21 Best Meatball Recipes (2024)

We compiled a list of 21 Best Meatball Recipes you will ever encounter. Can you say yummy?! Meatballs are a universally loved food by even the pickiest of eaters.

These mouthwatering recipes are perfect for appetizers, main courses, sides, or snacks. I’m talking O. M. G., good! You’ll find meatball pizza pockets, Mediterranean meatballs, Albondigas (Mexican meatballs), etc.

Be sure to check out our cast iron skillet recipe, easy dip recipes, and best sauces for chicken recipes for more curated deliciousness.

21 Delicious Best Meatball Recipes

And now, the moment your belly’s been waiting for, 21 of the best meatball recipes you will ever come across! There are meatballs of all fashions, like meatball lasagna, meatball sliders, Tex-Mex, and so much more. We think all of these recipes look delicious. And, of course, this is a list, not a rank.

Meatball Lasagna

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We’re big fans of the crew over at A Family Feast, Martha and Jack. They always come up with exciting twists on recognizable favorites, like thissausage Reuben. This time, their meatball lasagna combines two delicious entrees into one fantastic dinner perfect for a crowd. The dynamic duo also provides tips on which pantry staples to keep on hand and special instructions to cook your noodles just right.

Visit A Family Feast for the recipe.

Bacon Bourbon Meatballs

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Ashley, a bit of a meatball maniac – she has well over a dozen such recipes on her site, brings us this tantalizing bacon bourbon meatball recipe. A fantastic, flavorful, and versatile dish that can be ready for you to chow down in about 30 minutes. Her page is filled with crystal clear instructions, process pics, and even answers to your questions and links to her many (understatement) other meatball recipes.

Visit Wishes And Dishes for the recipe.

Meatball Soup

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Not only does Stephanie from The Cozy Cook bring us this meatball soup recipe, but she also provides us with the reason why her recipe works, which really seals the deal when it comes to choosing one recipe over another. And the reasons her recipe works so well are plenty. For instance, her meatball recipe includes a panade (a bread/milk mixture) to keep them nice and moist and the soup uses both chicken and beef broth. It’s an amazing recipe with lots of helpful hints and tips.

Visit The Cozy Cook for the recipe.

Thai-Inspired Meatball Soup with Rice Noodles

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Alexandria of The Foreign Fork blurs food boundaries with this Thai-Inspired Meatball Soup. So while you won’t find meatballs in traditional Thai cuisine, that won’t stop you from enjoying this flavorful, fun fusion dish. What with ingredients like fish sauce and chili paste flavorful is an understatement. And while Alexandria’s post is entertaining, you’ll also find some practical advice to keep your noodles from getting soggy.

Visit The Foreign Fork for the recipe.

Best Ever Spaghetti and Meatballs

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If you are looking for an authentic spaghetti and meatballs recipe, then look no further than this one from Kim of Kim’s Craving. Now, many folks claim the best this or original that, but this recipe comes straight from Kim’s Italian grandmother. And it will take your spaghetti to new heights you never imagined! It features 50/50 beef and pork meatballs, but Kim isn’t meatball police. Instead, she offers suggestions to make it with turkey or even bison. And if that isn’t enough, you’ll find a boatload of tips like how to make the pasta perfectly every time.

Visit Kim’s Cravings for the recipe.

Pull-Apart Meatball Sliders

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Before diving into his delicious pull apart meatball sliders recipe, a classic football food, David of Spiced Blog gives us a history lesson on the gridiron, an interesting read. Then he jumps into the recipe where he shares these tasty sliders – a marriage of meatballs and garlic knots. Can you even have a football party without sliders? I’m pretty sure it’s required eating. David implores you to make his well-tested, scrumptious meatball recipe for the sliders, but he’ll forgive you if you opt for premade instead.

Visit Spiced Blog for the recipe.

Albondigas Soup

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Also known as Mexican meatball soup, this recipe from Angela of Bake It With Love is a satisfying meal that you can have on the table in less than an hour, making it perfect for a weeknight. But what is Albondigas soup, you ask? It starts with deeply flavorful ground beef and rice meatballs seasoned with warm and earthy cumin and oregano. Then, there’s a luscious beef and tomato broth, and you’ll also find vegetables for a hearty comfort food the whole family will look forward to.

Visit Bake It With Love for the recipe.

Meatball Mac And Cheese

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You get this rich and creamy dish from Gayle of Pumpkin N Spice when you combine delicious meatballs with mac and cheese. Give it a chance, and you’ll find a wonderful dinner filled with a lusciously creamy, cheesy tomato sauce, tender noodles, and juicy herby meatballs. My prediction; make this dish, and it will become a family comfort food favorite. The one requested over all others.

Visit Pumpkin N Spice for the recipe.

