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    Home » Beef Recipes » Baked Meatball Recipe

    Baked Meatball Recipe

    Published: Sep 2, 2019 · Modified: Oct 5, 2019 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Easy Baked Meatball recipe makes tender, homemade meatballs in just under an hour! Also includes directions on how to freeze meatballs.
    Baked Meatballs in a skillet with sauce

    If meatballs are an option, that will always be the option that I choose. They're just a delicious way to make any dish better. I mean, spaghetti is good, but spaghetti with meatballs is amazing!

    I've made quite a few Italian meatball recipes trying to find one that was 1) easy 2) actually held together and 3) tasted good. This easy baked meatball recipe is my favorite so far!

    How to Make Baked Meatballs

    Ingredients for baked meatballs in a glass bowl

    These meatballs are actually really easy to make! Begin by adding all of the ingredients except the marinara to a large bowl.

    Mix the ingredients together until just combined. I recommend mixing the meatball mixture by hand.

    Baked meatballs on a baking sheet

    Portion meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet. I use a medium cookie scoop (1.5 tablespoons) to make it easy to get uniform meatballs.

    Bake until the meatballs are cooked through. Pour the marinara over the meatballs and continue baking for about 10 minutes.

    Can You Bake Meatballs?

    Meatballs can be fried, cooked in a skillet, or baked. Baking meatballs is incredibly easy to do!

    Why Use Eggs In Meatballs?

    Eggs help to bind the ingredients to keep the meatballs together. They don't provide much moisture (that's what the ricotta is for), but they are a great binder.

    Baked meatball in marinara on a silver spoonHow To Make Meatballs Ahead Of Time (How To Freeze Meatballs)

    I like to make these meatballs ahead of time and then save them until I'm ready to use them. I just make them through step five.

    Let the meatballs cool to room temperature and then place in a single layer on a sheet pan to quickly freeze. Once frozen, place the meatballs in a resealable container.

    Then, when ready to use them, just defrost them and heat them up in a skillet with sauce.

    How To Use Meatballs

    Meatballs are pretty versatile! They work well in pasta dishes, on subs, and even on pizza.

    Plus, they're fantastic served with my 30 Minute Garlic Knots!

    Baked Meatballs in marinara topped with parmesan cheese

    More Meatball Recipes!

    • Skillet Meatball Pastae
    • Swedish Meatballs

    If you’ve tried this baked meatball recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!

    You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    Baked Meatball Recipe

    Baked Meatball Recipe

    This super easy Baked Meatball recipe makes tender, homemade meatballs in under an hour! 
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 24 meatballs
    Calories: 131kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 pounds 80% lean ground beef
    • 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
    • 2 large eggs
    • ½ cup Italian bread crumbs
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon dried sweet basil
    • 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground fennel
    • 4 cups marinara sauce

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 450F. Drizzle the olive oil into a 9×13-inch baking dish and evenly coat the entire surface. Set aside.
    • Combine the ground beef, ricotta, eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, garlic, oregano, salt, and fennel in a large mixing bowl. Mix by hand until well-combined.
    • Roll the mixture into round, golf ball-size meatballs (about 1 ½ inches), making sure to pack the meat firmly. A medium cookie scoop works well.
    • Place the balls in the prepared baking dish. The meatballs should be touching one another.
    • Bake for 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are firm and cooked through. A meat thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball should read 165F.
    • While the meatballs are roasting, heat the tomato sauce in a small saucepan over mediu heat, stirring often.
    • When the meatballs are firm and fully cooked, remove from the oven.
    • Drain the excess grease from the pan.
    • Pour the marinara over meatballs.
    • Return the meatballs to the oven, and continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes.

    Video

    Notes

    1. Nutrition values are estimates. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1meatball | Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 484mg | Potassium: 273mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 295IU | Vitamin C: 3.8mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1.5mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!

    Adapted from Epicurious.com.

    Originally published 8/5/16. Updated with new photos and tips 9/2/19.

    « No-Knead Bread
    30 Minute Cinnamon Sugar Knots »
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    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jean Jepsen

      September 17, 2019 at 12:21 pm

      I am always looking for new ideas ! These sound GREAT!

