Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, these oven-baked meatballs are lip-smacking delicious! Team them up with a savory gravy and serve them with mashed potatoes or stuff them into some hoagie buns- they're perfect either way. And best of all, they taste SO much better than those packaged, frozen meatballs you've always bought!
On days when I don't want to put in a lot of thought and brainwork into planning my meals, I turn to my classics and family favorites. If I have chicken, I usually make some grilled chicken wings or air fried chicken legs, and on days when I want to use up some lamb, I make my favorite baked lamb chops.
And whenever I have some ground beef that I want to use, I make these easy baked meatballs to use for lots of different recipes!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Oven baked meatball is super versatile! You can use it to make some easy dinners or a fancy appetizer for get-togethers.
Despite being baked, they have a nice crispy exterior, and are much healthier than fried meatballs.
You can meal-prep them too! They're a total savior for days when you're rushed, but still want something homecooked and delicious!
Ingredients For the Oven Baked Meatballs Recipe
Ground Beef: Use the best quality (ideally grass-fed) variety you can find. You can use either fresh or frozen ground beef. You can also add some veal or pork if you want to.
Egg: These are a must! They add a nice bit of moisture to the meatballs, helps bind the mixture together and also makes them extra juicy.
Bread: These help the meatballs hold their shape, and also retain that moisture and juiciness. Mix a slice of bread mixed with some milk, or just some panko breadcrumbs if that's what you have at hand.
Onion: For that delicious umami sweetness.
Seasonings: These are pretty simple- just some salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and a dash of bouillon powder for extra flavor.
Parsley: To lend that bright pop of color and freshness.
Variations & Substitutions
- Make these meatballs cheesy! Just add some shredded cheese of your choice (cheddar, mozzarella and provolone are great) to the meatball mixture!
- Bulk up the meatballs by adding in some veggies of your choice. I love adding grated zucchini, chopped spinach and chopped mushrooms into the mix.
- Spice up the meatballs by adding some cayenne or smoked paprika powder into the mix.
- Experiment with different meats to make different versions of this recipe. Ground turkey and ground chicken meatballs taste fantastic too!
How to Oven Baked Meatballs
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease it with some oil to keep the meatballs from sticking to it.
- Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, bread in milk, egg, garlic powder, finely chopped onion, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix until all ingredients are just combined.
- Step 3: Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, shape the mixture into meatballs, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter and mold with your greased palms. Place each meatball on the baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Step 4: Drizzle or lightly brush the meatballs with oil and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through. If you like a crispier exterior, you can broil them for an additional 2-3 minutes at the end.
- Step 5: Allow the meatballs to rest for a few minutes, and then serve them with dipping sauces or use them for any of your recipes.
Tips & Tricks
- Use a mix of beef and pork to make the meatballs extra juicy.
- If you don't have bread or breadcrumbs, add some crushed crackers into the meatball mixture.
- If you want to make dairy-free meatballs, you can substitute the milk in the recipe for almond milk or another non-dairy milk.
- Make sure you line your baking sheet with foil or parchment paper to make cleanup easier!
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
These oven baked meatballs are incredibly versatile! There a ton of ways you can put them to use.
I personally love adding them to some marinara sauce and serving them with spaghetti. They also taste fantastic when served in a meatball sub or with some garlic bread on the side.
On days when I'm too lazy to cook, I serve these flavorful meatballs with a simple potato side dish like my crispy Air Fryer potatoes or baked potato wedges.
And when I have some of my homemade shawarma bread leftover, I use these meatballs along with some shredded cabbage, sliced onions and my favorite sauces into the bread to make a nice hearty wrap!
Storage and Reheating
Refrigeration: You can store your leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, and then reheat them in the microwave or the oven until they're warm again.
Freezing: Freeze meatballs in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Ground turkey or chicken can be a great leaner alternative to ground beef. Just remember that leaner meats may cook a bit faster, so these meatballs may need less time to cook. You may also need to add a tablespoon of olive oil or some extra milk to keep the meatballs juicy.
To make the meatballs gluten-free, simply substitute regular breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed gluten-free crackers. You can also use oats if you want to. Ensure all other ingredients (seasonings and spices) are gluten-free as well.
Yes, you can freeze these meatballs and store them for later! Simply arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze them for a few hours until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag or a freezer-safe container and store them for up to 3 months.
When making meatballs, make sure you don't overmix the ingredients and add ingredients like milk or grated cheese to retain moisture. Also, remember not to overbake them, and get them out as soon as they're done.
The most reliable way to check if meatballs are cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 160°F (71°C). If you don’t have a thermometer, cut one open to ensure it's no longer pink in the center.
Yes, you can place the meatballs on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. This allows the heat to circulate around the meatballs, which can result in a crispier exterior. Just make sure to lightly grease the rack to prevent sticking.
More Meaty Recipes to Try
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Homemade Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 kg Beef minced or ground
- ¼ cup Liquid milk
- 2 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Blackpepper
- 1 slice Bread 25g
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tbsp Bouillon powder or any Seasoning Powder
- 1 medium Onion chopped
- 1 Large Egg
- ¼ cup Fresh herbs I used parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking pan with a parchment paper or baking mat.
- Cut the bread into small pieces and soak in the milk until well softened.
- In a mixing bowl, add the minced beef with the rest of the ingredients and mix with your hands until well combined.
- Use an ice cream scoop to scoop out beef. Using your wet palms or greased palms, roll balls to about 2 diameter.
- Transfer balls into the lined baking pan.
- Bake at 400°F for about 20-30 minutes till they reach an internal temperature of about 165°F.
- Remove from oven and drain off excess fat. Let it cool for about 2 minutes, then serve and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- To make dairy-free meatballs, substitute the milk in the recipe for almond milk or another non-dairy milk.
- Remember to line your baking sheet with foil or parchment paper to make cleanup easier!
- Use a mix of beef and pork to make the meatballs extra juicy.
- If you don't have bread or breadcrumbs, add some crushed crackers into the meatball mixture.
Nutrition
Bilikis
It looks so delicious
Bilikis
So yummy and delicious
Bilikis
Thanks for the recipe ma
Ojong Blessin
Can it be fried too?
Yes, definitely. You can deep fry on medium heat. You can also shallow fry.