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Home » Recipes » Dinner » Easy Homemade Meatballs

Easy Homemade Meatballs

Published on August 1, 2019, Updated November 19, 2020 by Kristin Maxwell | 35 Comments

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This easy homemade meatballs recipe is so simple, you’ll never eat store-bought frozen again!

This meatball recipe lends itself to any kind of sauce you like, from traditional Homemade Spaghetti Sauce, to a Swedish Meatballs with gravy to Spicy Barbecue Grape Jelly Meatballs. A bowl of meatballs sprinkled with parsley

Easy Homemade Meatball Recipe

Until recently, I had always thought that it was much easier to just grab a bag of frozen meatballs from the grocery store rather than try to make them myself. Then my son and I made this amazing Turkey Meatball Soup, and I remembered how easy AND fun it is to make homemade! They are a great starter recipe for young chefs, too. My kids loved learning how to make them; mixing, scooping and rolling them out is the best part! We also love Italian Meatballs with sausage and Baked Chicken Meatballs.

Why Make Meatballs from Scratch?

  • They are delicious and taste super fresh, unlike frozen from a bag.
  • Meatballs are fun to make and a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen.
  • They freeze beautifully so you can always have some homemade meatballs on hand!

A big pot of spaghetti with meatballs and sauce

Homemade Oven Baked Meatball Recipe

I always make at least one extra batch of homemade meatballs, since it’s incredibly easy to double or even triple this recipe. They freeze really well and it’s super easy to defrost them in sauce on the stove or quickly in the microwave, depending on what you’re making.

How Do You Make Meatballs from Scratch?

This is a simple 4-step process.

  1. Prep. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with foil and set aside. It’s important to use rimmed sheets because the ground meat will release juices as it bakes and you want to keep it all on the pan.
  2. Hand-Mix. Combine all of ingredients into a large bowl and gently mix together with your hands, careful not to over-mix. Just squish it all together a few times to combine. Your hands have a lighter touch than a spoon or spatula, and incorporates all of the ingredients without crushing the meat.
  3. Form the meatballs. Divide the meat mixture into your desired size. As long as they are uniform, they can be as large or small as you like. PRO TIP: To ensure that they cook evenly, I use a medium cookie scoop to divide the meat into uniform sized 2-inch balls, roll them, then place them fairly close together on a foil lined cookie sheet. They can be even closer together than this, as long as they’re not touching; you just need air flow around them to ensure even cooking.
  4. Bake. Bake in the oven for 10-14 minutes, depending on the size. Be sure to check for doneness. Use an instant read thermometer to check that they are at least 165 degrees F. Serve hot with your favorite sauce.

Two baking sheets side by side; one has raw meatballs and the other baked.

Is it better to bake or fry meatballs?

Cooking them in a pan on the stovetop requires additional olive oil for frying, and baking doesn’t. Baking them is a healthier alternative since you aren’t adding any extra oil. If you want a cripier exterior, you can place them under the broiler for a few minutes at the end. You’ll still get that golden brown and crispy outside without any extra fat.

How do you keep homemade meatballs from falling apart?

When meatballs fall apart, it’s usually the binder that’s the culprit. The ingredients you use can make a difference. The binder helps to hold the meat together; generally, and in this recipe, that’s an egg and breadcrumbs.

It may sound counter-intuitive, but over-mixing can actually make your meatballs fall apart! Use your hands, and lightly mix and form them.

Do you need an egg to make meatballs?

The egg used in most formed ground beef recipes like meatballs or meatloaf, is part of what holds the meat together. You can substitute the eggs with plain yogurt or ricotta cheese if you need to.

Can I Freeze Baked Meatballs?

Absolutely! This meatball recipe will freeze beautifully if you follow these steps.

To freeze baked meatballs:

  • Cool just enough so they are easy to handle.
  • Scrape any fat from the meat (this happens when the meat cooks and releases the juices that congeal as they cool).
  • Freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet, then store in an airtight container or freezer bag.
  • Freeze cooked meatballs for up to 3 months.
  • To reheat, just place frozen or thawed in your favorite sauce and cook until heated through. If desired, thaw in the refrigerator first.

