Best Italian Oven Baked Meatballs Recipe + Video

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Our oven baked meatballs are so tender and juicy – they are the best meatballs you’ll ever have! Skip the mess of pan frying make this baked meatball recipe!

titled (shown close up) oven baked meatballs


 

There aren’t many meals that are easier to make than homemade meatballs in the oven, and there are so many ways to enjoy them!

Oven Baked Meatballs

Our family’s favorite baked meatballs are made with bread crumbs and loaded with fresh herbs and parmesan cheese, and the best way to make them is the oven.

You’ll have SO much less mess making them this way than with a skillet of oil.

For this easy meatball recipe, we make them small enough to serve as an appetizer, but flavorful enough to use in subs or for meatball soup!

Or, make a simple roasted tomato sauce or quick 5-minute marinara to serve with them with a plate of pasta.

But honestly, there is truly no need for sauce. Oven baked meatballs are tender and juicy, even without spaghetti sauce!

This is a simple, no-fuss recipe that makes a magnificent comfort food meal.

When I make this recipe we literally eat them off the sheet pan. We just can’t wait, they are that good!

baked meatballs recipe ingredients in a bowl

Tips for the Best Meatballs

Don’t over mix! 
Use your hands to incorporate the ingredients into the meat mixture in a large mixing bowl until they are JUST combined.

Over mixing will cause your baked meatballs to be tough and dry.

You can even use a wooden spoon, some people feel that this is the perfect way to make juicy meatballs, but I am old school.

Substitute dry herbs. 
You can use dry herbs and spices in place of the fresh parsley, rosemary and basil if needed. Use the following measurements for this baked meatball recipe:

  • 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning for the fresh herbs
  • One teaspoon garlic powder for the fresh garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder for the grated onion
ground beef breadcrumbs egg milk and seasonings in mixing bowl
  • Use a scoop to portion your meatball mixture. 
    Not only does this guarantee uniform-size meatballs, but it also ensures that they cook evenly. Plus, handling them less helps to prevent dry meatballs.
  • Oil your hands. 
    If you lightly coat your hands with olive oil or cooking spray before rolling the meatballs, they will form better and crack less.
  • Bake meatballs on parchment paper. It makes for even cooking and easy cleanup, not to mention juicy meatballs!
rolling meatball mixture between hands

Baked Meatball Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to cook meatballs in the oven? 

Depending on the oven temperature and size of the meatballs, they cook in about 20-25 minutes. For our baked meatball recipe we use a temperature of 375°F so they cook faster and each meatball is perfectly browned.

You can check the internal temperature of your meat with an instant-read thermometer. Ground beef is cooked when it reaches an internal temp of 155°F.

Should you cover meatballs with foil when baking? 

We recommend leaving the pan uncovered. Covering the meatballs causes steam to form, which prevents the deliciously crisp exterior that you get with direct heat from the oven.

Covering them with foil can help when reheating, but you will still want to remove it during the last few minutes of cook time in the oven.

How do you keep meatballs moist when baking? 

The key is in the preparation! Make sure to handle the meat as little as possible and mix the ingredients just until combined.

Binders like egg and breadcrumbs help to hold in the moisture and keeps each meatball tender and moist.

Can I substitute any other meat?

I love making this recipe with half ground pork and half ground beef, but there are so many other options. You could use Italian sausage, ground chicken or even ground turkey but keep an eye on your fat content.

italian meatballs on baking sheet, before baking

Prep Ahead Instructions

To help dinner come together even faster, prep all of your ingredients in the morning and combine them when you get home.

You can also shape meatballs up to a day ahead of time and store them covered in the refrigerator. Or, freeze a batch or two for a quick and easy meal.

oven baked meatballs cooking on sheet pan

How To Store Oven Baked Meatballs

Allow leftovers to cool before transferring them to an airtight container. These baked Italian meatballs will keep for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.

Reheat meatballs in the oven for about 15 minutes at 350°F or in the microwave until warmed through.

You can also make a few batches of this baked meatball recipe and freeze them for a later meal!

Oven baked meatballs can be frozen raw or cooked, depending on your preference.

  • To freeze raw meatballs: Arrange in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet.

    Flash freeze them for 1 hour, until firm, then store in a freezer bag or airtight container.
  • To freeze baked meatballs: Once cooled, divide into meal-sized portions and place each batch in a freezer-safe storage bag.

    You can also flash freeze them and store them all together. This way, they won’t stick together so you can grab as many (or as few) as you need!