Best Meatball Pizza Recipe

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Nicole will have you Cooking For Keeps with her Best Meatball Pizza Ever! As she professes her deep love for classic meatballs in all their crusty, brown, herby, cheesy goodness, you realize that you better take notes and make a list. You will just have to make this pizza as urgently as possible. Now, she doesn’t send you off into this journey alone. She shows you her preferred tools and methods and answers all the questions you might have.

Visit Cooking For Keeps for the recipe.

Grandma’s Swedish Meatballs Recipe

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Jas, of All That’s Jas, encourages you to skip the trip to Ikea and instead make your Swedish meatballs at home. Upon first seeing this recipe, I had one thought, gravy! How can you resist that creamy gravy made with lingonberry jam? I certainly can’t! If that’s not enough for you, try this; these traditional Swedish meatballs are panfried in butter for maximum indulgence.

Visit All That’s Jas for the recipe.

Italian Meatball Nachos

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These Italian meatball nachos from Christie of A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures prove that meatballs can be that go-to snack or quick dinner. You make this tasty meal with frozen meatballs, tortilla chips, and lots of cheese. It’s super-easy using premade ingredients, yet Christie still has some crucial advice for you about warming them through. Of course, the kids will be excited to have a platter of these bad boys as they decompress from a long day at school.

Visit A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures for the recipe.

Tex Mex Meatballs

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Before you know it, 30 minutes will have passed, and you could’ve had this Tex-Mex meatball recipe from This Is Not Diet Food on the table. It’s a ground beef meatball with corn chips and salsa. Tex-Mex ingredients replace those typical in Italian meatballs. It’s a clever recipe and a flexible one, as you can serve the meatballs over rice, or chips or put them in a soup.

Visit This Is Not Diet Food for the recipe.

Moroccan Meatballs with Pomegranate glaze

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Sylvia of Feasting At Home shares her Moroccan meatballs with pomegranate glaze with us – a favorite in her catering business. The sweet pomegranate glaze pairs perfectly with warm, herb-filled, garlicky lamb meatballs. It’s a showstopping tastebud surprising dish fit for an upscale restaurant, and now you can make it right in your own kitchen. Celebrate with them as an appetizer, or let them take center stage as the main course.

Visit Feasting At Home for the recipe.

Easy Meatball Calzones

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Buy them or make a bunch in advance. But, whatever you do, keep meatballs, pizza sauce, and pizza dough on hand. That’s the advice you’ll get from Jamie of Scattered Thoughts Of A Crafty Mom. And we couldn’t agree more! When you have hangry teens and small children, you need a constant supply of delicious snacks, and these calzones certainly fit the bill.

Visit Scattered Thoughts Of A Crafty Mom for the recipe.

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

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Jamielyn, I Heart Naptime’s stuffed Italian food enthusiast, brings us this mozzarella stuffed meatball recipe. It doesn’t get more delicious and homey than meatballs stuffed with ooey-gooey cheese on a comfort food scale. Put them on a platter for your friends, and you’ve got yourself a party appetizer. Or serve them with pasta, as a sub, with mashed potatoes and vegetables, and you’ve got yourself a meal.

Visit I Heart Naptime for the recipe.

Hawaiian Meatballs Recipe

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This 35-minute Hawaiian meatballs recipe from Kayti and Amanda of Homemade Food Junkie is what weeknight comfort food is all about. Quick, simple, delicious! It’s a trustworthy recipe developed well before crockpots, or Instant Pots were even a thing. Yes, you read that right! And speaking of such, if you’d like to make these meatballs as a party food appetizer, you can use your instant pot or slow cooker. There are instructions for how to do so.

Visit Homemade Food Junkie for the recipe.

Greek Lamb Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce

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These mouthwatering, herbaceous, and utterly interesting Greek lamb meatballs with Tzatziki sauce from Jenni of Whip And Wander will become your new favorite go-to midweek meal. But how is this one different from other Greek meatballs, you ask? Well, Jenni has a unique way of making her tzatziki sauce so that it isn’t watery. Then, as a binder, she adds a secret ingredient that makes it both delicious and low-carb (but still tasty). You definitely want to check this one out.

Visit Whip And Wander for the recipe.

Sriracha Meatball Lettuce Wraps

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Taylor, The Girl On Bloor, is all about meal prep, and with this Sriracha meatball lettuce wrap recipe, she clearly understands that successful meal prep involves easy but flavorful meals. So these 30-minute freezer-friendly meatballs (don’t freeze the lettuce) fit the bill—they offer easy weeknight fare in a pretty presentation. But wait, there’s more. You can add nutrition to this meal with toppings like bell peppers and carrots.

Visit The Girl On Bloor for the recipe.

