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Get ready to celebrate National Meatball Day on March 9 by doing the best thing possible with them... eating them! Meatballs have been around for centuries, with recipes dating back to ancient Rome. Today, meatballs are enjoyed all over the world and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. From classic Italian-style beef or pork meatballs to vegan versions made from quinoa and beans, there's something for everyone!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>9 AD</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Meatballs in Roman Cookbook</div><div class='timeline-text'>Meatball recipes are found for the first time in an ancient Roman cookbook named "Apicius".</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>13th Century</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Arab Cuisine Influence</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Arabs introduced meatballs, known as "kofta," to Persia, North Africa, and eventually Moorish Spain.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>17th Century</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Swedish Meatballs Origins</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first written recipes for Swedish meatballs, known as "kottbullar," appeared, a classic dish in Sweden today.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Italian-American Migration</div><div class='timeline-text'>Italian immigrants brought their traditional meatball recipes with them to America during the great wave of immigration.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1960s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Meatball Sub Introduction</div><div class='timeline-text'>The meatball submarine sandwich, or "meatball sub," gained popularity within the American fast food industry.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2009</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First National Meatball Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>National Meatball Day was celebrated for the first time in the United States on March 9.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Make your own meatballs</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Mix together ground beef, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic, parsley and eggs until everything is combined. Roll the mixture into balls and bake them in the oven for about 25 minutes.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Hit up a local eatery</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Support a local restaurant and enjoy some delicious homemade meatballs. Whether you choose Italian, Swedish, Greek or Mexican, there are so many different types and flavors of meatballs to explore.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create a meatball recipe book</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take the time to research different recipes for classic and creative meatballs. Gather as many as you can find online or from friends and family, create your own cookbook filled with all your favorite recipes.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Go to a Meatball Fest</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Check out a Meatball Festival in your city or surrounding area. You'll get to sample tons of different recipes all at once! Plus you'll get to meet some new people who share your same love of meatballs.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Throw a Meatball Party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite some friends over for an evening of celebration and delicious food! Have everyone bring their favorite recipes or create some yourself for everyone to enjoy.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Meatballs are delicious</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Meatballs can be made with any type of meat, from pork to beef to turkey. They have a juicy, savory flavor and are a crowd pleaser whether served as an appetizer or part of a main course. Meatballs can also be used in recipes such as spaghetti and meatball casserole for added flavor and texture!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Meatballs are easy to make</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Making meatballs at home is actually quite simple! All you need is ground meat of your choice, some herbs, spices, and the right technique - it's that easy! Plus, you can mold them into any shape or size you want, so even if you don't think you're up for making something complicated like a lasagna, just prepare some tasty homemade meatballs instead!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Meatballs can go with almost anything</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Whether they're served in a classic Italian dish like marinara sauce over pasta or used to make sandwiches and sliders, meatballs make a great addition to just about any meal. Make sure to serve your guests generous portions of these protein-packed dumplings - they won't regret it!</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>There are Meatball-Only Restaurants</h3><p class='facts-content'>From Italian-style meatball sub shops in America, to classic Swedish meatball establishments in Sweden, there are numerous dining venues around the world that solely focus on creating an assortment of specialized meatballs.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Vegan and Vegetarian Meatballs Exist</h3><p class='facts-content'>For those who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, there's no need to feel left out on National Meatball Day. Meat-free meatballs can be made with a variety of ingredients like lentils, beans, tofu, mushrooms, or even jackfruit.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>IKEA Sells Over 1 Billion Meatballs Annually</h3><p class='facts-content'>IKEA, the famous Swedish furniture company, is also well-known for its restaurant which serves Swedish-style meatballs. They sell over one billion of these delicious morsels every year worldwide.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Meatballs Can Be Found in Various Cultural Cuisines</h3><p class='facts-content'>From Italy's "polpette", Turkey's "köfte", China's "shizitou", and Greece's "keftedes", traditional versions of meatballs can be found in culinary cultures around the globe, each with a unique twist.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The World's Largest Meatball Weighed Over 1,100 Pounds</h3><p class='facts-content'>According to the Guinness World Records, the largest meatball ever made was cooked at an Italian-American festival in Ohio in 2011. It weighed a whopping 1,110.5 pounds!</p></div></div>
National Meatball Day is celebrated on March 9 every year. In 2024 National Meatball Day will occur on a Saturday.
2023
Mar 9
Thursday
2024
Mar 9
Saturday
2025
Mar 9
Sunday
2026
Mar 9
Monday
2027
Mar 9
Tuesday
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