This easy meatball recipe is so easy to make and come out juicy and flavorful every time. They’re perfect for appetizers, subs or on top of spaghetti!
If you’re a fan of Italian food, you’re going to love this easy meatball recipe for dinner! It’s a staple and is so simple to whip up in just 30 minutes. You’ll also love my homemade bolognese, crockpot lasagna and meatloaf recipe.
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Family Favorite Dinner
These baked meatballs are always on our monthly rotation. Spaghetti and meatballs are one of my kid’s favorite dinners…they request them almost every week. And because they are one of my favorite easy ground beef recipes plus super flavorful, I have no problem with that! If there’s leftovers, we usually make meatball sliders.
I love that you can bake them in the oven…it makes them so simple to whip up and keeps the meatballs juicy. Once they cook in the oven, all you have to do is simmer them for a couple of minutes with marinara sauce while you cook the pasta.
Sometimes I’ll even make my own homemade tomato sauce if I have some fresh tomatoes on hand. We also love to serve with roasted vegetables and garlic bread.
Ingredients
To make these homemade meatballs, you’ll need the simple ingredients below.
Find the full printable recipe with measurements below.
- Ground beef – I typically use 80% lean ground beef. It’s not overly greasy, while still containing enough fat to make the meatballs moist and juicy. You could also use half beef and half Italian sausage.
- Egg – This is used as a binder to hold the meat mixture together. Whisk the egg first before combining with the beef.
- Breadcrumbs – These help absorb the juices in the meat, so that your meatballs stay juicy and flavorful on the interior.
- Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated parmesan cheese will give you the best flavor.
- Onion – Fresh chopped onion is my preference, but onion powder is also a great substitute if you don’t have any on hand.
- Garlic – Fresh minced garlic adds a robust flavor. You may also swap with garlic powder if you’d like.
- Salt and pepper – Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper are a simple way to elevate the flavor.
- Parsley – This is optional, however I love to add fresh chopped Italian flat leaf parsley to my homemade meatballs. It adds a slightly peppery taste and makes the flavor more vibrant.
How To Make Homemade Meatballs
- Combine: Place all ingredients in a large bowl and stir until combined. If needed, add a Tablespoon of milk to keep mixture wet.
- Shape: Scoop the meat from the bowl and form into 1 1/2″ balls. Then place meatballs on baking sheet.
- Bake: Place onto prepared baking sheet and bake meatballs uncovered for 17-20 minutes, or until middle is no longer pink. Flip halfway through.
- Simmer: If desired, simmer with marinara sauce for 10 minutes and serve over cooked pasta.
Cooking Tips
Once these meatballs are baked and ready to eat, this will be the best way to enjoy meatballs when you are ready to eat. Place these meatballs in a slow cooker to make cranberry meatballs or Hawaiian meatballs for added flavor!
- Don’t over mix! Over-mixing can make the meat tough.
- Use a cookie scoop (an ice cream scoop works too) to make the meatballs equal in size. This will ensure they all cook the same.
- If your mixture is too dry when combining, add a Tablespoon of milk to keep it wet.
- Make sure to flip the meatballs halfway through so that the bottoms don’t burn!
- If you don’t have fresh garlic or onion on hand, sub with garlic and onion powder.
- Got an air fryer? Make air fryer meatballs instead.
Can You Freeze Leftover Meatballs?
Yes, you can definitely freeze the leftovers, or make a double batch for later. All you need to do is allow them to cool. Then transfer the meatballs to a clean baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour. Once they harden in the freezer, transfer to a ziptop bag or freezer container. Label and place them back in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To thaw, place the in the refrigerator overnight. I like to take them out of the freezer and add the meatballs to the slow cooker with marinara sauce. I just cook them on low for 2-3 hours for an easy dinner later on!
FAQs
One of my favorite tips for making moist meatballs is to use half ground beef and half pork. Since pork is a bit fattier, it makes the meatballs super tender. You can also add a Tablespoon or two of milk if you find the mixture is too dry
If I’m making a classic Italian meatball recipe, I like to use lean ground beef. Sometimes I’ll add in ground pork to make them a little juicier. I save ground sausage for breakfast meatballs. If you’d rather use ground turkey, check out this healthy turkey meatball recipe or browse all my easy meatball recipes.
I like to use breadcrumbs in this baked meatball recipe because they absorb the natural juices and help the meatballs to keep their shape. If you don’t have breadcrumbs in your pantry you can use crushed crackers. You can also make homemade breadcrumbs by toasting a few slices of bread. Then place in a food processor and pulse into crumbs.
Yes, you can make them up to 3 days advance. Simply allow them to cool and then place in an air tight container. Rewarm in the oven or stove for a few minutes, tossing occasionally until heated through.
