Simple Meatball Recipe

Meatball Ingredients

Our simple meatball recipe comes together with the help of key ingredients like ground beef and bread crumbs. Here’s what you need to make these family favorites.

Ground Beef: The protein-rich base of these meatballs, ground beef brings tons of flavor and richness. You’ll want at least 80% lean ground beef for this recipe—this ratio of lean meat to fat is quite common in the grocery store, and it gives you the juiciest, most tender meatballs.

Italian-Style Bread Crumbs: All-important bread crumbs act as a binder, helping to hold the meatballs together while they cook. We use Italian-style breadcrumbs for this easy meatball recipe for extra flavor and texture.

Milk: This dairy product moistens the meatball mixture while bringing just a little creaminess. We typically use whole milk or 2% milk for this recipe.

Worcestershire Sauce: Savory and slightly tangy, this condiment adds flavor to the meatballs.

Salt and Pepper: These essential additions enhance the flavor of the meatballs while adding just a touch of seasoning.

Onion: Finely chopped onion adds even more flavor and texture to the meatballs.

Egg: A single egg adds moisture and richness to the meatball mixture and also helps to bind the meatballs together while they cook.

How to Make Meatballs

This is our simplest and best meatball recipe because it's so versatile and easy—simply mix, shape, and bake your ingredients, and you’re left with delightfully savory meatballs! Serve them as appetizers or as part of the main course. However you present them, they’re sure to be a hit. Here’s a quick breakdown of this simple meatball recipe. Read on for our full ingredients list and step-by-step meatball recipe, complete with handy photos!

Mix Ingredients

Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, milk, salt, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, finely chopped onion, and egg. Mix until well combined to form your meatball mixture.

Shape Meatballs

This is the fun part! Shape your mixture into 24 meatballs and place them 1 inch apart on a foil-lined pan. Spray the pan with cooking spray beforehand to prevent sticking.

Bake Meatballs

All that’s left to do is bake your meatballs in a heated oven for 18 to 22 minutes or until cooked through.

Meatball Variations

It doesn’t get easier than this wonderfully simple meatball recipe. Once you’re ready to jazz up your meals, consider these fun and flavorful variations.

Turkey or Chicken Meatballs: It’s easy to switch up the flavor of your meatballs with different ground meats like ground chicken or ground turkey. Try our recipe for Turkey-Pesto Meatballs to get started, or see our Expert Tips below to learn how

Glazed Meatballs: Using different glazes and sauces is another fantastic way to enhance the flavor of your meatballs and make them suitable for a variety of different dishes and cuisines. Our Cranberry-Glazed Appetizer Meatballs are a perfect spicy-sweet party appetizer.

Serving Meatballs

These baked meatballs go great with just about anything, making them an excellent option for a number of dishes. Need a little menu inspiration? Here are some ideas for how to serve your meatballs.

Meatballs with Marinara Sauce: It truly doesn’t get more classic and comforting than pasta topped with meatballs and red sauce. Follow this meatball recipe, make our Classic Marinara sauce and serve over your favorite noodles!

Meatballs with White Sauce: A creamy White Sauce is another flavorful option. Drizzle it over your meatballs and pasta or turn it into a next-level mac and cheese dish complete with juicy baked meatballs.

Meatballs on Their Own: These meatballs are tasty enough to stand on their own as an appetizer! Toss them in your favorite barbecue sauce, stick a toothpick in each one, and you’ve got a fancy little treat to offer guests before the big meal. For a different flavor profile, try our pork and beef Appetizer Meatballs.

Storing and Reheating Meatballs

If you have leftover meatballs or are prepping a batch ahead of a special occasion, you can store them in the fridge or freezer. Here’s how to keep your baked meatballs fresh and reheat them so they’re just as tasty as when you originally made them.

Refrigerating Meatballs: Place baked meatballs in a food-storage bag or container and store in the fridge. Your baked meatballs will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, remove meatballs from the fridge. Place them in a baking dish and cover with aluminum foil to prevent them from drying out. Bake your meatballs in a 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until heated through. Make sure they reach an internal temperature of 160°F to ensure they’re thoroughly reheated and safe to eat.

Freezing Meatballs: To freeze baked meatballs, place cooked and cooled meatballs on an ungreased cookie sheet. Freeze, uncovered, for about 20 minutes or until firm. Transfer partially frozen meatballs to a heavy plastic freezer bag or freezer-safe container and place in the freezer. Your meatballs will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, take your frozen meatballs out of the freezer and place them on a baking sheet. Bake them in a 350°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through. Ensure your meatballs reach an internal temperature of 160°F before serving.