To freeze raw meatballs: Mix your ingredients together then place in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Freeze, then store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 6 months. To cook meatballs from frozen, place on a foil lined baking sheet and bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes.

A white bowl filled with homemade meatballs

Can I make this meatball recipe with ground turkey instead?

You can! Just replace the ground beef with the same amount of lean ground turkey and bake as directed. You could also use my Homemade Turkey Meatballs Recipe which is similar to this one.

Serving Suggestions

This meatball recipe is great to use in a variety of ways. Serve them drenched in marinara sauce over pasta and topped with plenty of Parmesan cheese, in a sub roll topped with melty cheese, or even in soup! Sometimes we just like to enjoy plain meatballs with a salad and some garlic bread to just keep it simple.

a hand sprinkling parmesan cheese over a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs, a dish of parmesan, a pan of spaghetti, a fork, parsley

More Ground Beef Recipes

  • Meatball Marinara Poppers Appetizer
  • Ground Beef & Noodle Stir Fry
  • Chopped Steaks with Mushroom Gravy
  • Instant Pot Chili Recipe
  • Ground Beef Enchiladas

Easy Homemade Meatballs

Kristin
This easy homemade meatball recipe is so simple - no more store-bought! Make them for soups, sauces and sandwiches in just a few easy steps.
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 48 meatballs
Calories 58 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds ground beef I use 85/15
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets (baking pans will work if you don't have rimmed cookie sheets) with foil and set aside.
  • Place all ingredients into a large bowl and gently mix together with your hands, careful not to over-mix. Just squish it all together a few times to combine.
  • Using a cookie scoop or your hands, divide meat mixture into desired size balls. As long as they are uniform, they can be as large or small as you like.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 10-14 minutes, depending on the size. Be sure to check for doneness. Serve hot with your favorite sauce.
  • TO FREEZE: Allow meatballs to cool completely on the baking sheets. Once cool, scrape the fat away from each ball and seal tightly in a freezer safe bag or air tight container and place in the freezer.

Notes

*Nutrition count is per meatball when you get 48 meatballs from the recipe using the medium cookie scoop as described in the post.

Nutrition

Calories: 58kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 3gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 85mgPotassium: 65mgVitamin A: 25IUCalcium: 15mgIron: 0.5mg
Keyword meatball recipe
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About Kristin Maxwell

Kristin Maxwell is the creator and main recipe developer, writer, and photographer of Yellow Bliss Road. A self-taught cook and self-appointed foodie, she specializes in easy, flavorful and approachable recipes for any home cook. Read more about Kristin HERE.

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  1. Elite Cooker says

    June 16, 2020 at 4:31 am

    This is very useful and informative too! meatballs is very tasty food and we always love to have this kind of recipe in our homemade party. I will try to make this in the home.

    Reply
  2. CAREN HERSEY says

    June 6, 2020 at 7:26 pm

    Enjoyed this as a quick and easy meatball recipe. Was easy to adjust for hubby’s salt-less diet and my normal salt diet.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      June 14, 2020 at 1:16 pm

      Thank you Caren!

      Reply
  3. Arpita Patel says

    April 7, 2020 at 5:01 am

    Made this last night. Came out fantastic. More importantly, taste was rich and every bit as good as frying, so saving fat calories. Win-win! Thank you.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      April 7, 2020 at 11:27 am

      You are so welcome! Thanks for stopping by,

      Reply
  4. Erin says

    July 25, 2019 at 5:00 pm

    Such a lovely recipe! I absolutely love how they taste, and so does my family. I swear, it’s like a race to see how many you get before they’re gone, especially with my mom. She prefers the ones I made with this recipe over my sister’s. Thanks so much for sharing this awesome recipe.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 29, 2019 at 9:13 am

      You’re so welcome Erin! thank you so much for stopping by! (a little competition never hurt a recipe! lol)

      Reply
  5. Ken Blaisdell says

    July 13, 2019 at 4:28 pm

    This was my first ever time making meatballs, and these were awesome. Thank you so much for this recipe!! My wife, so much, and I absolutely loved them.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      July 14, 2019 at 3:39 pm

      You’re so welcome Ken! thank you so much for stopping by!

