Meatball Recipe

This delicious Meatball Recipe is my family’s go-to recipe whenever we’re craving homemade Italian meatballs. Loaded with classic Italian flavors and simmered in a homemade marinara sauce, enjoy these juicy meatballs as an appetizer, with spaghetti noodles, or as a sandwich.

The Best Italian Meatball Recipe

Meatballs are comforting and delicious, and these homemade Italian meatballs are the very best!

Easy to make and fantastic leftover, making meatballs shouldn’t be complicated and they definitely shouldn’t be filled with complicated ingredients. In these, you’ll find simple ingredients like lean ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion, milk, egg, and Italian seasoning.

Enjoy with your favorite store-bought tomato sauce or simmer them in your own homemade marinara sauce. You can also add these juicy meatballs to sandwiches, soups, or even salads!

In this article, you’ll learn how to both bake and pan-fry meatballs, including how to freeze extras for later. You may also enjoy: Easy Meatballs Recipe (and How to Freeze Them!)

How to Make Meatballs

For the full list and amounts of ingredients, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

1. Soften the onions: Most meatball recipes call for onions. Some recipes will have you cook the onion first, while others will have you leave the onion raw. If I have an extra five minutes, I will usually cook the onion in a little butter or olive oil before mixing it with the other ingredients.

2. Combine the breadcrumbs with the milk: Use your fingers to break apart any clumps that may form and don’t worry if the mixture isn’t wet, you’ll have the chance to add more milk after everything has been all mixed together.

3. Pick your seasonings: Since these are going to be Italian meatballs, I’ve added,

• Fresh minced garlic cloves
• Italian seasoning
• Fresh minced herbs (such as parsley, oregano, and basil)
• Salt and Pepper
• Parmesan cheese (optional)

4. Mix it all together: Add the sauteed (or raw) onions, soaked breadcrumbs, seasonings, parmesan cheese, eggs, and ground meat to a large bowl. Gently mix everything together using your hands. Once thoroughly combined, decide if you need more milk. Your meat mixture should be moist, but not so wet that your meatballs don’t hold their shape when formed into balls.

5. Shape mixture into balls: Shape 2-3 tablespoons of the meat mixture between the palms of your hands into equal-sized meatballs. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper while you shape the remaining mixture.

How to Cook Meatballs

There are several different ways to cook meatballs including baking in the oven, pan-frying on the stovetop, or poaching in broth (or sauce).

In this recipe, I’ll be showing how to bake meatballs and how to pan-fry meatballs. Learn more about poaching meatballs in my Albondigas Soup Recipe (Mexican Meatball Soup).

How to Bake Meatballs

Baking meatballs is easier, faster, healthier, and way less messy.

1. Preheat the oven and prepare the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Make the meatball mixture and form into equal-sized balls. Transfer the meatballs to baking sheets lined with parchment paper, leaving a little space between each meatball.
2. Bake for 10 minutes: After 10 minutes, remove the baking sheets from the oven and use rubber kitchen tongs to flip each meatball over. Transfer baking pans back to the oven on the opposite rack (if it started on the lower rack, move it to the upper rack and vice versa).
3. Continue to bake until fully cooked: Continue to bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F as read with a digital meat thermometer.

How to Fry Meatballs

A little less healthy and much messier to make but always delicious.

1. Heat oil in a large skillet: Add approximately 1/2-3/4 cup oil to a large skillet set over medium-high heat.
2. Cook in batches: Working in batches, cook the meatballs for approximately 4-6 minutes on each side, or until golden brown on each side. Avoid overcrowding the skillet. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Depending on the size of your meatballs, they may or may not be cooked all the way through by the end of frying. Always check with a digital meat thermometer.
3. Simmer in your favorite sauce to finish cooking: Transfer the meatballs to simmering marinara, arrabbiata, or spaghetti sauce and continue to cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until fully cooked.

What to Make With Meatballs

There are so many ways to enjoy meatballs. Here are some of my faovrites.

• Classic spaghetti with meatballs.
• Meatball sub sandwich.
• With mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables like cauliflower, asparagus, and Brussels sprouts.
• Sweet and tangy slow cooker cranberry meatballs (perfect for entertaining!)
• With a healthy side of green salad!
• With different sauces and flavors like these Hawaiian meatballs or these buffalo meatballs.
• In your favorite soup. Try them in this healthy Thai veggie soup or my popular Albondigas soup recipe.

Tips and Tricks

• Use the freshest ingredients possible. This includes fresh herbs, garlic, ground meat, and fresh bread crumbs (if you have the time).
• Use different kinds of meat for the best flavor. You can use any type of ground meat to make meatballs including ground chicken, ground lamb, ground turkey, or even ground veal. Since this recipe calls for three pounds of ground meat, I chose to use a mix, 
  • 1 pound 85% lean 15% fat ground beef
  • 1 pound 90% lean 10% fat ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork
• Milk is better than water. I can’t imagine moistening my meatballs with water. Milk (richer and full of flavor) will give a much better-tasting meatball. If you don’t drink or cook with milk, substitute with a plant-based milk alternative like oat milk or soy milk.
• Season well. Don’t be shy with the dried or fresh herbs. Add your favorite! And if you love a little heat, add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes. If you’re not sure about the level of seasoning and salt, prepare a small meat patty and fry it up on the stovetop. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
• The eggs are important. Eggs help bind your meatballs and keep them together. 
• Form the meatballs into evenly sized balls. Some people suggest using a kitchen scale or a cookie scoop.
• Add freshly grated parmesan. Parmesan cheese has SO MUCH FLAVOR which ultimately transfers to your meatballs. It’s important to use freshly grated parm (not the bagged stuff) for the very best results.

Have you tried making this Meatball Recipe?

Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts. And tag me #theforkedspoon on Instagram if you’ve made any of my recipes, I always love to see what you’re cooking in the kitchen.