Baked Italian Meatballs are made with two types of ground meat and Italian seasoning for big flavor! It’s an easy recipe that cooks in 20 minutes. Loads of ways to use them and freeze them too!
You’ll love this easy baked meatballs recipe.
They are moist and delicious. Add them to marinara sauce or tomato sauce with pasta and dinner is ready.
This great recipe will become a family favorite.
Recipe Ingredients + Notes
Ground Beef – use 80% lean ground beef. Fat equals flavor and helps keep the meatballs from drying out. This isn’t the time to use ultra lean ground. AND if you are concerned about fat, use cooking method 1 so the fat renders and drains away.
Bulk Mild Italian Sausage – adding Italian sausage gives these meatballs so much more flavor and keeps them moist.
Use ground or ‘bulk’ sausage, not slicing sausage. If you cannot buy the sausage in bulk, buy uncooked Italian sausages and removed the casings to use the meat.
Bread crumbs – breadcrumbs along with the eggs bind the meat mixture together. Store bought or homemade breadcrumbs may be used. Regular OR gluten-free breadcrumbs can be used.
Milk – I recommend whole milk.
Eggs
Grated Parmesan Cheese – use fresh shredded Parmesan cheese found in the dairy department versus the finely grated powdery consistency cheese.
Italian Parsley
Garlic Cloves
Italian Seasoning – all the favorite Italian spices in one blend.
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – this gives a little boost to the flavor without making the meatballs spicy.
Salt – I use Kosher Salt which is a less salty tasting salt.
How to make Baked Meatballs – Step-by-Step
It’s so easy to make these meatballs in the oven!
STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet. Fit it with a wire rack (method 1) or lined with parchment paper (method 2).
STEP 2: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl (photos 1-3). Using a mixing spoon or clean hands, mix everything together (photo 4).
STEP 3: Roll mixture into 2-inch diameter meatballs (photo 5). PRO TIP: use a cookie scoop to make this step faster. All the meatballs will be the same size (better for even cooking).
STEP 4: Bake the meatballs for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F (photo 6).
Refer to the Two Ways to Cook Them section below. Cooking method 2 shown below.
Two Ways to Cook Italian Meatballs
There are two ways to bake meatballs.
Method 1: RECOMMENDED. Fit a rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack sprayed with non-stick spray.
This allows air to circulate all around the meatball as it cooks. Any rendered fat will drip into the baking sheet below and the meatball will not sit in it.
Lining the baking sheet with foil makes for fast, easy clean-up too!
Method 2: They can be baked on a parchment paper lined rimmed baking sheet. This works well too however the meatballs will bake in any rendered fat.
How to Use Baked Meatballs
In spaghetti sauce with cooked pasta
In sandwiches on a bun with some sauce
On top of Mashed Potatoes
What to Serve with Them
- Homemade Garlic Bread
- Fast & Easy Meat Lasagna
- Hearty Vegetable Cabbage Soup
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Chicken Parmesan Sliders
- Italian Cream Cake
How to Store
Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
See below for freezing options.
How to Freeze the Meatballs
A big convenience is making these meatballs for future use. They can be cooked then frozen. OR frozen before cooking too!
Freezing Cooked Meatballs
- Prepare meatballs as directed and allow to fully cool after cooking.
- Place meatballs on a parchment lined rimmed baking sheet with an inch minimum in between each one.
- Place in the freeze to freeze until firm; aproximately 2 hours.
- Put the frozen meatballs into a freezer-safe plastic bag marked with the date.
Reheating Frozen Cooked Meatballs
- Remove as needed and mircowave for 1-2 minutes until heated through.
Freezing Meatballs BEFORE Cooking
- Prepare the meatballs but do not cook.
- Place on a parchment lined rimmed baking sheet with one inch in between each one.
- Place in the freezer until firm; approximately 1-2 hours.
- Put the frozen meatballs in a freezer-safe container or plastic bag marked with the date. Put back in the freezer until using.
Cooking Frozen (Uncooked) Meatballs
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or with a rack as described in the recipe card. Add frozen uncooked meatballs.
- Bake the meatballs for 30 minutes or until the inside if no longer pink and temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
How Long Can Meatballs be Frozen?
Up to 4 months.
More Recipes You’ll Love!
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Thai Chicken Meatballs
- Mini Taco Meatballs {appetizer}
- Halloween Turkey Meatballs
- Easy Sticky Asian Meatballs recipe
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Cathy says
The Italian Sausage makes such a delicious difference!
Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says
This is SO good!! Made it last night and everyone loved it! Thanks!
wilhelmina says
We all love these meatballs! So dang easy and delicious, they make a great family meal!
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes says
Such a great meatball recipe! I am so excited to try these!
Gervin Khan says
All ingredients are available in my kitchen so I am ready to make this recipe for everyone, so excited! Delicious!
Catalina says
You just gave me a great idea for dinner tonight. Sounds easy and delicious. My family will love it!
Lisa Joy Thompson says
I’ve never baked my meatballs on a wire rack. I’ll have to try this! I always do mine on parchment paper.
Fatima Torres says
I’d love to recreate this recipe for my dad. He loves homemade meatballs.
Dorothy Reinhold says
This is the perfect meatball! I am going to make a double batch, so they are ready to go anytime I need them! So many great options.
Kathy says
Those look great. Its been a while since I’ve made meatballs. These ones look like they would be really good too. I’m saving this to make later. I can’t wait to give these a try.
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
Yum!!! These Baked Italian Meatballs are such a great dinner idea. Love it.
Lindsay Cotter says
These meatballs were so delicious! I’ll be making them again for sure!
Allyson Zea says
This is such an easy recipe to make it home! I love that I can make these and not buy frozen!
Kerri says
I love making a big batch of these and freezing a few batches for later. Homemade meatballs are always so much better than store bought!
TARA PITTMAN says
I do like easy recipes. This is something that I need to make for dinner
Dannii says
You can’t beat a comforting meatball dish. These look amazing, and the sauce looks perfet.
rika says
My kids love meatballs! I am going to serve these meatballs with pasta for lunch! Yum!
Jessica Formicola says
This looks like the BEST meatball recipe! I have everything on hand that I need to make them for dinner tonight!
sapna choudhary says
This is nice and awesome thanks for share us.Fantastic Blog…I will definitly share your blog with other people.Thank you
kim says
This recipe was fabulous! It was super easy and so tasty. My whole family enjoyed and I’ll definitely be making again!
Brianne says
I love that these are baked rather than pan cooked. It cuts down on the spatter mess, and it makes it so much easier. Great recipe.
Heather says
These meatlballs are so good and flavorful! We love them with spaghetti squash.
katerina @ diethood.com says
My family would love these! And I LOVE how easy, healthy and delicious they are!! The perfect weeknight meal!
Lauren Kelly says
I absolutely love this recipe. I was surprised how delicious the meatballs were from baking them!