      Reply
  6. Dio Atfianto says

    March 11, 2019 at 4:21 pm

    your website is very nice

    Reply
  7. Gianna Gordon says

    February 18, 2019 at 8:54 pm

    Hi! Can I use almond milk for this recipe?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 19, 2019 at 8:59 am

      I’m sure that would work. Just keep in mind that depending what brand you use it could significantly alter the flavor.

      Reply
  8. Amanda H says

    February 17, 2019 at 2:09 pm

    Good recipe! Used 1 lb hamburger and 1 lb Italian saugage though. Gave it a lil kick!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      February 17, 2019 at 2:33 pm

      Thank you Amanda! and great idea.

      Reply
    • Pat says

      February 24, 2019 at 4:59 pm

      Could you use bison or would it be too dry?

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        February 25, 2019 at 5:32 pm

        I have not personally cooked with bison, so that would be a judgement call on your part.

        Reply
      • Jerry Thompson says

        March 16, 2019 at 2:26 pm

        If you use bison, add some lamb or pirk, or pork suet. That will add moisture.

        Reply
  9. Dani says

    January 7, 2019 at 6:34 pm

    So delicious and easy to make!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      January 9, 2019 at 8:51 am

      Thank you Dani!

      Reply
  10. JUDY COLE says

    December 30, 2018 at 9:11 pm

    This recipe for the meat balls was great.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      December 31, 2018 at 10:41 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  11. Mia says

    December 29, 2018 at 3:22 pm

    I raise goats for meat and used that instead of beef. I did broil them for an additional 3 minutes after baking, but they were absolutely delicious!!!

    Reply
  12. Ten says

    November 20, 2018 at 8:30 pm

    Hi there, when freezing what is the best way to reheat them and at what temperature and for how long

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      November 20, 2018 at 9:25 pm

      If you are making spaghetti sauce, just toss the frozen meatballs into the sauce and let it simmer for 20 minutes or so. Otherwise you can either reheat in the microwave for a couple of minutes.

      Reply
  13. Jennifer Dudarenke says

    November 18, 2018 at 6:54 am

    Love the ease of this recipe! Love that kitty too! ❤

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      November 18, 2018 at 3:01 pm

      Thank You Jennifer!

      Reply
  14. david addy says

    November 13, 2018 at 9:26 am

    making it now. I’ll let u know. Sounds delicious and we cant wait!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      November 13, 2018 at 12:04 pm

      Thank you David!

      Reply
  15. Sarah says

    October 30, 2018 at 12:34 pm

    Since I found this recipe I’ve been making meatballs every week! My family loves them!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      October 31, 2018 at 9:35 am

      Hi Sarah,
      So happy that you and your family loved this recipe!

      Reply
  16. Jacqui says

    September 6, 2018 at 5:20 pm

    These are amazing. I added some Italian Seasoning since I was making spaghetti and meatballs. My family devoured them.

    Reply
  17. Anna says

    July 31, 2018 at 4:31 pm

    I used this recipe, the first time I make home made meat balls. It was a Hit! My husband absolutely loved them, and so did I.

    Reply
  18. Mike says

    January 17, 2018 at 6:34 pm

    Look’s awesome.

    Reply
    • Sandy Ward says

      May 5, 2020 at 5:26 pm

      They get brown on the bottom. Should I turn them midway thru?

      Reply
      • Kristin Maxwell says

        May 6, 2020 at 9:04 am

        Yes they may get a little brown on the bottom. It could be beneficial to turn the heat down a little when cooking them if you don’t want them to turn brown at all, jiust make sure they reach an internal temp of 165 degrees F. When you bake your meatballs, they are going to turn brown.

        Reply

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Hi, I’m KRISTIN!

I'm a busy wife and mom who loves to cook, bake and create. All of the recipes and tips you will find here are created with your busy family (and mine!) in mind.

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