These Baked Meatballs are made with all beef, they’re SO EASY to make, and this recipe uses only a handful of ingredients you probably already have on hand. Serve them with spaghetti and red sauce, use them for Italian meatball subs, and more! PLUS, they’re freezable.
If you’re looking for the PERFECT meatball, you have to try these easy baked meatballs. They’re so versatile, and they’re such a great comfort food.
My kids loved them, and since this recipe makes a lot we were able to enjoy them all week long!
And I love using 100% ground beef for this recipe. These meatballs are pork free, veal free, sausage free… it’s a lot easier (and cheaper) to make meatballs when you aren’t messing with a bunch of different kinds of meat!
There are a few secrets to making PERFECT fluffy meatballs that are moist and juicy, don’t fall apart, and are packed with yummy Italian flavor.
Tricks for the fluffiest, juiciest, most flavorful baked meatballs
- Use GRATED fresh onion (plus the juices from grating it). This will ensure the flavor of the onion will imbibe the entire meatball, and chunks of onion won’t disrupt the fluffy texture or cause them to fall apart.
- Make the binder first, then add the meat. This will ensure the breadcrumbs absorb all the flavors, as well as ensure you don’t have to handle the meat as much which can make meatballs tough.
- Use your hands to add the meat to the mixture. A spoon may cause the meat to be over-mixed and result in dense meatballs.
- Use a cookie or ice cream scoop to form the meatballs. This will ensure they’re evenly sized and fluffy.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Here are the ingredients you’ll need for these all-beef baked meatballs. You only need a handful, and you probably already have most of them on hand!
- Beef- I prefer 80/20 for the juiciest meatballs, but you can use lean if you prefer. You can also use this recipe method for making meatballs with other kinds of ground meat- turkey, chicken, pork, etc., but final results will vary.
- Onion and Garlic- You’ll definitely need a fresh onion, but you can use garlic powder instead of minced fresh garlic if you like.
- Dried oregano- You can use fresh instead (and double the amount), or use Italian seasoning in place of it.
- Breadcrumbs- I used regular, plain, unseasoned breadcrumbs for this. You can use panko if you prefer, and you can also use gluten-free meatballs. If you use Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, you may want to omit the oregano in this recipe, and omit or decrease the amount of salt and pepper.
- Eggs- These are necessary in this recipe to get the fluffiest meatballs that hold together really well.
- Milk- I prefer whole for the juiciest meatballs, but 2% would also work, and skim in a pinch. You can use a dairy-free milk substitute if you want, but the meatballs may not be quite as juicy.
Here’s a dairy-free, egg-free, wheat-free meatball recipe, if you need it!
How to make baked meatballs
- First, make the binding mixture. Start with grating an onion, and adding it plus any accumulated juices to a large bowl with breadcrumbs, milk, egg, salt, pepper, minced garlic, and dried oregano. Stir until the breadcrumbs are completely saturated.
- Then, add the beef. I recommend using your hands to mix it up so you know everything is evenly distributed without handling the beef TOO much (which can result in tough, dense meatballs).
- Then, form the meatballs. I like to use a large disher scoop for this, so the meatballs are fluffy and evenly sized. You can use a smaller scoop if you prefer, or just form them with your hands.
- Place them on a baking sheet and bake until cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
Freezer instructions
You can freeze these meatballs for 3-4 months for the best quality (but they will still be safe after that).
Place the cooked meatballs on a baking sheet or plate, and freeze for about 30 minutes. This is called flash freezing, and will ensure the meatballs don’t stick together.
Once they’re flash frozen, place them in a plastic freezer bag or airtight container to store in your freezer.
You can bake frozen meatballs at 350 for about 20-30 minutes. But for best results, I recommend defrosting them first, then reheating them so they don’t overcook.
You can also add frozen meatballs directly to spaghetti sauce in a pot, or to crockpot meatball recipes, or directly to soups!
Ways to use cooked meatballs
- Make Meatball Lo-Mein
- Use them in soup, like this Italian Spinach, Orzo, and Meatball Soup
- Make meatball subs
- Add them to pizza
- Make spaghetti and meatballs
- Serve small meatballs as an appetizer with marinara as a dip or make sweet and spicy party meatballs in your crockpot.
Other all-beef meatball recipes
- Keftedes (Greek Meatballs)
- Jamaican Jerk Meatballs
- African Meatballs
- Korean Beef Bulgogi Meatballs
- Moroccan Lamb (or beef) Meatballs
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Easy Baked Meatballs (all beef)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup milk preferably whole
- 2 eggs
- 1 yellow onion grated, plus any juices
- 1 clove garlic grated on a microplane zester
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 lbs. ground beef preferably 80/20
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs (1/2 cup), milk (1/2 cup), eggs (2), grated onion plus the juices, minced garlic (1 clove), dried oregano (2 teaspoons), kosher salt (1 teaspoon), and black pepper (1/2 teaspoon) until everything is uniformly wet.
