Oven Baked Meatballs

In a big bowl, add the ground meat, egg, grated onion, grated potato, salt, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. Using clean hands, mix really well until all the ingredients are incorporated. 

Using a large ice cream scoop or tablespoon measure, create 14 equal-sized meatballs from the meat mixture. Roll each one and then, using your palm, flatten it slightly. Set aside. 

Note: you can cover the meatball mixture and let it sit in the fridge overnight and form the meatballs the following day. OR you can form the meatballs, cover them and assemble the rest of the recipe the following day. Alternatively, you don't have to wait at all if you want to bake and enjoy them the same day. 

Sprinkle all of the potato slices with a little bit of salt. 

Pour 3/4 cup of the tomato sauce into the bottom of a baking dish (see notes below) and distribute the sauce evenly. 

Arrange the meatballs and potatoes into the baking dish, creating a spiral pattern of meatball, potato, meatball, etc. The meatballs and potatoes should be placed upright, so the food is stacked and balanced on its thinnest side. 

Once the potatoes and meatballs have been arranged, add the mini bell peppers anywhere you like. You can add as many as you wish, as long as there's space to nestle them in. 

Pour the remaining 1/4 cup sauce onto the top of the meatballs, potatoes, and peppers and drizzle on a touch of olive oil on top. 

We wet and scrunch up parchment paper and cover the top of the dish. Feel free to use foil instead. 

Bake for about 45 minutes, uncover, and bake for another 15 minutes. The bake time will depend on the oven (ours is super slow/old and takes longer) so always keep an eye on the dish to make sure it does not over or underbake. 

We like to put the dish on BROIL (top element only) for the last 5 minutes for extra color, but feel free to leave this step out. 

Let cool for 15 minutes and enjoy!