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

  • Love these baked meatballs. I use romano cheese and add fresh parsley. So easy and tasty. We use them as snacks or meatball subs.

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  • 5 stars
    tasty & so easy in the oven. Put them in thickened onion gravy.

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    • 5 stars
      We love these meatballs. Have made these many times (Doubled) and freeze half for another day. Seasoning level is perfect, not too salty, great to add to many other dishes. We are quite fussy and many others are over spiced /salted. These are JUST RIGHT.

      • Reply
  • This was such a great recipe. I’m a 45 year-old make and always wanted to make meatballs. I Thought it was as easy as seasoning a rolling ground meat, but wow these left my wife drooling!!

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  • 5 stars
    Pretty nice. I vary this recipe with some roasted sesame oil (Asian) or a Mexican Lime pepper seasoning. I will try the smoked Chicken bombs with a cube of cheese sometime. Thanks for your helpful tips.

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  • Can’t wait to make this I remember my Dad used chop meat, fresh garlic, salt,peppers, grated cheese, chop parsley,soaked bread, and put in flour then fried but it’s so much more healthier baking will try baking them hope it’s moist

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  • 5 stars
    These were so easy and good!! The only thing I would add is some Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme and oregano! I did add onion and were not milk drinkers and I had ripple half and half so I used that. I also halved the recipe. Another idea I had after tasting them is instead of making meatballs, you could make mini hamburger patties for sliders and serve that as a heavy appetizer one night with friends for an easy and delicious get together.

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  • These are amazing. I’ve made these 3 times already. Third time we ate 1/2 and I froze 1/2. Still amazing when thawed. I’m going to make some today, this time I’m going to add them to the sauce instead of keeping them separate.

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  • 5 stars
    Followed the recipe and they turned out great. Next time, might add some onion. Turned out great baking in the oven exactly as noted in the recipe. Will never fry meatballs again. I recently started cooking bacon the same way in the oven and will never cook it on the stovetop again. No grease splatter and so easy to clean up.

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  • 5 stars
    These meatballs were delicious. I tweaked the recipe just a bit. I reduced the parmesean cheese from 1/2 c to about 1/3 c, added about 1/2 c. finely chopped onion, about a TBS of parsley

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  • 5 stars
    Thank you. Nice recipe. If using ground turkey, I sometimes add sauted spinach to the mix … yummy! (The only thing I don’t like is the scummy film left at the bottom of the meatball once baked … it’s probably the fat run off.)

    • Reply
    • My grand daughters wanted to make meatballs, so I pulled together the ingredients we had in the house. We mixed ground beef and turkey. Added Lightly sautéed fresh finely chopped onions, bell peppers and garlic; 2 eggs, crumbs from Cheetos Crackers, 1/2 cup pasta sauce plus salt & pepper. Formed and baked as recipe YUM

      • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Thank-you for this recipe! I made changes based on what I had. I used 1 lb ground turkey, 1 lb Italian sausage, & fresh shredded parmesan, rest per recipe. I added ½ c grated onion. Made 30 meatballs. Baked per recipe, final internal temp was well > 165°F. They are so good!!

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    • Excellent recipe. Delicious! So darn easy. No chopping garlic or onions.
      No frying in grease so they’re even healthier. This is now my go-to recipe for meatballs & I always give you Steve Cylka the credit. Thanks so much!
      Bonnie

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  • Yummy! So easy to make, I added my sweet and sour sauce, this meatball recipe is a keeper.

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  • I buy dinos raw meatballs… And I to would stand and fry… This was great I did turn them once to get browned on both sides… And made a fast easy meatball sub! So thank you 🙂

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  • I had never “baked” my meatballs. Like you described, I stood and fried them…what a chore. I came by your method, and decided to try it. I used my own recipe (my Grandmother’s), but I’ll never fry a meatball ever again, and when I make them again, I will try your recipe!

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    • So glad you liked the meatballs baked Carol! It is so easy and the way I make them all the time now. 🙂

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  • I do this all the time with venison and its my daughters 19 birthday she wanted this it’s her favorite,I added onions and a little more spice but basically the same,we pou a grape jelly and req enchilada sauce over and serve with potatoes broccoli whatever became a family tradition

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  • 5 stars
    Made this today and it was FAST and so flavorful. Thank you!!

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    • Thanks so much! So glad you liked them!!

      • Reply
  • 5 stars
    For the commenters asking about freezing the meatballs and then reheating them: The way I do it is I cook all of the meatballs and then freeze what I am not going to eat. When I want to eat what I froze, I thaw them in the refrigerator and then heat them up in the microwave.

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    • This is exactly what I do when I freeze some. Works great!

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  • 5 stars
    Great recipe! I’m going to try it! In case I freeze part of the batch (uncooked meatballs) and use it in a few weeks, I wonder if the meatballs need thawing time on the counter or if they can go right into the oven…? Thanks.

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Made these over the weekend for meatball sandwiches. Easy and delicious. I will freeze the extras for another time. Thanks for a great recipe.

    • Reply
    • I was just thinking of doing the same thing! Freezing the extras!! How will you warm them up from the freezer? I’ve never tried that before! Thank you tons!

      • Reply
  • I love your meatball recipe I also add an chopped up onion and green pepper., Then I add them to my spagetti sauce in the crock pot on low over night and all the sauce seeps into the meatballs and are so good. I also bake Italian sausage cut those up and throw them into the sauce. Cook up some pasta and Mmmmm great meat ♥️♥️♥️

    • Reply
    • Thanks so much! So glad you like the recipe.

      • Reply

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