Buffalo Meatball Taquitos Recipe

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Jess of Slice of Jess understands that making everything from scratch can sometimes be a luxury. So, for this Buffalo meatball taquitos recipe, she opts for premade frozen meatballs (from a brand she trusts). But, you know, you can’t go wrong with buffalo sauce on just about anything. It’s tangy and a bit spicy but not overpowering, and it pairs perfectly with blue cheese. And as for the cheese, there is a lot of it, all melty and delicious. So, do you have a weekend get-together coming up? Save time with this 30-minute dependable appetizer.

Visit Slice Of Jess for the recipe.

Grandma’sSweet and Sour Meatballs

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Grandma’s sweet and sour meatballs from Trish of Mom On Timeout will become a family favorite. It features simple beef meatballs with chunks of pineapple, bell pepper, and onions and a sweet and sour sauce that you cook all in the same pan. So, serve over rice, and you’ve got yourself a filling weeknight meal. Along with the recipe, you will find tips like keeping the meatballs roughly the same size and keeping your fingers from getting sticky while forming them.

Visit Mom On Timeout for the recipe.

Buffalo Meatballs in Puff Pastry Cups

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Katerina of Diethood knows that party food needs to be two things: easy and delicious. That’s why she recommends freezer aisle turkey meatballs for this recipe. Those premade meatballs only need to, in her words, take a “hot bath with the deliciously spicy buffalo sauce.” Then, she shows you how to bake the puff pastry to form cups and put it all together for a delicious snack or appetizer to enjoy with friends and family.

Visit Diethood for the recipe.

5 Fun Facts About Meatballs

1. Where did meatballs originate? The popular answer is Italy, but that’s incorrect. Although the exact origin of meatballs is unknown, historians believe they come from Kofta, a Persian dish. Through the years, the dish spread to other areas.

2. Over 2 million Swedish meatballs are served at Ikeas 340 locations every single day! That’s a lot of meatballs!

3. Around the world, people eat meatballs in different ways. For example, bitterballen is a fried veal meatball snack from the Netherlands.

4. In 2017, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the Italian-American Club, made a record-setting edible meatball that weighed over 1700 pounds!

5. March 9th is National Meatball Day. So, be on the lookout for special meatball deals at restaurants and grocery stores.

What’s Your Favorite Meatball Recipe?

Let us know in the comments. And please don’t forget to save for later on Pinterest.

And before you leave don’t forget to see our 5-star ground beef recipes.

21 Best Meatball Recipes (22)
21 Best Meatball Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret of a tender meatball? ›

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.

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

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

In an oven preheated to 350 degrees F, these meatballs should be fully cooked through and evenly browned in about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the meatball should read at least 165 degrees F.

Do you beat eggs before adding to meatballs? ›

Vincenzo's Top Tips To Make Italian Meatballs

You can whisk the egg separately before adding it to the bowl too if you prefer! The are the best utensil in the kitchen is none other than… Your HANDS! It can definitely massage and combine ingredients really well!

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? ›

An egg is usually a good start, as that can help with the tenderness and texture, but the king of meatball binders is breadcrumbs soaked in milk (also known as a panade). Soaking the breadcrumbs first makes them pliable and soggy, which allows them to easily and evenly mix into the ground meat.

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

What does adding milk to meatballs do? ›

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.

What makes meatballs not fall apart? ›

Bind but don't overwork

Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together. Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.

Should meatballs be covered 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 as little as possible and mix the ingredients just until combined.

Is it better to cook meatballs in a skillet or 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.

Why do you chill meatballs before baking? ›

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.

Why do my meatballs fall apart when I cook them? ›

Home Cook World notes that if your non-meat ingredients are too large, they will keep the ground meat from binding together, and your meatball will fall apart.

Can you add too much egg to meatballs? ›

You won't need more than an egg or two per every one to two pounds of meat. If you use too many eggs, you'll wind up with soggy, heavy meatballs. Yet with too little egg, the meatball won't hold its shape and will be on the dry side.

Can I use mayo instead of eggs in meatballs? ›

But it's not an unusual choice, either, when you consider its parts: egg, oil, and a small amount of vinegar or lemon juice, all whisked or blended together. Because it's a stable emulsion, mayo serves as an excellent binder for meatballs. It easily slips into the role played by eggs and bread crumbs.

Why are my meatballs not tender? ›

Lean meats, like ground turkey or very lean ground beef, can result in drier meatballs. Consider using a mix of lean and fattier meats, like a blend of ground beef with some ground pork or veal, for juicier meatballs. 2. **Overmixing**: Overmixing the meat mixture can lead to tough meatballs.

What causes tough meatballs? ›

Not adding any moisture to the meat.

Some kind of moisture, like eggs or a binder made from bread crumbs and milk, is essential when making meatballs. Without it, the protein content forces the meatballs to shrink as they cook, and produces a final dish with a tough texture.

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 are my beef meatballs tough? ›

More Reasons Your Meatballs are Hard

Sticky hands can result in an overworked farcemeat. 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.

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