15 Best Meatball Recipes (2024)

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When we are looking for a quick, easy, and delicious dinner to make on busy weeknights, meatballs always come to mind. They are typically ready in just 30 minutes, soak up different flavors and seasonings so well so you can completely customize them, and are loved by the whole family — kids and adults alike. So if you are wondering "how to make meatballs", you are in the right place. Today, we are sharing over 15 best meatball recipes including ground beef meatballs, ground turkey meatballs, vegetarian meatballs, saucy meatballs, and more. Serve almost all these meatballs on their own as a bite-sized appetizer ongame day, over a bowl of rice, or wrapped in pita bread.

15 Best Meatball Recipes (1)

Best Ground Beef Meatballs

Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs

Sticky honey garlic meatballs are a delicious and flavourful 30-minute meal to add to your weekly dinner rotation. A total crowd pleaser.

Swedish Meatballs

Delicious, comforting homemade Swedish meatballs are seared and smothered in a creamy gravy sauce and taste so much better than IKEA meatballs.

Italian Meatballs

Meatballs are probably my favorite of all ground beef recipes. These quick, easy homemade Italian meatballs are juicy, flavourful, and delicious, simmered in a rich and savoury tomato sauce. Make them in just 30 minutes.

Teriyaki Meatballs

Teriyaki meatballs are our latest go to weeknight dinner — quick and easy to cook in the air fryer or oven, saucy and flavorful, and freezer-friendly.

Greek Meatballs

Baked Greek meatballs are juicy, tender, flavorful, and delicious. They are quick and easy to make in 30 minutes, and freezer-friendly. Serve with tzatziki.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Sweet and sour meatballs are quick, easy, delicious, and flavorful, tossed in a vegetable and pineapple stir fry with homemade sweet and sour sauce.

Cranberry Meatballs

Cranberry Meatballs are sticky, sweet and tangy. These delicious bites are the perfect holiday appetizer, or a great way to use up leftover cranberry sauce.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Quick and easy spaghetti and meatballs is delicious, rich, comforting with tender beef meatballs simmered in a savoury tomato sauce. Make it in 30 minutes.

Lion's Head Chinese Meatballs

Lion's Head Chinese Meatballs are tender and juicy homemade pork meatballs packed with Asian seasonings and tossed in a sweet and sticky sauce.

Best Ground Turkey Meatball Recipes

Sweet Chili Turkey Meatballs

Sweet chili turkey meatballs are delicious, tender and juicy, loaded with classic Thai flavors, and quick and easy to make. Savory, sweet, and tangy.

Thai Turkey Meatballs in Coconut Curry

Thai turkey meatballs in coconut curry are the perfect weeknight dinner when you want something delicious, healthy, flavorful, and satisfying.

Baked Turkey Meatballs

When it comes to weeknight menu planning, baked turkey meatballs reign supreme. Say hello to dinner ready in under 20 minutes from prep to table!

Best Vegetarian Meatballs

Falafel

Homemade falafel are delicious, golden brown and crispy on the outside, fluffy tender and soft inside. Plus, they're vegan, loaded with plant-based protein.

Quinoa Cauliflower and Chickpea Vegetarian Meatballs

Vegetarian meatballs are easy to make with a combination of quinoa, cauliflower, chickpeas and an assortment of spices and herbs, drizzled with a homemade tahini sauce.

Storing and Reheating Instructions

Meatballs store well, reheat well, and are freezer friendly. Refer to each recipe for full storage instructions, but generally:

  • How to store: Store meatballs in anairtight containerand place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply reheat in ashallow saucepanon the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through (or in the microwave). You may need to add a little water if it has a sauce that has thickened up too much in the refrigerator.
  • How to freeze: You can freeze the meatballs before tossing them into any sauce. Cook and let them cool down, then transfer into a freezer-safe airtight containerorfreezer bagand store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • How to reheat from frozen: Allow the meatballs to thaw overnight in the refrigerator first, then reheat on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through.

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Did You Make Any of These Meatball Recipes?

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15 Best Meatball Recipes (16)

15 Best Meatball Recipes

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  • Author: Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 15 minutes
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Description

Over 15 best meatball recipes including quick and easy ground beef meatballs, ground turkey meatballs, vegetarian meatballs, saucy meatballs, and more. One of my favorite lasagna recipes are these sticky honey garlic meatballs.

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

  • 1 lb.ground beef
  • ½ cupbreadcrumbs
  • ⅓ cuponion,finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoongreen onions,finely chopped(plus more for garnish)
  • 1egg
  • 2 tablespoonssoy sauce
  • ½ tablespoonbrown sugar
  • 1 teaspoongarlic powder
  • 1 teaspoonsalt
  • ½ teaspoonground black pepper
  • sesame seeds(for garnish)

For the honey garlic sauce:

  • ¼ cuprice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoonsbrown sugar
  • 2 tablespoonssoy sauce
  • 2 tablespoonsliquid honey
  • 1 tablespoongarlic,minced
  • ½ tablespooncornstarch(or flour)
  • 2 tablespoonswater

Instructions

Prepare the Meatballs:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
  2. In a largemixing bowl, combine beef with bread crumbs, onion, green onions, egg, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well to form into a uniform consistency.
  3. Take 2 spoonfuls of beef mixture at a time and roll into 1.5-inch thick meatballs. Transfer the meatballs into a largehalf sheet baking panlined withparchment paperand lightly coat with some oil to keep them from sticking, if needed.
  4. Bake for 15 minutes until fully cooked, and set aside. The internal temperature should reach 160F, as read on ameat thermometer.

