How To Make Meatballs

Meatballs are incredibly delicious. When made properly, this meatball recipe is meaty, juicy, and tender. Learning how to make meatballs that are flavorful and can be used in various recipes, from appetizers to main dishes, means you can easily serve up a satisfying dish that everyone will love.

Easy homemade meatballs are also simple. A tasty mixture of meat and seasonings creates a flavorful meatball to top with your favorite sauce for a downhome, comfort food meal.

Cook your meatballs in the oven, on the stovetop, or in your Instant Pot. Eat them straight away or freeze them for later.

Yeap, this guide will show you the best way to cook meatballs so you can make meals your whole family will enjoy. P.S. if you want even more easy how-to recipes, check out How To Freeze Meatballs, as well as How To Cook Frozen Meatballs, and this How To Cook Frozen Carrots Recipe.

You can even cook Frozen Meatballs In Air Fryer.

Why Make This Recipe

• Quick and Easy – Make meatball recipes using simple ingredients in just minutes.  
• Affordable – Purchase ground meat on sale to make tender, juicy meatballs at home. 
• Kid Friendly – Kids love meatballs, so they are perfect for family meals.  
• Versatile – Learn how to make meat balls for spaghetti, how to make Swedish meatballs, and how to make homemade meatballs to use in various recipes and appetizers.

Ingredient Notes

• Bread Crumbs – Select fine breadcrumbs that are plain or Italian style bread crumbs. You can substitute gluten free breadcrumbs to make the meatballs gluten free. 
• Milk – Whole milk or cream adds a bit of fat which will help make the meatballs tender, but feel free to use whatever milk you have on hand. 
• Egg – A room temperature egg will beat more smoothly. 
• Cheese – Fresh grated Parmesan cheese provides a nutty flavor and a bit of saltiness.
• Herbs and Spices – Ground black pepper, kosher salt, and finely chopped fresh herbs such as parsley season the meatballs.
• Ground Meat – Select your favorite meat or use a mixture of meats for more flavor. Avoid lean meat, as meat with more fat will yield juicier meatballs. 
• Onion – Avoid large chunks by finely chopping or grating the onion before adding it to the mixture.
• Garlic – Use freshly grated garlic for the best flavor. Substitute powdered garlic only if absolutely necessary. 
• Oil – Choose your favorite light cooking oil to pan-fry the meatballs on the stovetop. 

The Meat

Ground meat is the most important part of the meatball and the meat you select will impart both flavor and moisture. Ground beef is the most common selection for meatballs but a combination of beef and ground pork is my favorite.

You can sometimes find packages of “meatball mix” or “meatloaf mix” in the grocery store, which is a combination of beef and pork.

Ground chicken and ground turkey are excellent choices for a leaner meatball, but just remember that fat is what makes meatballs tender and juicy. The leaner the meat, the drier the meatball.

And ground veal, ground bison, or ground venison can also be made into meatballs. Or, try using ground Italian sausage for even more flavor.

The Binder

Adding a binder in cooking helps to improve texture and also holds everything together. In the case of meatballs, we use a milk and bread binder and an egg binder. Both are very important in helping the meatballs have incredible flavor and moisture as well as keeping their shape.

Adding milk to breadcrumbs (you can also use panko, torn bread, or crushed up crackers) allows the bread to soak up valuable moisture, which is then redistributed into the meat as the meatballs cook.

If gluten is an issue, gluten free breadcrumbs make an excellent substitute but you can also use ground nuts or even shredded cheese as a binder.

The Flavor

The meat is the first source of flavor, but you can add flavor through the addition of veggies, herbs, and spices.

Onions and garlic are the perfect aromatics but feel free to add all kinds of veggies to your meatballs. You can mix in anything from carrots to cauliflower or broccoli and even mushrooms.

The key with veggies is to chop or grate them as finely as possible so they impart flavor more than texture. Since meatballs cook fairly quickly, no one wants to bite down on a big chunk of raw onion that didn’t have the chance to cook through.

Herbs and spices are another way to add flavor. Fresh herbs are a bit delicate so dried herbs and spices are typically a better option. When using multiple spices, blend them together before adding to the meat mixture so they are easier to evenly distribute without overmixing.

So, are you ready to learn how to make homemade meatballs? Gather up your ingredients and I will show you…

How To Make Meatballs

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

1. Combine the bread and milk in a small bowl and set aside to soak. The bread will absorb all of the milk. 
2. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg until well beaten. Add the parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and parsley and stir to combine.
3. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with the soaked breadcrumbs and onion, and then add the egg mixture. Use your hands to mix until just combined. 
4. Shape into one-inch meatballs and place them on a rimmed baking tray.
5. At this point, cook them according to your favorite method, or freeze them for later use (see the Prep and Storage section below for details).

How To Cook Meatballs on Stovetop

1. Heat a thin layer of oil in a large skillet. 
2. Working in batches, add the meatballs to the oil so as not to overcrowd the pan.
3. Cook for two minutes, then turn the meatballs. Repeat for 8-10 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through. 
4. Repeat until all the meatballs are cooked, and add to your favorite sauce.