      Reply
      • Kate

        September 18, 2019 at 8:40 pm

        Thank you! I hope you enjoy them. =)

        Reply
    2. Deb

      September 05, 2019 at 2:23 pm

      5 stars
      These are amazing!!! Never would have considered using ricotta, but these meatballs made me a believer. Will definitely make these again and again.

      Reply
      • Kate

        September 06, 2019 at 7:47 am

        Thank you! I'm so glad that you liked them. Thanks for commenting! =)

        Reply
    3. Betty Schweitzer

      September 05, 2019 at 11:52 am

      I'm not crazy about ricotta. What other cheese have you used?

      Reply
      • Kate

        September 07, 2019 at 9:48 am

        I haven't tried any subs for the ricotta. I know some recipes call for a mixture of milk and bread or even grated onion to add moisture to the meatballs, but I've had the best luck with ricotta.

        Reply
      • Marcy

        February 22, 2021 at 9:25 am

        Have a tried cottage cheese? I have a friend that has 2 pickup eaters and won't touch ricotta and she subs cottage cheese even in her lasagna

        Reply
        • Kate

          February 22, 2021 at 11:53 am

          Thank you for sharing that tip!

          Reply
    4. Bridget Meadows

      January 25, 2019 at 4:41 pm

      These meatballs are delicious. I used this recipe my first time making them and everyone loved them. I make them a few times a month now. Will be keeping this one forever!

      Reply
      • Kate

        January 26, 2019 at 7:59 am

        Thank you! I'm so glad that you liked them. =) Thank you for commenting!

        Reply
    5. Megan

      October 01, 2018 at 7:34 pm

      5 stars
      Made these tonight for dinner, and doubled the recipe. Putting aside half without sauce to freeze. Perfectly delicious! Will definitely make again!

      Reply
      • Kate

        October 02, 2018 at 8:08 am

        I'm so glad that you liked them! I like to double the recipe and freeze half, too. It's a great way to get an extra meal or two without much more work. =) Thanks for coming back to comment!

        Reply
    6. Donna

      September 24, 2018 at 6:12 pm

      I made these for my family today. I have a go to recipe I always use but wanted to try something new. We rarely use ground beef because the recipe options aren’t great for some of my picky eaters (mostly my 36 year old husband and his hatred of his mothers cooking). I found an amazing sale on ground chuck so used that on this recipe and it is amazing.

      Reply
      • Kate

        September 25, 2018 at 9:59 am

        I'm so glad! =) I love when I find amazing sales like that. If you're looking for something different, I've heard from people who have used ground buffalo and turkey in place of the ground beef.

        Reply
    7. Patrick Curry

      September 24, 2018 at 6:48 am

      Kate, for those of us who need to watch our cholesterol intake, I used your recipe but substituted ground buffalo meat intead of beef. Buffalo meat tastes just like ground beef but contains less fat than turkey or chicken. And buffalo are strictly free range eaters. They won't feed from a trough, so you don't have to worry about steroids, hermones, or other such additives incorporated into their diet. I live in Connecticut, and we have several farms who raise buffalo and beefalo now. And several super markets in my area pakage 1 and 2 pound portions of ground buffalo on a regular basis. It worked and tasted great with your recipe. For your fans who need to take care of their hearts, try it! You'll love it!
      Pat

      Reply
      • Kate

        September 24, 2018 at 8:53 am

        Thank you! I love buffalo burgers, but I've never used buffalo meat to make meatballs. It's very helpful to know that it will work in this recipe! Thanks again! =)

        Reply
    8. Teresa

      September 16, 2018 at 5:00 pm

      I found GF bread crumb today and can't wait to try this recipe. You can also use GF bread slices either toast or tear up. Both my kids have issues with Gluten so I have found this works. I am also using Ground turkey instead of beef.

      Reply
      • Kate

        September 16, 2018 at 10:02 pm

        Thank you! Those are both great ideas for substitutes. Hope you enjoy the meatballs! =)

        Reply
    9. Christine

      September 14, 2018 at 7:23 pm

      HI, I made these today and they are THE BEST! I did use low fat ground beef so they did not have much to drain. I made these for a family who needs a meal train right now. They just texted and said yum too. I am glad I made a 1 plus recipe.

