This recipe makes for the best homemade meatballs! Whether serving them on top of spaghetti, in a meatball sub sandwich, or on their own, these meatballs will hit the spot for your next meal. They are full of hearty flavor in every bite.
These are the best Homemade Meatballs
Everything’s better when it’s homemade, and this meatball recipe definitely proves that. These are some of the best meatballs I have ever had, and I think it’s all thanks to one very special ingredient, Ranch seasoning mix. It makes the flavor in these so good, and somehow seemingly enhances all of the other seasonings in them.
The best part about this homemade meatballs recipe is that it can be very versatile. You can serve the meatballs a number of different ways. Because of this they make the perfect dinner item.
You can serve them one way on night one, and serve the leftovers in a completely different way for lunch or on night two. Not only are they delish, but they are super easy to whip up as well. Your whole family is going to love this hearty, homemade classic.
Why we love Meatballs in the Oven
- Easy Recipe
- Great alone or as a side dish
- My picky eater even loves them
- Ready in under 30 minutes
Baked Meatballs ingredients
● 2 pounds lean ground beef
● 1 large egg
● ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
● ¼ cup milk
● 2 cloves minced garlic
● ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
● ¼ cup white onion, diced
● 1 package (28g) dry Ranch seasoning mix
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How to Make Homemade Meatballs
1. Stir all of the ingredients together until they are well mixed.
2. Using a cookie scoop (1.5 tbsp), scoop the mixture into balls. Use your hands to pack and shape them.
3. Space them one inch apart on the cookie sheets.
PRO-TIP: You can also place them in a muffin pan to keep them from rolling all over the pan.
4. Bake in an oven for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and turn each meatball over.
5. Place the tray back in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Serve warm.
Oven Baked Meatballs additions and substitutions
Ground beef: You can use a mild ground Italian sausage or ground turkey if you prefer this to ground beef in your meatballs.
Ranch: You can use any brand and style of dry ranch seasoning that you prefer for your homemade meatballs.
How to serve this Baked Meatballs Recipe
One of the best things about these homemade meatballs is their versatility. They can be served any number of ways and be delicious. Here are some ideas for different ways to serve your homemade meatballs.
1. Just as they are! These meatballs are full of flavor, so they can be served as a main course just the way they are. Make some veggies or mashed potatoes as a side dish and you have a full meal.
2. Over spaghetti or any other type of marinara pasta dish. You can also serve them in a meatball pasta casserole.
3. In a meatball sub. There are tons of recipes out there for different types of meatball subs, and they are only made better by using homemade meatballs.
4. In meatball stroganoff. Another classic pasta dish that calls for meatballs!
How to store leftover Oven Baked Meatballs
Leftover meatballs should be stored in an airtight container, in the fridge for 4-5 days. To freeze meatballs, place them in the freezer before cooking them and leave them there until they harden up. Then, transfer them to a large Ziploc freezer bag. Seal the bag and remove as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months until you’re ready to cook them.
Meatballs in Oven FAQs
The internal temperature of meatballs should reach 160°F (71°C) to ensure they are cooked safely. Using a meat thermometer is the best way to check this.
To make meatballs that don’t fall apart:
Use a Binder: In your recipe, breadcrumbs and eggs are used as binders to hold the meatballs together.
Don’t Overmix: Mix the ingredients until just combined. Overmixing can make the meatballs dense and more likely to fall apart.
Correct Consistency: Ensure the mixture is moist but not too wet. Adjust with breadcrumbs or milk as needed.
Chill Before Cooking: Chilling the meatballs for about 30 minutes before cooking can help them hold their shape.
There are two methods:
1. Cook in Sauce: Some recipes call for cooking raw meatballs directly in the sauce. This method can add flavor to the sauce but requires careful simmering to ensure the meatballs cook evenly.
2. Precook Then Add to Sauce: Our recipe bakes the meatballs in the oven first. This method helps the meatballs retain their shape and ensures they are fully cooked before adding to the sauce.
It’s not necessary to cover meatballs when baking. In your recipe, the meatballs are baked uncovered at 425°F for 20 minutes, turning once. This allows them to brown evenly and develop a nice crust.
Once you try these homemade meatballs, you will never go back to store-bought. They are so easy to make and they are bursting with flavor. Serve them any way you prefer from stroganoff to casserole. No matter what, they are bound to be a huge hit.
Other Easy Dinner Recipes
Easy Sesame Chicken | Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole | Creamy Beef and Shells | Sheet Pan Quesadillas | Meatball Subs | Salisbury Steak
Oven Baked Meatballs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup white onion diced
- 28g package dry Ranch seasoning mix
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, stir together all ingredients until well mixed.
- Using a 1.5 tablespoon size cookie scoop, scoop mixture into balls using hands to pack them tightly into ball shapes.
- Space them about an inch apart on parchment lined cookie sheets.
- Bake in oven for 10 minutes then remove from oven and turn each meatball over. Place tray back in oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