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.

What’s The Best Way To Cook Meatballs?

The method you choose likely depends on how you will serve the meatballs and whether you are preparing fresh meatballs or preparing them from frozen. Here are our favorite methods for how to make meatballs. 

How To Air Fry Meatballs

Cooking meatballs in the air fryer is fast and effective because the hot air circulates the meatballs, making them golden brown and crispy on the outside yet incredibly juicy on the inside.

Plus, they can be cooked directly from frozen. This post gives you all the info you need to learn how to cook frozen meatballs in air fryer.

Instant Pot Meatballs

The instant pot is perfect for cooking meals quickly and since it does all of the work for you, you can focus on other tasks. And, there is no worry about burning the meatballs.

Learn how to cook Instant Pot Meatballs in about 5 minutes.

Meatballs Baked in Oven

Bake tender and juicy meatballs in under 25 minutes that you can use in a variety of recipes. Check out How To Bake Meatballs In Oven for the complete instructions.

Simmering Meatballs in Sauce

1. Place raw, cooked or frozen meatballs directly into a pot of simmering sauce.
2. Stir frequently until the spaghetti sauce is hot and the meatballs are cooked through and reach a safe temperature of 160 degrees F / 70 degrees C.

How To Make Slow Cooker Meatballs

Combine frozen cooked meatballs with your favorite sauce and simmer in the crock pot for 2-3 hours until the meatballs are heated through. 

This recipe for Slow Cooker Meatballs with Grape Jelly is an incredible appetizer that is great for potlucks, parties, and more.

Ways To Serve Meatballs

• As an Appetizer – Poke cooked meatballs with a cocktail pick and serve with a dipping sauce such as marinara, bbq sauce, or your favorite dips. 
• Make Spaghetti – Add the meatballs to your favorite tomato sauce and serve over cooked noodles. 
• As a Sandwich – Pile meatballs and sauce into a crusty roll with cheese for a delicious sub sandwich. 
• Asian Meatballs  – Combine with teriyaki or Asian BBQ sauce and serve over rice. 
• Swedish Meatballs – Prepare a mushroom gravy to serve with meatballs and egg noodles. 
• Mashed Potatoes – Serve over mashed potatoes with brown gravy. 
• On Pizza – Slice meatballs as a pizza topping. 
• In Soup – Add meatballs to soups such as minestrone or wedding soup. 

Expert Tips 

• Easily double the recipe. Enjoy a batch of meatballs now and freeze the rest for later. 
• Select ground meat with a fair amount of fat to make juicy meatballs. Using lean meat will lead to drier meatballs. 
• Using your hands is the best way to avoid overmixing the meatballs.
• Overmixed meatballs will become tough, so blend just enough to incorporate the ingredients. 
• Meatballs will cook more evenly if they are the same size.
• Use a cookie scoop or meatball maker for even-sized meatballs. 
• Prevent the meatball mixture from sticking to the scoop by running it under cool water between scoops. 
• Substitute dried herbs for fresh herbs if desired. 
• Make as many meatballs as you need by altering the size of the meatballs.
• Line your baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for even easier cleanup.
• Leave plenty of space between the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet. 
• If the baked meatballs begin to brown too much, cover them with aluminum foil. 
• 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 cooked meatballs.

Delicious Variations

• Swap The Meat – Ground beef is a traditional choice, but you can use any type of ground meat. Use a combination of ground beef and ground pork for more flavor. Ground veal, ground turkey and ground chicken are great choices. Fattier meat will make tender meatballs, while leaner meat will make drier meatballs. 
• Make them Spicy –  Combine the meat mixture with ground hot Italian sausage. Add a pinch or two of crushed red pepper flakes or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.  
• Herbs and Spices – Add your favorite fresh herbs like parsley, thyme or basil. Add spices like garlic powder, onion powder, or additional Italian seasoning. You can even stir in fresh grated ginger and soy sauce for an Asian-flavored meatball. 
• Gluten Free – Replace the breadcrumbs with gluten free bread crumbs. 
• Dairy Free – Use non-dairy milk and replace the cheese with nutritional yeast for a dairy free option. 

Prep And Storage

• Prep Ahead – The meatball mixture can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Form the meatballs and store them on a tray covered with plastic wrap until you are ready to cook them.
• Store – Leftover meatballs can be stored on their own or in the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 
• Freeze – Line a sheet pan with cooked or raw meatballs. Place the pan in the freezer for several hours until the meatballs are frozen. Transfer the frozen meatballs to a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for 3 to 6 months. 

FAQs

More Recipes You May Like

• How To Cook Italian Sausage.
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• How To Cook Lobster Tails.

Serving Suggestions

• Easy Pasta Sauce.
• Garlic and Herb Butter Pasta.
• Crockpot Mashed Potatoes.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 9 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

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