How to Bake Meatballs in the Oven

Oven baked meatballs are by far the easiest way to cook meatballs. Not only can you cook a lot all at the same time, you can also ensure that they are all cooked evenly throughout and that all of the meatballs are cooked the same. It is also nice that you do not need to hover over the skillet, flipping the meatballs. Instead, while they are baking in the oven, you can work on other parts of the meal.

For years I used to cook them in a skillet and, while using a skillet is a perfectly fine way to cook meatballs, once I learned how to bake them in the oven, I never turned back.

Cooking meatballs has never been easier than baking them in the oven. A simple recipe for meatballs that can be used in spaghetti sauce, with honey garlic sauce, for swedish meatballs and more!

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.

Cooking meatballs has never been easier than baking them in the oven. A simple recipe for meatballs that can be used in spaghetti sauce, with honey garlic sauce, for swedish meatballs and more!

Knead the meat mixture so that everything is evenly mixed together.

Cooking meatballs has never been easier than baking them in the oven. A simple recipe for meatballs that can be used in spaghetti sauce, with honey garlic sauce, for swedish meatballs and more!

Roll the meat mixture into 1 1/2 inch meatballs and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I love parchment paper because it ensures that the meatballs do not stick to the baking sheet and it also makes clean up easier.

Oven baked meatball recipe

Bake in a 400F oven until cooked through, about 20-24 minutes. The meatballs should all be evenly cooked and nicely browned on the outside.

Cooking meatballs has never been easier than baking them in the oven. A simple recipe for meatballs that can be used in spaghetti sauce, with honey garlic sauce, for swedish meatballs and more!

Once done, they can be used in spaghetti sauce and topped on noodles, tossed with honey garlic sauce and served as an appetizer. I also love these in a meatball sub with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese!

Oven baked meatball recipe

We love meatballs and use them in a lot of different recipes. Baking the meatballs in the oven works for pretty much every recipe that uses cooked meatballs. Once they are baked, they can be added to the dish.

Recipes with Meatballs!

I also love cooking meatballs in our smoker and here are a bunch of meatball recipes prepared for grilling or smoking.

How to Bake Meatballs in the Oven

Cooking meatballs has never been easier than baking them in the oven. A simple recipe for meatballs that can be used in spaghetti sauce, with honey garlic sauce, for swedish meatballs and more!
4.98 out of 5
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Cooking meatballs has never been easier than baking them in the oven. A simple recipe for meatballs that can be used in spaghetti sauce, with honey garlic sauce, for swedish meatballs and more!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 39 minutes
Servings: 28 meatballs

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • In a lage bowl, mix all the ingredients together.  Knead the mixture with your hands until thoroughly combined. 
  • Roll into 1 1/2 inch meatballs and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 
  • Bake in the oven at 400F until cooked through, about 20-24 minutes.

Nutrition

Per serving:

Calories: 69kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 8gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 160mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g

Nutrition Disclaimer

Oven baked meatball recipe

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167 comments

  • 5 stars
    This simple and easy recipe changed the way I make meatballs forever. I will never cook them in a pan again! I also make this modified for my dogs. They agree…baked is better.

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  • 5 stars
    Found this recipe about a year ago. We love it. The meatballs are moist and delicious.

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  • 5 stars
    The only meatball recipe we ever make! Family favorite for spaghetti dinner and then leftovers for meatball subs. Amazing!

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  • 5 stars
    Love these meatballs. So easy for big crowds, and so many options to flavor with sauces. We make these a lot for Sunday dinners with the family.

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  • I have made this recipe a few times. It is great but I added some onion powder and Italian seasoning and since I follow a carnivore diet I use crushed Chicharones instead of bread crumbs.

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  • 5 stars
    I -put 1 onion, garlic, and parsley in the food processor blitzed a couple of times added that to the meat breadcrumbs, parmesan and eggs salt and pepper made 40 balls, roasted half and froze half. Perfect with a rich tomato sauce. So much easier than trying to fry them.

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  • 5 stars
    Great recipe! I just add some chopped onion sometimes and a bit more garlic but they always come out delicious! Great to have some in the freezer !Just gave the recipe to our niece that’s heading off to college so she can make them for herself,we had some while she came to visit and she loved them too!

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  • 5 stars
    I followed your recipe ingredients and cooking time but changed up the mixing process and they were absolutely perfect. I mixed milk and eggs and breadcrumbs and spices together in separate bowl and let them rest for about 15 minutes and then added them together with hamburger so I wouldn’t be squishing them a lot because I had heard kneading them a lot makes them tougher and they were by far the best meatballs I’ve ever made or eaten. I also had a pan of ice water near and after rolling two meatballs I would put my hands in ice water and then roll again.

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  • 5 stars
    This is a great recipe however, I highly recommend adding 1/2 cup of fresh finely chopped parsley! It really make a difference. I flash freeze them and take out a few at a time since it went from a family of five to just the two of us!

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    • I add parsley, too. I soak stale bread in milk and squeeze it out before adding. Also, a bit of dried basil.

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  • 5 stars
    I made these exactly like the recipe and they were amazing!!

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  • 5 stars
    Made these with half pork half beef, 1 small sautéed minced onion and two cloves of minced garlic. Also 4 tbsp of finely chopped fresh parsley. Used my small kitchen scoop to keep the size uniform. Came out great!

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  • 5 stars
    Am Italian but have never baked my meatballs in the oven. I halved everything as I only had 1 lb. of ground beef (80/20). I left out the milk since Italians don’t use it but used 2 eggs. Otherwise very good. Next time I’ll try minced garlic instead of garlic powder and adding some minced parsley. This is so much easer than pan frying with olive oil on the stove. No splatter and clean up! Thanks, Steve!

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    • Glad you liked it! I always bake my meatballs. So much easier that frying.

  • Am Italian but have never baked my meatballs in the oven. I halved everything as I only had 1 lb. of ground beef (80/20). I left out the milk since Italians don’t use it but used 2 eggs. Otherwise very good. Next time I’ll try minced garlic instead of garlic powder and adding some minced parsley. This is so much easer than pan frying with olive oil on the stove. No splatter and clean up!

    • Reply
  • Baked meatballs for the first time in an oven. So much better than frying! Meatballs seem that they don’t break up as easy when put in gravy(sauce)when baked compared to frying!

    • Reply

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