25 Best Meatball Recipes

Add some fun to your weekly menu with this collection of delicious meatball recipes! Whether you buy pre-made or prefer homemade meatballs, there are endless ways to enjoy them. From a classic and hearty meatball sub to lighter turkey meatballs and everything in between, you and the family can enjoy a totally different take on this yummy staple every night of the week!

Feeling stuck in a dinner rut? This collection of meatball recipes is a great way to shake up your routine without spending hours in the kitchen!

While meatballs probably make you think of a few staple meals, they’re actually a super versatile ingredient. Stick to classics like Swedish meatballs or meatball subs, try mouthwatering Salisbury steak meatballs or mozzarella stuffed meatballs, or keep it light with turkey or pesto chicken meatballs.

No matter what flavor you’re in the mood for or what ingredients you happen to have on hand, I can pretty much guarantee you’ll find the perfect recipe in this list. Let’s get rolling!

1. Basic Meatball Recipe

If you’re craving a classic, you can’t beat the simple combination of ground beef, Panko bread crumbs, and a little onion for a simple homemade meatball recipe! Plus, these tasty bites are baked in the oven on a baking sheet, which means you don’t have to worry about baby-sitting them on the stove. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce, BBQ sauce, and more.

2. Meatloaf Meatballs

Treat yourself to all the deliciousness of meatloaf rolled up into easy-to-make meatballs! The veggies and spices give each one the perfect amount of flavor for a dish the whole family is sure to love.

3. Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs

Swap out the ground beef for leaner, high-protein turkey for a simple recipe that’s great for an easy dinner or meal prep! Best of all, you only need a few ingredients and about 30 minutes to make these ground turkey meatballs.

4. Porcupine Meatballs

Don’t worry, no porcupines were harmed in the making of this recipe! These meatballs are made with rice so that as they cook, the rice sticks out of the meatball like a porcupine quill. Served with a red sauce, your kids are sure to love this one!

5. Meatball Bombs

What do you get when you combine biscuit dough, meatballs, string cheese, and a little pizza sauce? If you answered a “bomb” appetizer or family meal, you are correct! This one is great for pre-made or leftover meatballs.

6. Parmesan Pesto Chicken Meatballs

Looking for a different kind of flavor for your meatballs? Ground chicken, shredded Parmesan, pesto, egg, Panko crumbs, and milk makes for a lighter dish that will still have everyone asking for seconds!

7. Meatballs With Cranberry BBQ Sauce

Who said the turkey and cranberry combination is only for Thanksgiving? These delicious turkey meatballs are baked to juicy perfection and then tossed in a cranberry and brown-sugar BBQ sauce for a totally amazing dish!

8. Swedish Meatballs

You don’t have to brave Ikea just to enjoy this beloved meatball recipe! The homemade gravy sauce is super easy to make and turns out lusciously creamy for true comfort food you’ll want to make again and again.

9. Pork Meatballs

This delicious air fryer recipe only requires a few ingredients and can be ready in under 20 minutes! It’s low-carb, gluten-free, and fantastic for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prepping for the week.

10. Italian Meatballs

These juicy homemade meatballs are made with Italian seasoning and a combination of ground beef and pork for out-of-this-world flavor! They can be baked or sauteed, are great to make ahead of time, and are even freezer-friendly.

11. Greek Meatballs

Also known as keftedes, these tasty bites are traditionally made with ground lamb, but you can substitute ground beef or turkey if you prefer. Serve them with a Tzatziki sauce or just a simple tomato sauce and enjoy!

12. Sweet And Sour Meatballs

Frozen meatballs plus pineapple chunks and bell peppers smothered in a mouthwatering homemade sweet and sour sauce is the simple yet delicious weeknight meal you’ve been waiting for! 

13. Teriyaki Meatballs

A combination of honey, garlic, and teriyaki takes these juicy chicken meatballs to the next level! This one-pan stove-top meal is packed with craveworthy flavor and can be ready in just 30 minutes.

14. Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs

This 3-ingredient set-it-and-forget-it recipe is perfect for potlucks and parties! Combine BBQ sauce, grape jelly, and frozen meatballs in the slow cooker, let them cook for a few hours, and then watch them disappear in the blink of an eye.

15. Cheesy Meatball Casserole

Easy, cheesy, and so simple to throw together, you’re going to fall in love with this 5-ingredient recipes! Serve it as is, over your favorite pasta noodles, or on sandwich rolls for a yummy weeknight dinner.

16. Meatball Soup

Treat yourself to the ultimate comfort food! Cheesy, hearty soup with melted cheese and basil on top is guaranteed to hit the spot. The next time you feel a cold front headed your way, make sure you whip up a batch!

17. Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Rich, luscious mushroom gravy over tender meatballs is a hearty meal the whole family will gobble up! Serve this one over fluffy mashed potatoes or egg noodles for a truly delicious dinner.

18. Meatball Sub

Sometimes, you just can’t beat a classic meatball sub. This easy meatball recipes starts with pre-made or homemade meatballs and sauce, hoagie-style sandwich rolls, and sliced provolone cheese, then bake to perfection and dig in!

19. Meatball Sliders

From an easy meal to game day, there’s never a bad time to whip up these sliders! Simmer the onions, meatballs, and marinara on the stove, then assemble your sliders and toss them in the oven. Everything’s ready in about 30 minutes!

20. Lamb Meatballs

You’ll go crazy for the fresh Greek flavors in this easy-to-make, healthy dish! Ground lamb meatballs combined with bright lemon and bold seasonings are broiled until juicy, tender, and downright irresistible.

21. BBQ Meatballs

The slow cooker makes these easy meatballs a breeze. It turns the barbecue sauce into a sticky glaze that will have everyone reaching for more! You can use store-bought meatballs for fast prep or make your own if you prefer.

22. Tex-Mex Meatballs

Ground beef, crushed corn chips, taco seasoning, and cheese will make this recipe an instant family favorite! The meatballs cook in a sauce made with both tomato sauce and salsa for incredible flavor.

23. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Need some new recipes for gameday? This tasty appetizer is everything you love about buffalo wings packed into convenient little meatballs! They have just the right amount of kick and are perfect for sharing.

24. Asian Glazed Meatballs

All you need are a few pantry staples to make this delightfully sticky dish with amazing flavor! They’re fantastic served over steamed rice or lo mein noodles along with a side of steamed broccoli or stir-fry vegetables.

25. Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

This recipe is the ultimate pairing for any pasta dinner! Juicy meatballs with an ooey-gooey melted mozzarella center are so easy to make. They’re also a delicious way to take your meatball subs to the next level.

Tips for making meatballs

• Try using a cookie scoop to form the meatballs. This helps keep them uniform in size to cook evenly.
• Don’t over mix meatball mixture. This can cause them to become tough.

How to store leftover meatballs

Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure to let them completely cool before they are stored. This helps prevent any unwanted bacteria from growing.

They can also be easily frozen. Once the meatballs have cooled, place them on a cookie sheet lined with a piece of parchment paper or foil in the freezer. Let them freeze for 1-2 hours and then place in a freezer bag.

Which one of these flavorful meatballs did you try?