Easy Meatball Recipe: Simple & Versatile!

This easy meatball recipe will be your go-to! Versatile enough for so many different preparations. Make Swedish meatballs, Italian meatballs, or anything in between! So tender and flavorful.

Table of Contents

If you are searching for a basic meatball recipe that can be served in any number of different ways, then look no further! These meatballs are incredibly juicy, tender, and flavorful. Pair them with tomato sauce and garlic knots for classic spaghetti and meatballs, with a creamy gravy for Swedish meatballs, or even turn them into grape jelly meatballs! Prepare this meatballs recipe with beef, pork, lamb, chicken, or turkey, as an easy appetizer or main dish.

Here’s Why You’ll Love These

• So tender they practically melt in your mouth
• Easy to make with just a few basic ingredients
• Perfectly seasoned and full of meaty flavor
• Adaptable to all sorts of different preparations
• Can easily be enjoyed no matter the time of year

Ingredients You Need

• Ground Meat: I prefer meatloaf mix which is made up of equal parts ground beef, veal, and pork, but you could also use plain ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey.
• Onion: This ingredient lends a mild sweetness and a softer mouthfeel.
• Ricotta: Makes the meatballs incredibly tender.
• Breadcrumbs: Lightens the mixture so these meatballs are never overly heavy or leaden.
• Egg: Helps bind the mixture so they don’t fall apart.
• Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and garlic powder help to enhance all the flavors.
• Herbs: Herbs such as parsley, basil, or oregano can add a nice freshness to your homemade meatballs.

Helpful Tips & Tricks

• Don’t be Afraid of Fat: A leaner ground meat may be lower in calories, but it could result in a lack of flavor or your meatballs could come out dry. Look for around an 80/20 mix of lean to fat.
• Make them Bigger: Keep in mind that the meatballs will shrink as they cook.
• Simmer, Saute, or Bake: This meatball recipe can be cooked in sauce (dumpling-style), fried in a skillet, or baked in the oven.
• Freeze: Make a big batch and stash them in your freezer! After cooking, allow them to cool completely then arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and pop them in the freezer. Once they’re fully frozen you can transfer them to a zip-top freezer bag and pull them out a few at a time, as you need them. A great time-saver for busy weeknight dinner prep!

More Dinner Recipes

Easy Meatball Recipe

This easy meatball recipe will be your go-to! Versatile enough for so many different preparations. Make Swedish meatballs, Italian meatballs, or anything in between! So tender and flavorful.

• ▢ 1 pound meatloaf mix, (or use ground beef, pork, veal, lamb, turkey, or chicken)
• ▢ 15 ounces ricotta, (I prefer whole milk ricotta but part skim works too)
• ▢ 1/2 onion, medium (cooked until tender and translucent)
• ▢ 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, (I like plain dry breadcrumbs)
• ▢ 1 bunch fresh parsley, finely minced (or substitute another type of her
• ▢ 1 egg, large
• ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, (or a few cloves of fresh chopped garlic)
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) ground black pepper

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

• Place the meat, ricotta, onion, breadcrumbs, herbs, egg, salt, garlic, and pepper in a large bowl and lightly toss to combine.

• Use a 1/4-cup trigger scoop to portion out dinner-sized meatballs, or a 1.5-tablespoon trigger scoop for appetizer-sized meatballs, placing them in an even layer in an oven-safe baking dish.

• Bake the meatballs until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (approx. 30 minutes for dinner-sized meatballs).

• Top with the sauce of your choice and enjoy!

Serving: 1meatball, Calories: 133kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.001g, Cholesterol: 47mg, Sodium: 233mg, Potassium: 69mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 462IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 73mg, Iron: 1mg