How To Bake Meatballs In The Oven

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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.

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.

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, then learn How To Freeze Meatballs as well as How To Cook Frozen Meatballs. You can also make these Frozen Meatballs In Air Fryer. #meatballsforthewin

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. 

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

How To Bake Meatballs Meatballs in The Oven

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

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F / 204 degrees C. 
2. In a small bowl, combine bread and milk and set aside to allow the bread to absorb the milk.
3. Whisk the egg in a bowl, then mix in parmesan, salt, pepper, and parsley.
4. Add in the ground beef, followed by the soaked breadcrumbs and onion, and mix until just combined. 
5. Shape the meat into one-inch meatballs and place on a rimmed baking tray.
6. 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.

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. 
• 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.

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. 
• Herbs and Spices – Add your favorite herbs and spices like garlic powder or fresh garlic, fresh basil, onion powder, or additional Italian seasoning. 

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. 

FAQs

More Recipes You May Like

• Instant Pot Meatballs.
• Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs.
• How To Cook Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer.
• Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs.

Serving Suggestions

• Easy Pasta Sauce.
• Air Fryer Mac and Cheese.
• Garlic and Herb Butter Pasta.

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.

Thank you for reading my how long to bake meatballs in oven recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog. 

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