Prepare the Honey Garlic Sauce:

  1. In a mediummixing bowl, add vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, honey, garlic, cornstarch and water. Whisk well to combine until cornstarch and sugar dissolves.
  2. In ashallow saucepan, stir in sauce mixture and heat over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Keep stirring until thickened to a desired consistency.

Serve:

  1. Add the meatballs to the saucepan and toss well to coat evenly. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds and serve warm on its own or over a bowl of steamed rice orfried rice.

Notes

How to store: Store meatballs in anairtight containerand place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply reheat in ashallow saucepanon the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through (or in the microwave). You may need to add a little water if it has a sauce that has thickened up too much in the refrigerator.

How to freeze: You can freeze the meatballs before tossing them into any sauce. Cook and let them cool down, then transfer into a freezer-safe airtight containerorfreezer bagand store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How to reheat from frozen: Allow the meatballs to thaw overnight in the refrigerator first, then reheat on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Ground Beef
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: Asian

15 Best Meatball Recipes (17)

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15 Best Meatball Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret of a tender meatball? ›

Milk: Adds moisture and tenderizes the meat, making our meatballs juicy and tender once cooked. Egg: Adds more moisture and helps the mixture firm up once cooked.

What not to do when making meatballs? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Meatballs
  1. Not seasoning the meat.
  2. Not adding any moisture to the meat.
  3. Over-mixing the meat.
  4. Not shaping the meatballs correctly.
  5. Not forming evenly-sized meatballs.
May 1, 2019

Is it better to bake meatballs at 350 or 400? ›

For 1-2 inches of beef, pork, or turkey meatballs without any pre-cooking, use these guidelines for your wall oven:
  • 350°F wall oven:
  • 8–14 minutes for 1-inch meatballs.
  • 14–18 minutes for 2-inch meatballs.
  • 400°F wall oven:
  • 6–10 minutes for 1-inch meatballs.
  • 10–14 minutes for 2-inch meatballs.
  • 425°F wall oven:
Aug 16, 2023

What is the trick to keeping meatballs together? ›

How to make meatballs that won't fall apart
  1. Massage your meat. True story. ...
  2. Add breadcrumbs. Add breadcrumbs to the mixture, but not too many breadcrumbs. ...
  3. Add egg. ...
  4. Don't add much apart from meat. ...
  5. Roll your meatballs in flour. ...
  6. Give your meatballs space. ...
  7. Shake your meatballs. ...
  8. Brown your meatballs first.
Mar 3, 2022

Do meatballs get more tender the longer they cook in sauce? ›

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

What is the best binder for meatballs? ›

Egg and breadcrumbs are common mix-ins to add moisture and tenderness. Another binder option that people swear by is a panade, which is fresh or dry breadcrumbs that have been soaked in milk. “The soaked breadcrumbs help keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking,” as food writer Tara Holland explained in the Kitchn.

Should I roll my meatballs in flour before baking? ›

A traditional size for this sort of meatball is 2 to 3 inches across, but you can make them any size you want. Once you roll the meatball in your hands, roll it in the flour to give it a good coating. Set each one on a baking sheet as you work.

What does adding milk to meatballs do? ›

Without the use of milk, you may be faced with a plate of dry meatballs. Milk adds a certain level of moisture that helps produce perfectly tender meatballs.

Should I refrigerate my meatballs before cooking? ›

Chill your meatballs: refrigerating your meatballs an hour before cooking helps them hold their shape throughout the cooking process. They can chill in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking, making meatballs a great make-ahead dish, too.

Is it better to pan fry meatballs or bake them in the oven? ›

Baking will result in meatballs with a crunchy exterior, though the caramelisation achieved from frying will be superior. Baked meatballs take the least amount of effort, as you'll only need to turn them once or twice throughout the cook and you can make a larger batch at once.

Do you cover meatballs when baking? ›

Covering them with foil can help when reheating, but you will still want to remove it during the last few minutes of cook time in the oven. How do you keep meatballs moist when baking? The key is in the preparation! Make sure to handle the meat mixture as little as possible and mix the ingredients just until combined.

Why are my homemade meatballs tough? ›

Too much time spent forming the balls can also make them tough, and you're more likely to overwork them if you can't get them off your hands. To avoid this sticky situation, keep a dish of cold water next to you as you work, and dip your fingers in as you make the balls.

How to keep meatballs moist and tender? ›

Add moisture.

Since the protein in meat makes it shrink when cooked and can result in tough meatballs, you want some insurance against that. Eggs and binders like breadcrumbs mixed with milk all help with keeping meatballs tender and moist, so don't skip any of these.

How to stop meatballs from being dry? ›

Filler ingredients like breadcrumbs or flour are important too because they stop the meatballs becoming dry. The breadcrumbs absorb the juices from the meat as it cooks, trapping them within the meatball. Again quantity is important here; too much and your meatball will be more like stuffing or a dumpling.

What causes rubbery meatballs? ›

If the meatballs are packed together too tightly, they will cook up rubbery, chewy, and tough. If the meatballs are different sizes, they will cook unevenly. The smaller meatballs may end up dry and overcooked, while the larger ones may end up undercooked.

Why do you put milk in meatballs? ›

When it comes to adding liquid to meatball mixtures, milk is often used for its versatility, depth of flavor, and richness. Without the use of milk, you may be faced with a plate of dry meatballs. Milk adds a certain level of moisture that helps produce perfectly tender meatballs.

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