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Cajun Beef Meatball Medley with Roasted Veggies and Marinara
Savor the bold flavors of Cajun-spiced beef meatballs paired with colorful roasted vegetables and a rich marinara sauce, all expertly cooked in your air fryer.
Estimated. Worked out from the ingredients using the UK food composition tables, so treat it as a guide rather than a measurement. A typical recipe lands within about a quarter of the true figure. Makes about 4.
Ingredients
- 500g ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 200g baby potatoes, halved
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 zucchini, sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Cooking Steps
1. Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for 5 minutes.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Form into 12 meatballs.
3. Place baby potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes at 200°C (400°F). Shake the basket halfway through.
4. After 10 minutes, add the meatballs to the basket with the potatoes and cook for an additional 8 minutes, flipping the meatballs halfway through.
5. While the meatballs are cooking, toss the chopped bell pepper and sliced zucchini with olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
6. After the meatballs and potatoes have cooked for 8 minutes, add the seasoned vegetables to the basket and cook everything together for 6 more minutes, shaking the basket once halfway through.
7. While the final cooking is wrapping up, warm the marinara sauce in a small saucepan on the stove or in the microwave.
8. Let the meatballs rest for 3 minutes, then plate by placing the roasted potatoes, meatballs, and veggies together, and drizzle with the warm marinara sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley.
Optional Enhancements
- Use ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter option.
- Substitute sweet potatoes for baby potatoes for a sweeter flavor.
- Swap out seasonal vegetables like asparagus or broccoli for bell pepper and zucchini.
Plant & Growing Tips
Potatoes
- Plant seed potatoes in well-drained soil after the last frost, about 10-15cm deep.
- Hill up soil around the stems as plants grow to protect developing tubers from sunlight.
Bell Peppers
- Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost, transplanting seedlings to a sunny spot once temperatures are consistently warm.
- Provide consistent moisture and support for heavy fruit production.
Zucchini
- Sow seeds directly outdoors after all danger of frost has passed, ensuring at least 60-90cm spacing between plants.
- Zucchini thrives in full sun and rich, well-draining soil.
Parsley
- Sow seeds in a sunny or partially shaded spot with moist, rich soil, either directly outdoors in spring or fall, or indoors for transplanting.
- Keep soil consistently moist, especially during germination, which can be slow.
Natural Pest Control
- Spray affected plants with a strong jet of water to dislodge aphids from bell peppers and zucchini.
- Hand-pick adult Colorado potato beetles and their larvae from potato plants, dropping them into soapy water.
- Monitor zucchini plants closely and hand-pick adult squash bugs and destroy their egg clusters found on the undersides of leaves.
- Use beer traps or copper tape barriers around parsley and young vegetable plants to deter slugs and snails.
Harvest
Potatoes
- Harvest new potatoes when plants are flowering by gently digging around the plant; for storage, wait until foliage dies back completely.
- For main crop, allow plants to die back naturally, then wait 2-3 weeks before digging up tubers.
Bell Peppers
- Pick bell peppers when they reach full size and desired color (red in this case), cutting the stem just above the cap with a sharp knife.
- Harvest frequently to encourage continuous production throughout the season.
Zucchini
- Harvest zucchini when they are young and tender, typically 15-20 cm long, before the skin hardens and seeds fully develop.
- Check plants daily during peak season, as zucchini can grow very quickly.
Parsley
- Snip outer stems near the base of the plant as needed, encouraging continuous growth.
- Avoid taking more than one-third of the plant at a time to ensure it recovers quickly.
Storing & Freezing
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the air fryer for best results.
