How To Bake Meatballs In The Oven

Name: How To Bake Meatballs In The Oven
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: ½ cup (59g) fine dry breadcrumbs; ½ cup (115) milk; 1 large egg; ½ cup (45g) finely grated Parmesan cheese; kosher salt; black pepper; ⅓ cup (20g) finely chopped parsley; 1 pound (453g) ground beef; ⅓ cup (17g) very finely chopped onion; 1 teaspoon garlic purée

Jump to Recipe

Learn how to cook meatballs in the oven that turn out tender and delicious every time. Baking meatballs is the perfect method for easy family dinners and meal prep.

Post includes Weight Watchers points.

Making meatballs may seem overwhelming to home cooks, but this simple method for how to bake meatballs in the oven is stress-free and surprisingly easy.

Like with this Baked Turkey Meatballs, oven-baking meatballs is less messy, and there is less chance of burning the meatballs than when cooking in a skillet.

Meatballs are juicy, flavorful, and perfect for use in various meals. Add them to marinara sauce and noodles, or pile them on a roll with melted mozzarella cheese for a classic Italian dinner.

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Cover the oven-baked meatballs in tangy bbq sauce for a delicious appetizer or sweet and sour sauce for a quick weeknight meal.

And for even more meatball tips and tricks, check out my guide to How To Make Meatballs as well as How To Cook Frozen Meatballs.

You can also make these Frozen Meatballs In Air Fryer. #meatballsforthewin

a wooden serving spoon removing baked meatballs from a dish

Why Make This Recipe

Make Large Batches – It’s easy to make a large batch of baked meatballs or even double the recipe so you can freeze enough meatballs for several meals (head to this post to learn how to freeze meatballs).
It’s Less Messy – baking meatballs in the oven means you don’t have to deal with splattering oil on the stovetop. Line your baking sheet with foil for even easier cleanup.
They Are Versatile – From Italian meatballs with marinara and Swedish meatballs with mushroom gravy, to Asian meatballs with sweet and sour sauce, homemade meatballs are incredibly versatile.

Ingredient Notes

Bread Crumbs – Use fine bread crumbs (not panko). You can use plain or seasoned Italian bread crumbs.
Milk – Use any kind of milk to soak the breadcrumbs.
Egg – Bring the egg to room temperature.
Cheese – finely grated Parmesan cheese adds a salty nuttiness to the meatballs.
Herbs and Spices – Combine kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and finely chopped fresh parsley.
Ground Beef – avoid using a lean beef mixture, as one with more fat will yield juicier meatballs.
Onion – Finely chop or grate the onion, so there are no large chunks.
Garlic – use finely grated garlic or look for garlic puree in the grocery store’s produce section.

the ingredients needed to learn how to bake meatballs in the oven

Ready to learn how to cook meatballs in the oven? Gather up those ingredients and I will show you…

Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!

For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

How To Bake Meatballs Meatballs in The Oven

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F / 204 degrees C.
In a small bowl, combine bread and milk and set aside to allow the bread to absorb the milk.
Whisk the egg in a bowl, then mix in parmesan, salt, pepper, and parsley.
Add in the ground beef, followed by the soaked breadcrumbs and onion, and mix until just combined.
Shape the meat into one-inch meatballs and place on a rimmed baking tray.
Bake the meatballs for 19-25 minutes until browned and cooked through.

Note: Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. The temperature should be a minimum of 160 degrees F / 70 degrees C when inserted into the center of the meatball.

image collage showing some of the steps for how to bake meatballs in the oven

Pro Tips

To avoid dry meatballs, use ground beef with a fair amount of fat instead of lean beef.
Use your hands to mix the meatball mixture. Wash them thoroughly both before and after mixing.
For juicier meatballs, don’t overmix the meat mixture, or the meatballs will become tough. Same with these Chicken Meatballs.
Use a cookie scoop or meatball maker to scoop the meat mixture into even-sized meatballs. Run the cookie scoop under water to prevent the meat from sticking.
Line your baking sheet with foil for even easier cleanup.
Leave plenty of space between the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet or in your baking dish.
If the baked meatballs begin to over-brown, cover them with aluminum foil.
Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer like this one. The internal temperature should be a minimum of 160 degrees F / 70 degrees C when inserted into the center of the cooked meatballs.

the finished product from how to bake meatballs on the oven

Delicious Variations

Ground Meat – Use a combination of ground beef and ground pork for even more flavor. If ground veal is available, it’s also an excellent choice for tender meatballs. Ground turkey is a great choice for a healthier meatball.
Make it Spicy – Add ground hot Italian sausage or a pinch or two of ground red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
Italian Baked Meatballs – Add extra Italian seasoning and cover with marinara sauce after cooking the meatballs for a classic Italian dish. Goes great with creamy Crockpot Mashed Potatoes.
Herbs and Spices – Add your favorite herbs and spices like garlic powder or fresh garlic, fresh basil, onion powder, or additional Italian seasoning.

the finished oven baked meatballs in a serving dish

Prep And Storage

Prep Ahead – Prepare the meatballs up to 24 hours in advance. Cover and store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Store – Keep leftover baked meatballs in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 4 days. Use these awesome containers.
Freeze – Meatballs freeze really well. Flash freeze on a baking tray, then place in freezer bags until ready to use. They can be added directly to the sauce in a saucepan until heated through.

a labeled ziptop bag of frozen meatballs

FAQs

How Long To Bake Meatballs?

The size of the meatballs will determine how long to cook meatballs in the oven. For this recipe, we prepared one-inch meatballs, which will cook through in about 20 minutes.

You will need to add more time for larger meatballs. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer.

What Temperature Should Meatballs Be Cooked To?

A digital meat thermometer is the easiest way to check for doneness. When inserted into the center of the meatball, you should get a reading of 160 degrees F / 70 degrees C. Avoid overcooking meatballs as they can become dry.

What Is The Secret To Tender Meatballs?

My secret to baking meatballs is soaking the breadcrumbs in milk and mixing with the seasonings and meat until just combined.

I find this is the best way to ensure tender, juicy, moist meatballs every time. Selecting ground beef with at least 10-percent fat is also a key factor. Lean meat tends to be really dry.

the completed how to bake meatballs in the oven recipe

More Recipes You May Like

Serving Suggestions

Recommended Tools

An awesome oven proof bake dish.
A instant read thermometer to quickly make sure your meat is cooked through.
A good set of spices and seasonings to upgrade up your food.
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 10 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

top down view of meatballs in a ceramic dish

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