you’ll have a whole baking sheet of pork and beef croquettes cooked to perfection in no time!

I added milk and eggs to this recipe (for more tenderness and a more stable consistency).

Why I love these Ukrainian meatballs  in the oven

1. Firstly, this minced meat cutlets recipe is very simple, delicious, and works every time. It won’t disappoint you for sure.
2. Secondly, I love these juicy meatballs in the oven not only for their taste but also for the fact that you don’t need to fry them. Don’t let this fact mislead you – the meatballs in the oven are no less juicy and crispy than the usual fried ones, I give you my word.
3. And finally, this is the best recipe for baked meatballs that I have ever had the chance to cook and eat. Every bite is an explosion of flavor! Even my picky kids love them. 

Useful tips

• Choose the right meat. Of course, you can make kotleti out of any ground meat. But keep in mind one rule: the fatter the meat, the more tender and juicy your baked meatballs will be. The perfect combination is pork and beef in equal proportions.
• Ground meat patties made from minced chicken or turkey are also tasty, but much drier. If you want to make juicy meatballs in the oven use chicken thighs, not breast (it is much drier).
• This recipe has one secret ingredient – grated raw onion. It gives an incredible flavor to any ground meat and makes it juicier. Grate the onion on a fine grater (or grind it with a blender or meat grinder) and add it to the ground meat (don’t squeeze excess juices from the onion, add it to the meat mixture too). I do not recommend finely chopping the onion (because then it can cook unevenly and you risk finding pieces of raw onion in the finished kotleti).
• Some people add garlic to these ground beef and pork patties. Here everything is to your taste. I don’t add garlic to ground meat because I don’t like the aftertaste it adds to this dish.
• I highly recommend lining the baking sheet with parchment paper. It will ensure that the meatballs in the oven won’t stick during baking.

Ingredients

• 1lb (500g) ground pork
• 1lb (500g) ground beef
• 1 ¾ cup (200g) breadcrumbs
• 1 cup + 3Tbsp (280g) water at room temperature
• 1 medium onion
• 1tsp salt (you can change the amount according to your personal taste)
• ground black pepper
• 2 eggs
• 10Tbsp milk

Ukrainian kotleti recipe step-by-step

In a large bowl combine water with the breadcrumbs, mix quickly, and leave until the water is absorbed. Then add ground meat, raw ground onion, salt, and black pepper

Add eggs and milk to the meat and breadcrumbs mixture. Mix everything well (you can mix by hand for 10 minutes or use a mixer with a paddle attachment at a low speed)

Cover the baking sheet with baking paper and grease it with oil. With wet hands, form the meat into round or oval patties and flatten them with your hands. Place them on a baking sheet (Ukrainian kotleti aren’t too small – their size is something between small Italian meatballs and classic hamburger patties)

Bake for 25 minutes at 400F (200C), then turn kotleti to the other side and bake for another 20 minutes until ready. If the meatballs are very browned, but still raw, cover them with foil and cook further. Enjoy these delicious baked meatballs and have a nice day!

What to serve with kotleti

You can serve Ukrainian meatballs with practically everything. I most often serve them with:

• mashed potatoes (it’s a classic and the best combination, proven by many generations)
• carrot puree – add new touches to the classics
• roasted potatoes or other vegetables
• french fries
• any vegetable salad
• gravy
• buckwheat
• rice
• a slice of fresh homemade bread

FAQ

I hope you love this Ukrainian kotleti recipe as much as we do. Enjoy!

Tried this recipe? Please leave a comment with Star Ratings ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. I will really appreciate it.
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