The Best Simple Meatball Recipe

This simple meatball recipe is exactly that, simple. It’s also delicious! Just mix the key ingredients together and bake. That’s all there is to it and you’ll have delicious meatballs to eat on their own, to throw on top of some spaghetti or use in a sandwich.

It really is the easiest way to make a lot of meatballs at once, which I prefer because then I can freeze the rest for another meal! I love this recipe because it’s dinner and meal prep in one 😉

What makes this simple is that the meatballs are baked instead of simmered or cooked in a sauce. The baking method cuts the cooking time down but it doesn’t compromise on the flavor. You will still end up with a mouthwatering meatball that you can then add to a sauce or eat on its own!

I’ve consolidated the steps to only include the absolute essentials so that you can have meatballs ready in the shortest time possible. Let’s get started!

This post is about how to make a tasty simple meatball recipe.

The BEST Simple Meatball Recipe

What do I need to make these easy meatballs?

You will need the following essential ingredients to make a great-tasting meatball:

• Ground beef
• Bread crumbs
• Milk
• Eggs
• Onion
• Garlic
• Parsley
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper

How do I make this baked meatball recipe?

First, set the oven to 400°F.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, aluminum foil, or cooking spray. Set it aside.

In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients except for the ground beef.

Then, add the ground beef and mix well by hand.

Form one-inch meatballs and set them in rows on the prepared baking pan. To help, consider using an ice cream scooper or spoon to portion out the meat before using your hands to roll them into a ball.

Depending on the size of the meatball you make, this recipe can make 25-35 meatballs.

Bake it in the oven for 25-35 minutes. The bigger the meatball, the longer it will need to bake. Cook the meatballs until they are nicely browned on the outside with an internal temperature of 165°F.

I don’t mind the meatballs touching the grease in my baking pan like the picture above. But, if you do not want it touching, consider setting a cooling rack on top of the baking pan, then setting the meatballs on top and baking it that way. This way, the meatball will cook evenly all around and the droppings will collect in the baking pan underneath!

To make this a meatball recipe for spaghetti, simply add it to a pasta sauce. To make your own pasta sauce, try this recipe: PERFECT PASTA SAUCE WITH CRUSHED TOMATOES.

If you like this recipe, you will also enjoy:

• The Ultimate Simple Lasagna Recipe
• Seriously Easy Meat Sauce Recipe
• Better Than Pasta – Spaghetti Squash With Meat Sauce
• Easy Bolognese Sauce Recipe With Penne Pasta

🖤 Let me know in the comments if you plan on making this or if you did. I love hearing from you!

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🖤 Thank you for visiting and happy cooking! 🙂

This post was about how to make a delicious and simple meatball recipe.

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5 from 1 vote

The BEST Simple Meatball Recipe

These go-to meatballs have just the right ingredients to make them absolutely delicious. They are perfect on their own, with pasta or in a sandwich!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword simple meatball recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 30 meatballs

Author Rihana

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef 80/20
• 1 small onion, grated about ¾ cup
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• ½ cup fresh parsley finely chopped
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup milk
• 2 large eggs lightly beaten
• 1 ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.

  Line a large baking pan with parchment paper, aluminum foil and/or cooking spray. Set aside.
• Grate the onion, mince the garlic, and finely chop the parsley.
• In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together, except for the ground beef.
• Then, add the ground beef to the mixture and combine well (with your hands).
• Use an ice cream scooper or spoon to portion the meatballs. Use your hands to form them into round 1-inch meatballs and place them on the prepared baking pan.

  *Depending on the size of meatball you make, this recipe will make 25-35 meatballs.
• Bake for 25-35 minutes until nicely browned and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Serve on their own, with pasta or in a sandwich.

  Enjoy!

Notes

These meatballs freeze well. If you have any leftover meatballs, let them cool then put them in a ziplock or silicone bag and freeze. Keep frozen for up to 3 months.