22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (2024)

There are plenty of mouthwatering meatball recipes to choose from, each with its own blend of ground meat or meats, seasonings, herbs and spices. Meatball recipes go with spaghetti or pasta, or any of your favorite sides. There are options with beef or pork, some using chicken and even no-meat meatballs with vegetables. Once you know how delicious homemade meatballs can be you’re going to want to make your own regularly!

Meatball Marinara Subs

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (1)

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Savor the juicy homemade meatballs, tangy marinara sauce, and fluffy brioche buns in Italian meatball marinara subs – a satisfying comfort food that’s perfect for lunch or busy weeknights. These sandwiches are far tastier than the fast-food version and are sure to please anyone, regardless of their Italian heritage.
Get the Recipe:Meatball Marinara Subs

The BEST Italian Wedding Soup with Chicken Meatballs

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (2)

Italian wedding soup with chicken meatballs is filling, hearty and so tasty. It’s a chicken meatball soup which is made from scratch, and that means both the soup and the meatballs themselves. You will love this traditional Italian soup with acini de pepe pasta. This mini meatball soup is such a wonderfully fresh dish!
Get the Recipe: The BEST Italian Wedding Soup with Chicken Meatballs

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Cheeseburger Bites

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (3)

Air fryer bacon wrapped cheeseburger bites are one of those recipes your air fryer was made for! That’s right, it’s a super easy appy. These bacon burger bombs are a great appetizer for any occasion, whether you’re watching the game and don’t want to take your eyes off the screen or you just want to rustle up a quick and easy air fryer appetizer.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Cheeseburger Bites

One Pot Pasta with Mediterranean Meatballs

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (4)

There is so much to love about this easy one pot pasta with Mediterranean meatballs. It’s easy to throw together. It only uses one pot, to make clean up a breeze. Oh – and did I mention it tastes pretty good too? This Mediterranean spaghetti and meatballs is a quick dinner that is always well-loved by all.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Pasta with Mediterranean Meatballs

Roasted Tomato and Meatball Polenta

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (5)

Roasted tomato and meatball polenta is a fast weeknight dinner that everyone will love. The creamy polenta, classic meatballs and juicy tomatoes in this main course come together perfectly to make wonderful comfort food. This Italian meal is quick and easy to prepare and the flavour is simply wonderful and will become a family favourite.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Tomato and Meatball Polenta

Air Fryer Meatballs with Spaghetti Marinara

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (6)

So you’re in the mood for meatballs but don’t eat meat? No problem. I want to share this amazing air fryer meatballs recipe with you. It’s so good! These gluten free air fryer meatballs are full of spice and flavour, and they pair beautifully with a tasty marinara sauce.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Meatballs with Spaghetti Marinara

Copycat Ikea Swedish Meatballs Recipe

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (7)

Some people go to Ikea to buy furniture or other things for the house, but these copycat Ikea Swedish meatballs always reminds me of why I love it there! You need to give this recipe for Ikea meatballs a try.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Ikea Swedish Meatballs Recipe

Meatball Sub Bake

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (8)

This meatball sub bake is always a hit. This meatball sub casserole has classic meatball goodness. So give this Italian meatball casserole a try.
Get the Recipe: Meatball Sub Bake

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (9)

These buffalo chicken meatballs are big on flavor, not on work. Make these tasty buffalo chicken meatballs in the slow cooker! It’s easy!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Meatball Sub Casserole

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (10)

All of the best parts of meatball subs are packed into a casserole form. Use ground chicken for a healthy and tasty option that pairs perfectly with tomato sauce and plenty of cheese.
Get the Recipe: Meatball Sub Casserole

Seasame Ginger Meatballs

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (11)

Give your meatballs the best flavor upgrade! This recipe uses seasame seeds and ginger for a deliciously different option.
Get the Recipe: Seasame Ginger Meatballs

Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Meatballs

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (12)

Pop these meatballs into your slow cooker for the best BBQ flavor. This recipe uses turkey to make them healthier, but still just as flavorful!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Meatballs

Greek Meatball Souvlaki Bowls

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (13)

This meatball bowl is bursting with greek flavors. Serve this with roasted potatoes and liberally squeeze lemon juice on the top for the coziest meal.
Get the Recipe: Greek Meatball Souvlaki Bowls

Easy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (14)

This recipe makes the ultimate meatball for anyone who likes buffalo chicken flavor. Drizzle with blue cheese dressing and serve with celery sticks.
Get the Recipe: Easy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Meatball Sliders

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (15)

These sliders might be small, but they pack a whole lot of flavor into every bite. With plenty of sauce, cheese and flavorful meatballs stuffed into little buns, these are sure to be hit with your family at dinner. Serve with fries for a fuss free meal.
Get the Recipe: Meatball Sliders

Grape Jelly Meatballs

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (16)

Slow cooker grape jelly meatballs are the ultimate appetizer. Lucky for you, you can make these anytime, and won’t need to wait for a party to get your grape jelly meatball fix!
Get the Recipe: Grape Jelly Meatballs

Slow Cooker Meatball Subs

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (17)

