How to Make Easy Meatballs
Updated: Feb. 20, 2020
Wondering what the secret is to making gorgeous, tender meatballs in a cinch? Our easy meatball recipe shows you how to whip up this delicious comfort food quickly.
Homemade meatballs are so much tastier than anything you’ll pick up at the supermarket. They’re a simple comfort food perfect for everything from quick pasta dishes and stews to hearty sandwiches and appetizers. This easy meatball recipe is an inexpensive 30-minute meal that is a fantastic option if you’re looking for quick meal prep ideas.
How to Make Easy Meatballs
Our Test Kitchen created this quick and easy meatball recipe that’s simple enough to make on a weeknight.
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1-1/3 cups soft bread crumbs
- 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 pounds ground beef
Step 1: Make the Binding
Pour the eggs, onion, garlic, water, breadcrumbs, Parmesan and seasonings into a large bowl. Whisk it well until all of the ingredients are evenly dispersed.
The eggs and breadcrumbs are essential for binding the meat. Thanks to their moisture content, eggs help keep your meatballs lovely and tender.
Step 2: Add Beef and Shape
Crumble the ground beef into the egg mixture. Use your hands to combine everything but do not overwork the beef. I can’t stress this enough! If you overdo it, you run the risk of tough meatballs. Instead, gently work the mix until it’s just combined.
Once you’re happy with the beef mixture, lightly shape the meatballs to be about 1 to 1 ½ inches. You can make larger meatballs, if you choose.
Pro Tip: No matter whether you decide to go big or small, you’ll want to keep them all roughly the same size. Otherwise, they’ll cook unevenly.
Step 3: Into the Oven They Go
Grease a rack and place it in a shallow baking tray. I pour a little olive oil onto a paper towel and rub the rack down, but a nonstick cooking spray would work here. Arrange the meatballs, and then put them in the oven. Bake at 375° for about 15 to 18 minutes, or until your instant-read thermometer says they’re cooked through (160-165°).
Homemade Meatballs Tips and Tricks
- Don’t limit yourself to beef! Swap it for pork, chicken, lamb, turkey or game meat to put a new spin on this tried-and-true classic. If you’re hankering for ultra-tender meatballs, fatty meats are the way to go.
- If lean meats like chicken or turkey are on the menu, consider adding a splash of milk to the egg mix. This will moisten the breadcrumbs and help prevent the meatballs from getting tough.
- While this recipe calls for Italian seasoning, a sprinkling of fresh chopped herbs like rosemary, thyme and basil pack some serious flavor. Mint would be gorgeous with lamb, while cilantro gives pork and chicken meatballs a zesty flair.
- You can freeze your meatballs to enjoy later. After they’re out of the oven, let them cool down completely before freezing them. Or prep the meatballs and put them in an airtight container in the fridge to cook later in the week—just be sure to cook them within 2 to 3 days.
Now that you’ve mastered the art of the perfect meatball, here are some of our best Italian meatball recipes to try out.
Try These Marvelous Meatball Recipes
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My family enjoys this delicious recipe—it's like a spicy meatball stew with dumplings!—Sarah Yoder, Middlebury, Indiana
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Plenty of ground pepper gives these saucy meatballs their irresistible zest. They're so hearty, I sometimes serve them over noodles as a main course. —Darla Schroeder, Stanley, North Dakota
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This is a simple weeknight recipe my grandma passed along to me. I grew up on a farm where my father was a beef producer, so we always had ground beef in the freezer. I made these meatballs for our family and for kids while I was babysitting, and they were always a hit. Leftovers reheat well the next day. —Provided by Karen Davis, Culinary Specialist, on behalf of Physicians Mutual Insurance
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Turkey gives a different twist to these slightly sweet and spicy meatballs. For the holidays, I serve them on a tray lined with parsley and garnished with red pepper or pimientos. —Audrey Thibodeau, Gilbert, Arizona
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When my husband travels for work, I make a special dinner for my kids to keep their minds off missing Daddy. This tasty mostaccioli is meatball magic. —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan
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I’ve been cooking for more than 50 years and this dish is still one that guests ask for frequently. My No. 1 standby slow-cooker meatballs recipe also makes amazing hero sandwiches, and the sauce works for any pasta. —Jane McMillan, Pensacola, Florida
Italian Meatball Subs
This is one of those recipes you always come back to. A flavorful tomato sauce and mildly spiced meatballs make a hearty sandwich filling, or they can be served over pasta. I broil the meatballs first to quickly brown them. —Jean Glacken, Elkton, Maryland