More Delicious Meatball Recipes
- Swedish meatballs
- Meatball soup
- Teriyaki meatballs
- Chicken meatballs
- Instant pot meatballs
- Crockpot meatballs
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Easy Meatball Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound 80% lean ground beef (could sub with half ground pork)
- 1 large egg , beaten
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup finely chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh Italian flat leaf parsley , optional
Optional serving: 2 cups marinara sauce, cooked noodles, grated parmesan cheese, basil, or parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the meat, egg, breadcrumbs, cheese, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and parsley, if using.
- Use a medium cookie scoop or spoon to scoop the meat mixture. Form into 1 1/2-inch balls and place on the baking sheet.
- Bake uncovered 17 to 20 minutes, or until no longer pink in the middle. Turn halfway through, so the bottoms don't brown.
Optional Way to Serve
- Simmer meatballs with marinara sauce, if desired, for 10 minutes.
- Serve meatballs on their own or serve over spaghetti noodles. Top with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs, if desired.
Notes
- You can use 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and onion powder if you do not have fresh garlic and onions. You may also use 2 teaspoons dried parsley if you do not have fresh.
- If I have pork on hand, I like to use 1/2 pound ground beef and 1/2 pound ground pork. It creates juicier meatballs. You can also do half ground beef and half ground turkey to cut back on fat.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: Beef, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Italian, Reader Favorites
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
OH MY TASTEBUDS!!! I AM SAVED!
Finally, a logical and easy-to-follow recipe for meatballs which I found absolutely melt-in-the-mouth, lip-smackingly good! I can already see myself making them again… Eeek thank you!! It has everything it needs and nothing it doesn’t.
Ah, that makes me so happy! So glad you found this recipe. They are one of our family favorites!
I loved this meatball recipe !! The fresh onion really adds!
So glad to hear you enjoyed these, Monet. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
doubled the recipe , so i have some for the freezer , so glad i did as its absoutely delicious
It always comes in handy to have a quick, easy dinner in the freezer. Thanks for sharing, Denise!
These meatballs were so good! The whole family loved them.
So glad to hear the family loved them! Thanks for your review Wendy!
Easy, no fail and delicious recipe! I make meatballs in huge batches this time of year and flash freeze them for use in other recipes. Thanks for sharing yours!
Thanks for this suggestion, Glenda. They are definitely nice to have on hand and so versatile. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
My family is always excited to have this super easy recipe! Homemade meatballs are a must-try appetizer. It is so flavorful and satisfying. Thanks Jamielyn, we’ll surely have this wonderful recipe on repeat.
Thanks, Journa. So glad you have enjoyed this recipe. I agree, a must have!
Honestly the best meatball recipe I’ve ever hard! Way better than any restaurant! I mixed half pork and half beef! Perfect combo!
That is so great to hear, Eva! Glad the pork combo worked for you.
Hands down the best meatballs I’ve ever made or tasted. I won’t use any other recipe now, except this one. I doubled the recipe and didn’t add or change a thing. My boys had theirs with red sauce, but my husband and I I ate ours plain with sweet potato and roasted green beans. Delicious either way. Thank you for sharing!!
Thanks for sharing, Megan. I am glad everyone found a way to make it their own. This is definitely one of our most loved recipes!
Yum! We love homemade meatballs. I make big batches once a month and always keep them on hand in the freezer. Thanks for sharing your tasty recipe!
Freezer meatballs always come in handy :) Happy to hear you love the recipe, Glenda :)
Highly recommended and will have this again! Thanks a lot for sharing this great recipe. Really loved the flavor!
You are right, this meatball recipe is SO easy, my family loved it – thank you!
Omg. So tasty. I sautéed the onion and garlic before adding to the mix and didn’t have parsley so I subbed with freeze dried basil. The meatballs came out perfectly cooked with a slightly caramelized outside. Thanks!
So happy to hear you loved them so much, Sarah! Thanks for your comment and review :)
These were fantastic! I doubled the recipe, and used angus ground beef and ground pork. My boyfriend LOVED these, and he’s a picky eater, but he wolfed these down and so did I! Thank you very much
You are so welcome! So glad to hear you both loved them :)
Super simple and delicious! I used 1.5 tbsp of parsley flakes. Thank you for this recipe! 🙂
So happy to hear it was a success! Thanks for your comment and review, Ruth :)
Great nice quick and tasty
These are excellent! I made a 2nd batch to freeze adding
the parsley and more garlic. I used ground sirloin. So yummy!!!!!
Sounds delicious! They are perfect for freezing!
So easy to make and very tasty.
Kids love them. Best recipe!