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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Easy Homemade Meatballs

    Updated: Apr 20, 2022 » This post may contain affiliate links » By: Megan » Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    These easy homemade meatballs are a delicious, oven baked recipe that use a traditional mix of ground beef and pork. They're a simple, classic way to make Italian meatballs that can be served on pasta, sandwiches, pizza, and more.

    Meatballs in a pan with sauce.

    About This Recipe

    These meatballs are the perfect pairing to marinara sauce, pizza, and even mashed potatoes! They're flavorful and versatile — the ultimate go-to recipe when you're craving meatballs or when you just need a quick dinner idea.

    This recipe is for classic Italian meatballs, complete with dried oregano and basil for flavor. They're a simple way to cook meatballs that always come out perfectly cooked and juicy.

    Plus, it's easy to make these meatballs: simply mix all of the ingredients together, form your meatballs and then bake them. You can also double the recipe and keep a batch frozen for a night when you don't feel like cooking.

    Meatballs in a bowl

    Ingredients

    The full recipe is at the bottom of this page, but here's a quick overview of what you'll need and how to make it:

    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 1 pound ground pork
    • ½ cup panko bread crumbs
    • ¼ cup whole milk
    • ¼ cup yellow onion, chopped
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper

    How to Make Homemade Meatballs

    Step 1: Preheat the oven

    Preheat the oven to 400°F.

    Step 2: Mix the meatballs

    In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together until well combined.

    Step 3: Form the meatballs

    Roll the meat mixture into balls. Use a cookie scoop or spoon to create balls that are about 1 ½ tablespoons each. Add the balls to a parchment paper lined or foil lined baking sheet. Place on baking sheet so that they are not touching. Bake in batches if needed.

    Step 4: Bake

    Bake the meatballs for 16 - 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F and the meatballs are cooked through.

    Step by step how to make meatballs.

    Ingredient Notes:

    Meat: this recipe is made with a classic mix of ground beef and ground pork. You can swap these out for 2 pounds of your preferred meat (ground sausage, chicken, turkey), but you may need to adjust the amount of milk and breadcrumbs that you add depending on the fat/moisture content of the meat.

    Breadcrumbs: panko or plain breadcrumbs work best for this recipe. If you don't have breadcrumbs you could crumble crackers or toast in a food processor.

    Seasonings: these meatballs use oregano and basil as seasonings, but feel free to experiment with any combination of basil, oregano or thyme. An Italian seasoning blend would also be tasty.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do you know if your meatballs are cooked?

    The meatballs should be cooked after 16 - 20 minutes in the oven at 400°F. They'll be lightly browned on top and should be cooked through with no pink in the middle and an internal temperature of 160°F.

    Can I make these meatballs dairy-free?

    Yes! To make them dairy-free: swap out the milk for a dairy-free alternative like almond or cashew milk.

    Meatballs in a bowl with a fork.

    Storage

    In the fridge: cool and store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 - 4 days.

    In the freezer: cool and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 - 4 months.

    How to Freeze Homemade Meatballs

    Frozen meatballs are a handy option to keep in your freezer for nights when you don't want to cook dinner!

    How to freeze homemade meatballs: to freeze your meatballs, let them come to room temperature and then add them to an airtight container and place them in the freezer. You can also freeze your meatballs on a baking sheet in a single layer and then transfer them to a container (like a ziploc bag) to prevent them from freezing together.

    To reheat: bake your frozen meatballs at 350° for 20 - 25 minutes (until they are heated through). Or let them thaw in the fridge overnight and then heat them on the stovetop or microwave before eating.

    How to Use Homemade Meatballs

    These meatballs can be used in lots of tasty ways! Their Italian flavor is subtle enough to make them a versatile addition to many different dishes.

    Here's a few ideas to get you started:

    • Add them to a soup
    • Make meatball subs
    • Slice them use as a pizza topping
    • Use them in a wrap or on a salad
    • Serve over mashed potatoes with gravy
    • Bake a pasta & meatball casserole

    Similar Recipes

    Looking for more meatball recipes? Here's our top 3 favorites:

    • Honey Sriracha Meatballs
    • Sweet and Sour Meatballs
    • Easy Baked Chicken Meatballs
    meatballs in pan with sauce
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    meatballs in pan with sauce

    Easy Homemade Meatballs


    • Author: Megan
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 30 - 35 meatballs 1x
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    These easy homemade meatballs are a delicious, oven baked recipe that use a traditional mix of ground beef and pork. They're a simple, classic way to make Italian meatballs that can be served on pasta, sandwiches, pizza, and more.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 1 pound ground pork
    • ½ cup panko bread crumbs
    • ¼ cup whole milk
    • ¼ cup yellow onion, chopped
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
    2. In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together until well combined.
    3. Roll the meat mixture into balls. Use a cookie scoop or spoon to create balls that are about 1 ½ tablespoons each. Add the balls to a parchment paper lined or foil lined baking sheet. Place on baking sheet so that they are not touching. Bake in batches if needed.
    4. Bake the meatballs for 16 - 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F and the meatballs are cooked through.
    5. Optionally, add the meatballs to a skillet of marinara sauce and serve over pasta. Other ideas for serving these meatballs: add to soups, wraps, salads, meatball subs, pasta, or sliced on pizza.  

    Notes

    • Forming the meatballs: lightly wet your hands before forming the meatballs to help prevent the mixture from sticking to your fingers.
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Category: Main Course
    • Method: Oven Baked
    • Cuisine: Italian

    Keywords: Italian, meatballs, beef, pork

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    Share a photo and tag us @her.wholesome.kitchen — we can't wait to see what you've made!

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    Hi, I'm Megan! I love to share easy salad recipes that taste amazing!

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