Meatballs, Brown Gravy and Rice Sheetpan Dinner

Delicious sheetpan dinner makes weeknight cooking a breeze! This meatballs, brown gravy and rice dinner will become a family favorite!

This weekend was a busy one. Family came into town, wrinkles were thrown into the schedule and life just got crazy. This simple and easy weeknight dinner came to the rescue.

My kids since they were very little have LOVED meatballs. I think they are super kid friendly. We have several family favorites including honey garlic meatballs (a Superbowl favorite!), monster eye tacos (a Halloween favorite), and meatball hero subs.

We were able to squeeze in some family time. We went and enjoyed the fall colors up the canyon and then spent some time at the high school kicking the football afterward.

It was the perfect fall night and this dinner was easy to come home to.

Meatballs Brown Gravy and Rice Sheetpan Dinner

For the Meatballs:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 1 egg
• ¾ cup whole wheat bread crumbs

For the Brown Gravy:

• 4 tbsp beef fat or oil
• 4 tbsp flour (can substitute cornstarch, arrowroot or gluten free flour)
• 2 cup beef broth
• 1 tbsp butter
• Salt and Pepper to taste

INGREDIENTS:

1 meatball recipe above (prepared) or 1 bag frozen meatballs

2 cups white or brown rice

1 tbsp butter, melted

2-3 cups green beans (fresh or frozen)

5 cups water

Brown gravy (1 packet brown gravy mix prepared or fresh gravy mix prepared (recipe above)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a lined (line baking sheet with lightly greased tin foil) large baking sheet stir together the water and rice. Cover, bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

**If using fresh meatballs you will need to mix all the meatball ingredients in a bowl until mixed thoroughly. Form meat into 1.5 inch balls and place on the baking sheet the last 25-30 minutes of baking, turning the heat in the oven up to 400 degrees. If using frozen meatballs, cook according to package directions by placing meatballs on the baking sheet according to baking time.

Add frozen or fresh green beans the last 15 minutes of baking. Cover and continue to cook.

The last five minutes of baking make the gravy. If using a gravy packet, cook according to package directions. If making fresh gravy, add all ingredients into a pot set to medium high heat. Whisk constantly, bringing the mixture to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, turn the heat down to simmer and allow to simmer and thicken for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.

To serve: When water is absorbed in the rice, and meatballs are cooked through and no longer pink in the middle, remove from oven. Scoop meatballs, rice and green beans into a bowl and top with gravy.

Makes 6 servings

**Please note that baking times may need adjustment according to type of oven.

Gravy recipe adapted from Uncle Jerry's Kitchen