      Reply
      • Kate

        September 15, 2018 at 7:55 am

        Yay! I'm glad that you liked them and that the other family liked them, too! Thank you for your note about using low fat ground beef. It's always helpful to hear that things like that have worked. =)

        Reply
    10. Katherine Rohrs

      September 14, 2018 at 2:52 pm

      Trying to find sub for breadcrumbs, thinking of almond flour or oat flakes, any thoughts?

      Reply
      • Kate

        September 14, 2018 at 4:30 pm

        Are you trying to find a gluten free substitute? If not, I've used crushed saltines (or similar crackers) and adjusted the salt accordingly. If you are trying to find a gluten free substitute, ground oats work well. I haven't tried almond flour, but if you try it, I would love to hear how it comes out! Good luck! =)

        Reply
    11. Lisa

      September 10, 2018 at 1:43 pm

      5 stars
      Great meatball recipe! I made a big batch of these meatballs, and everyone loved them. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kate

        September 10, 2018 at 7:10 pm

        Thank you! I'm glad that you like the meatballs. Thanks for coming back to comment! =)

        Reply
    12. Brit

      August 11, 2018 at 11:33 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for the recipe! I'm prepping for school night dinners and made a double recipe. I put one in the freezer and we ate the others for dinner. The meatballs were a big hit.

      Reply
      • Kate

        August 11, 2018 at 12:37 pm

        Thank you so much! I'm glad they were a hit! Thanks for coming back to comment! =)

        Reply
    13. Tracy

      August 10, 2018 at 9:51 am

      Can you make meatballs then and bake them later the same day?

      Reply
      • Kate

        August 10, 2018 at 9:56 pm

        I think so! I haven't tried it that way, but I think you could shape them and then cover and chill them on something like a sheet pan until you were ready to bake them.

        Reply
    14. Steph

      August 06, 2018 at 1:18 pm

      5 stars
      I made these meatballs and they were the great. I added some more seasoning, that's how we like it!

      Reply
      • Kate

        August 06, 2018 at 1:22 pm

        Good! I'm glad you were able to make it so suit your tastes! Thanks for coming back to comment! =)

        Reply
    15. Amy

      August 04, 2018 at 8:24 pm

      5 stars
      This was the first meatball recipe I've made and liked! They weren't greasy and didn't fall apart. I used the extras in your meatball pasta.

      Reply
    16. Sarah

      April 19, 2018 at 2:42 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! The meatballs were juicy and didn't fall apart.

      Reply
      • Kate

        April 19, 2018 at 4:27 pm

        Thanks! Glad you enjoyed them! =)

        Reply
    17. Tici

      February 12, 2018 at 11:12 am

      I made these meat balls with a little pork, and lean beef. I also added a bit more Italian seasoning. This was fantastic! A great way to make them is with an ice cream scoop!? Great recipe! I’ll take a picture next time☝️

      Reply
      • Kate

        February 13, 2018 at 11:43 am

        Yum! Yes! I use love using my small scoops to portion meatballs. They're also great for scooping cookie dough. Please do! I'd love to see them! =)

        Reply
    18. Jo

      September 03, 2016 at 10:09 am

      Hi, the meatballs look fantastic!
      I was wondering where the idea of using ricotta came from? I've never heard of that in meatball mix - I'm also looking to make these in the next 24 hours and am not sure I have a chance to make it to the store - do you have a possible replacement? Thanks!! :)

      Reply
      • Kate

        September 03, 2016 at 12:40 pm

        Thanks! The ricotta helps keep the meatballs moist and tender. I haven't tried this, but you could try cottage cheese as a sub. Maybe give it a couple pulses in a food processor to smooth it out. Good luck! =)

        Reply
    19. Jennie

      August 05, 2016 at 10:54 am

      This looks like a great recipe. Do you recommend these just for sandwiches, or would they be good over pasta or rice as well? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kate

        August 05, 2016 at 6:18 pm

        Thanks! They work well on subs, and I also use them in pasta dishes (rice would work, too). In fact, I have a recipe coming up next week for a pasta dish that uses these meatballs. =)

        Reply
        • Jennie

          August 06, 2016 at 12:46 pm

          Thanks!

          Reply

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