Pop simple ingredients like meatballs and marinara into the slow cooker and in a few hours, you will have the best filling for a meatball sub. Pile fresh buns high with saucy meatballs and liberally sprinkle with cheese for a simple meal that is so satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Meatball Subs

Chicken Enchillada Meatballs

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (18)

Roll up some chicken meatballs and smother them with homemade enchilada sauce and plenty of cheese. This is sure to be a new favorite way to enjoy meatballs for a flavorful dinner.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Enchillada Meatballs

Turkey Veggie Meatballs

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (19)

This recipe adds turkey meat and plenty of shredded veggies to the perfect meatball. Make these as an appetizer, add them to a sub sandwich, or top pasta with these tasty bites.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Veggie Meatballs

Meatball Flatbread

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (20)

Meatballs, pepperoni and plenty of parmesan come together to make the best flatbread pizza. This is a great meal to make for a pizza night at home. It is hearty and so tasty!
Get the Recipe: Meatball Flatbread

Thai Chicken Meatballs

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (21)

You only need 30 minutes to make these flavorful chicken meatballs. They have the best thai flavor! Serve with sweet chili sauce for a really great protein source. Serve with rice, noodles or just eat them on their own.
Get the Recipe: Thai Chicken Meatballs

Chicken Piccata Meatballs

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (22)

Serve these meatballs in creamy, zesty lemon caper sauce. This is a delicious twist on Italian food, made at home.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Piccata Meatballs

Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause.

Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts. As well, Bella celebrates her Italian heritage with tasty dishes inspired by her favorite Italian foods. She has been featured in publications such as MSN, Self, Well + Good, New York Post, Salon, and more.

As a social media influencer, Bella can be found on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Since 2015, she has partnered with international brands and Fortune 500 companies. Living with celiac disease and Type 1 diabetes, Bella takes every opportunity to share her experiences with T1D and educate others about these autoimmune diseases.

22 Mouthwatering Meatball Recipes Everyone Will Love (2024)

FAQs

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

What's the best way to bake meatballs? ›

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. ...
  3. Using a 2 tablespoon scoop, portion out meat and place on baking sheet. ...
  4. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the meatballs are browned and cooked through.
Oct 5, 2023

How many meatballs to feed 20 people? ›

If you are making 1-ounce meatballs for a main course you should make 6 meatballs per person. If you have some big eaters at the party I suggest making 6-10 bite sized meatballs per person.

How many meatballs can you get out of a pound of hamburger? ›

Run your fingers around the edges of the scoop to knock off the extra meat. Then dump the scoop into your hand. Then just roll into a ball. You'll get about 24 meatballs out of a pound of ground beef using a small scoop.

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 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.

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.

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

Baking them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes should do it. I bake turkey meatballs for 15 minutes, and bake beef/pork ones for 20–25 minutes to ensure they're cooked through. If you need the drippings to make your sauce, you can scraped them out of the broiler pan bottom.

Is it better to bake meatballs in the oven or pan? ›

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.

How many meatballs do I need for 25 people? ›

If you're planning to buy ready made, I'd go with at least 3 per person. Maybe 4 if you have a lot of big eaters. Plus the longer meatballs simmer in sauce the better they taste. And they can be frozen,sauce and all.

Do meatballs taste better the next day? ›

The meatballs taste even better the second day. If you have time, make extra and serve them for another quick dinner. Complete the meal with a washed ready-to-eat Italian style salad.

Can you make meatballs the night before? ›

Recipe Notes

Reheat over low heat in a saucepan or in the microwave. Make-ahead meatballs: Meatballs can be shaped and kept refrigerated up to a day ahead. Arrange them in a casserole dish or on a baking sheet, but don't squish together. Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

What can you use in meatballs instead of breadcrumbs? ›

Rolled Oats

Oats are the perfect substitutes for breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf. While they aren't ideal for a crispy coating, they add the right amount of texture to bind meat, eggs and flavorings together into a delicious Italian-inspired feast.

Can you overcook meatballs in sauce? ›

Don't overcook your meatballs! Most recipes instruct us to bake the meatballs until they are completely cooked. Next, we are to let them simmer away in some kind of sauce for hours. It should be no surprise that your meatball is going to be completely overcooked and dry by the time you eat it.

What's the difference between homestyle and Italian meatballs? ›

Homestyle meatballs are typically larger in size, often about the size of a golf ball or even bigger [2]. Italian-style meatballs can vary in size, ranging from golf ball-sized to baseball-sized, depending on the desired serving style [1].

How do I keep my meatballs from falling apart? ›

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. Try soaking your breadcrumbs in milk for extra moisture and fluffiness.

Why do my meatballs always fall apart? ›

ANSWER: Usually when meatballs fall apart, it's the binder that is the problem. Most meatball recipes call for using bread crumbs and eggs. But too much bread crumbs make them too loose, and not enough bread crumbs won't help them hold together either.

Does egg help hold meatballs together? ›

How to stop meatballs from falling apart. Making them with just meat and seasoning alone can result in the meatball becoming dry or falling apart during cooking. For this reason, many recipes will include a binding ingredient like egg, and a filler like breadcrumbs.

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