- Add the ground beef (2 lbs) and mix until everything is just combined. Try not to overwork it. Mixing with your hands is best, but you can use a spoon if you don't like handling raw meat.
- Using a large cookie/ice cream scoop, scoop the meatball mixture onto a rimmed baking sheet (alternatively, you can form the meatballs with your hands).
- Bake the meatballs in the center of the oven at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until internal temperature is at least 160 degrees.
- Serve the meatballs with sauce and grated parmesan cheese on top of pasta, in subs, in a salad, or however you like!
Notes
- You can make small meatballs using a smaller scoop or forming them with your hands. If you do this, you may need two rimmed baking sheets and less baking time. I recommend baking for 20-25 minutes, and rotating the baking sheets from the bottom to top rack halfway through baking if both don’t fit on the center rack.
- To freeze, arrange cooked meatballs on a baking sheet or plate and place in freezer for about 30 minutes to flash freeze. Remove to a zip-top bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 4 months for best quality.
- To use lean ground beef, I recommend coating the bottom of your baking sheet with a coat of olive oil to avoid sticking.
- For easier clean-up, line your baking sheet with foil.
Nutrition
Nutrition Information Disclaimer
The provided nutrition information is my best estimate and reflects one serving of the recipe (total servings indicated at top of recipe card). It does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. I use an automatic API to calculate this information. Feel free to calculate it yourself using one of these tools:
Renee Riehl
I have to say that grating the vegetables is a game changer. No mater how small I diced them up before, they made the meatballs broke apart easy. I did opt for a shallot, celery, and yellow bell pepper; making sure to discard the skin and Tiberius parts that didn’t break down. I also used a trick when baking that I learned a while back. I cook the meatballs in paper egg crate trays. They absorb the grease and the little pockets keep the meatballs together until they set-up during baking. I put one meatball in every other cup and after the tops have gotten good and browned, I use a spoon and lift them out, turn them over, and put them in one of the clean cups. I bake until this side is browned.
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it! Love the tips you shared – thanks!
ripon hassan
You have really made and described the recipe so nicely that it helped me so much. I am looking forward for more of such delicious recipes in future too.
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it!
Mark
These were the best meatballs I have ever made. Would like them a little more seared on the outside. Going to shorten the bake time and finish with the broiler next time. Also will experiment with herbs and cheese. The frozen ones were great reheated I’m sauce. I’m on a meatball kick. Thanks!!
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked them! Broiling will definitely help with that. I’d cook for about 5 minutes shorter, then broil for 3-5 minutes to get a nice brown on top. Keep an eye out for a new recipe soon for chicken zucchini meatballs – SO much better than they sound! I’m a meatball fanatic.
Rebecca Braswell
Have you ever tried these in a croc pot?
Elizabeth Lindemann
I haven’t, but you definitely could! They wouldn’t have any browning on the outside, but if that doesn’t matter, I would just grease the crockpot, add the meatballs, and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4. You can also add marinara sauce and cook the meatballs directly in the sauce. If you try it this way I’d love to know how it comes out!
Kimberly
I baked mine in a 425 degree over for 30 minutes then put them in the crock pot for 4 hours with the Mariana sauce they are delicious and the outside of them are brown
Elizabeth Lindemann
Thanks for sharing this! I’m surprised they held up so well in the crockpot for such a long time – this is great to know!
Jen
Made these last night and it was delicious!
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it!
Josie Tavone
May I recommend adding finely minced Italian parsley which is always added by Italian to make them completely authentic. Makes a big difference 😊 in flavor.
I am classically trained but learned all about Italian cooking from my ancestors starting my love of cooking as a child always watching/learning from my Italian grandmother in the late 1940s early 50s (bless her Soul 😇). Just came upon your website and can’t wait to try some of your recipes.😊.
Happy Christmas 🎄, Josie
Elizabeth Lindemann
Yum – I’ll definitely try the parsley next time! Merry Christmas to you as well :-)
Lisa Lindemann
I’m going to make these! They sound easy, and delicious..and that’s right up my alley.😊 Plus, I love meat balls, on pasta, and in a sandwich. Thanks for the recipe! 🍝
Elizabeth Lindemann
Yay! Hope you like them, and you’ll have to let me know how they turn out :-)
Jen
Made these last night and it was delicious!
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it!