No need to thaw — you can cook meatballs in the oven from frozen! Arrange on a sheet pan and bake or simmer in sauce on the stove until warmed through.

meatball appetizers in bowl

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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italian herb oven baked meatballs on platter

baked meat balls on platter

Best Italian Oven Baked Meatballs Recipe + Video

Donna Elick
Our oven baked meatballs are so tender and juicy – the best you'll ever have! Skip the mess of pan frying- make this baked meatball recipe!
4.92 stars from 12 reviews
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main
Cuisine Italian
Method Oven
Servings 18 meatballs (2 tablespoons)

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound lean ground beef, I use 88%
  • 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 small yellow onion, grated (or minced)
  • 2 tablespoons marinara sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, or dried (see notes)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, or dried (see notes)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil, or dried (see notes)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 large egg, slightly beaten

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well, but do not over mix or you will have tough meatballs.
  • Using a 2 tablespoon scoop, portion out meat and place on baking sheet. After all meatballs have been scooped onto tray, roll into balls and place back onto the baking sheet.
    TIP: If you lightly coat your hands with olive oil before rolling the meatballs, they will form better and crack less.
  • Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the meatballs are browned and cooked through.
  • Remove and transfer to sauce or serve immediately.

Video

Donna’s Notes

  1. You can substitute dried herbs and spices for fresh. 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning for the fresh herbs, 1 teaspoon garlic powder for the fresh garlic, 1 teaspoon onion powder for the fresh onion.
  2. Nutrition shown is for ONE meatball so that you can adjust serving sizes accordingly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 meatball | Calories: 59cal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 162mg | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled pinterest collage: baked meatballs recipe

Originally published September 2013, updated and republished October 2023

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213 Comments

  1. I love ribeyes too! I've made a homemade southwestern rub for them, and I put them on a warm (not hot) plate for a few minutes even after setting them out to "temp up"… oh yum! We are currently getting a lot of beef from Mexico, (we live just outside Del Rio) and it's pretty good but a bit lean for steaks. I would LOVE to win 1 of these and try this beef!

  2. I love ribeyes too! I've made a homemade southwestern rub for them, and I put them on a warm (not hot) plate for a few minutes even after setting them out to "temp up"… oh yum! We are currently getting a lot of beef from Mexico, (we live just outside Del Rio) and it's pretty good but a bit lean for steaks. I would LOVE to win 1 of these and try this beef!

  3. Love Filet Mignon but the way my hubby cooks it has spoiled me for those served in restaurants.

    All these meatball recipes look so yummy, Can't wait to try some.

  4. Just took a triple batch of the meatballs out of the oven. The smell wafting through the house is amazing! I baked them for 20 minutes and they came out perfectly cooked! Thanks for the recipe!

  5. I made these & homemade Gnocchi for a side. My meatballs came out a little salty, so I would probably reduce or eliminate the salt. Other than that…THESE WERE SO DELICIOUS!! Thank you for sharing the recipe.

  6. My family & I just finished eating these incredible meatballs. I've been making the same recipe for years (in a pan), never again. I doubled the recipe using 1lb ground round & 1lb lean ground turkey. I had to cook them longer waiting for kids to get home & they were still awesome. Try the first one without sauce, you may decide to not use sauce at all. Fabulous!

  7. These are delicious! So easy to put together and very tasty. We loved them and will be making them again. No frozen meatballs even again!

  8. I tried this tonight and it was super easy! I didn't have breadcrums so I used seasoned croutons. I also substituted the parsley for thyme. My marinara had onion in it and we don't like parmesan cheese (weird I know), but it still came out great! Thanks 🙂

  9. Guess my brain is catching up to my age. Did I miss something? Was looking for comments on meatballs and instead LOTS on different steaks.

  10. I was looking for a meatball recipe and I stumbled upon this one. Quite a lot of herbs are thrown in to prepare a meatball I see. Next time I buy frozen meatballs from supermarket, I would be thanking the chef for preparing such a delicate thing for us to have.

  11. You can also add about 1/4. To 1/2 cup of red wine to the mix it will be good also add the wine to your sauce

  12. That's how my Mom cooked them, so I do too. When you do it this way you can freeze extras. If you have any
    Lol We used to sneak them off the cookie sheet before they even got near the sauce. I can still hear my Mom telling us to go pick the basligo and parsley out of the garden.

  13. I made these meatballs last night. They were amazing. They had a great flavor even before I added sauce. They came out nice and juicy. Best meatball recipe I have tried.

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