Appetizer Meatballs
This recipe is easy, and the meatballs can be made well ahead of time and frozen until needed. I think what makes them taste so good is the sauce. —Nathalie Guest, Caledon, Ontario
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I always keep meatballs and pizza crusts in the freezer to make this specialty on the spur of the moment. Add a tossed salad and you have a delicious dinner. —Mary Humeniuk-Smith, Perry Hall, Maryland
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Throughout Vietnam there are many kinds of soups, “canh,” served all year long. I particularly love enjoying this warm, flavorful bowl of Vietnamese chicken soup on laid-back weekends, but it's also great packed in a Thermos for lunch. It's the perfect bok choy soup, too! —Brenda Watts, Gaffney, South Carolina
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We were hosting a bunch of friends, and after a comedy of errors, I had to come up with a new plan for dinner. Turns out that much-loved meatball subs are even better as a hearty casserole—so delicious! —Rick Friedman, Palm Springs, California
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My great-grandmother started this easy meatball recipe with our family. We use ground beef and turkey for these meatballs, and the flavor’s so good, you won’t miss the extra calories. —Audrey Colantino, Winchester, Massachusetts
Hoisin Meatball Lettuce Wraps
I make these tangy-sweet appetizers every year during the holidays, and it doesn't take long for them to disappear.—Elaine Sweet, Dallas, Texas
One-Pot Unstuffed Cabbage
Here is one of my favorite ways to cook and enjoy cabbage. It has all the good flavor of regular cabbage rolls, but it's a lot less bother to make. In fact, it's a one-pot meal! —Mrs. Bernard Snow, Lewiston, Michigan
Spaghetti Meatball Supper
It was such a joy to come home and find my mom making spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. This recipe has always been dear to my heart. —Debbie Heggie, Laramie, Wyoming
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Talk about one easy dish that creates an amazing sweet and sour sauce! You can serve over rice for more of a dinner-like option, but I also like to offer them as an appetizer simply served with toothpicks. —Julie Schiefer, Nappanee, Indiana
Contest-Winning Bavarian Meatball Hoagies
When my husband's not manning the grill, I count on my slow cooker. These mouthwatering meatballs are just one reason why. They’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser as an appetizer, or spooned over crusty rolls and topped with cheese for irresistible sandwiches. —Peggy Rios, Mechanicsville, Virginia
Cranberry Meatballs
Lots of people have asked me for this recipe, but I knew I had a real winner when my grandmother asked me for it! —Tammy Neubauer, Ida Grove, Iowa
Chicken Florentine Meatballs
Served over squash and a chunky, mushroom-tomato sauce, these tender meatballs are tops when it comes to great flavor. —Diane Nemitz, Ludington, Michigan
Mediterranean Meatball Sandwiches
I grow onions, garlic and herbs, so that’s what I use in these saucy sandwiches. Make patties or form the ground beef into meatballs instead. —Alysha Braun, St. Catharines, Ontario
Meatball Tortellini
I combined some favorite staples from our freezer and pantry to come up with this easy dish. It has few ingredients and little preparation. —Tracie Bergeron, Chauvin, Louisiana
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This simple meatball recipe relies on time-saving ingredients like frozen meatballs and barbecue sauce. It's the perfect last-minute appetizer! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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One evening, we had unexpected company. Since I had the ingredients on hand, I made this spaghetti and meatballs recipe. Everyone raved! This classic recipe makes a big batch. —Mary Lou Koskella, Prescott, Arizona
Slow-Cooker Meatball Sandwiches
Our approach to meatball sandwiches is a simple one: Cook the meatballs low and slow, load them into hoagie buns, and top them with provolone and pepperoncini. —Stacie Nicholls, Spring Creek, Nevada
Dressed-Up Meatballs
Frozen meatballs and a jar of sweet-and-sour sauce make this microwave meal a last-minute lifesaver when racing against the clock. The flavorful sauce is dressed up with a hint of garlic and nicely coats the colorful mixture of meatballs, carrots, green pepper and onion. —Ivy Eresmas, Dade City, Florida
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I grew up on a farm, so I took part in 4-H Club cooking activities. I still love to prepare and serve classic, wholesome recipes such as this meat and veggie pie. —Susan Keith, Fort Plain, New York
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As a writer and busy mom of three boys, I need tasty meals on the quick. We serve these glazed meatballs over a steaming bed of rice. —Amy Dong, Woodbury, MinnesotaPopular Videos
Originally Published: February 20, 2020
