The Best Meatball Recipes

The Best Spaghetti with Meatballs

Do you know how to properly mix ground meat so that the meatballs turn out light, juicy, and almost airy? Use the tines of two forks to gently distribute the ingredients without compacting the ground meat. Fry the meatballs until golden brown and simmer in tomato sauce until done. Serve with spaghetti.

Recipe: The Best Spaghetti with Meatballs

The Best Turkey Meatballs

These juicy, tender, and light meatballs are filled with aromatic herbs. The turkey mixture is tenderer than you might imagine, thanks to the addition of ricotta and bread crumbs soaked in milk. Once you try these wonderful turkey meatballs, you'll forget about the traditional beef recipe.

Recipe: The Best Turkey Meatballs

Oven-baked chicken meatballs go well with any meal.

If you're looking for simple chicken meatballs that cook quickly and pair well with a variety of dishes, this recipe is perfect! The egg and breadcrumbs help bind the chicken well, while the ricotta and whole milk ensure juiciness. While you can use ground chicken breast (white meat only) for this recipe, regular ground chicken is better. It's richer, and the meatballs won't dry out in the oven. Serve them over pasta, mixed with tomato sauce, in sandwiches with melted cheese, or simply with a salad.

Recipe: Oven-baked chicken meatballs go well with any meal.

Spaghetti with meatballs

It's hard to believe Rachel's spaghetti and meatballs take just 35 minutes to prepare.

Recipe: Spaghetti with meatballs in tomato sauce

Classic Italian Turkey Meatballs

Giada uses ground turkey and turkey sausage to make these tender, delicious meatballs.

Recipe: Turkey meatballs with Italian sauce

Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs

These meatballs in Italian tomato sauce are just as delicious as the traditional way, but a slow cooker makes the whole dish a breeze. Simply combine the raw meatballs with all the sauce ingredients in the slow cooker, set the time, and forget about cooking for a few hours. Serve the meatballs with cooked pasta, polenta, or use them as a topping for pizza or sub sandwiches.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs

Real meatballs with spaghetti

What's the secret to Aina's juicy meatballs? Warm water—it adds moisture and acts as a binding agent.

Recipe: Real spaghetti meatballs

Reuben sandwiches with meatballs

We love meatballs. And we love Reuben sandwiches, too. It's no wonder these Jeff's Sauerkraut and Swiss Cheese Sliders have earned a place of honor in our recipe arsenal.

Recipe: Mini Reuben sandwiches with beef meatballs

The most delicious meatballs

Anne uses three different types of meat in her recipe: beef for flavor, pork for texture, and lamb for the finishing touch.

Recipe: The most delicious meatballs

Meatball and tortellini soup

This soup with homemade meatballs and store-bought cheese tortellini is ready in just 35 minutes.

Recipe: Meatball and tortellini soup

Meatballs Florentine style

Rachel adds spinach and Parmesan to each of these delicious turkey meatballs, then cooks them in a white sauce containing a secret ingredient: nutmeg.

Recipe: Florentine Meatballs

Meatball and Jardiniera Sandwiches

Jeff Mauro makes the patties for these sandwiches from ground meatballs. They're incredibly juicy and rich. Jeff's spicy homemade jardinière adds a touch of piquancy.

Recipe: Meatball and Jardiniera Sandwiches

Spicy Chicken Meatballs

With Hungarian paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and a hint of brown sugar, Sunny's low-calorie meatballs are packed with flavor.

Recipe: Whole grain noodle lunch with chicken meatballs and green sauce

Turkey meatballs

These lean turkey meatballs are filling without leaving you feeling heavy.

Recipe: Turkey meatballs

Meatball Sandwiches

These sandwiches aren't just for watching the game! Ree's meat sub sandwich is packed with flavor thanks to marinara sauce and garlic buns. Perfect for the whole family!

Recipe: Fried meatball sandwiches

IKEA-Style Swedish Meatballs

Some people spend hours driving to IKEA, and clearly not just for the $9.99 chairs. They go for Swedish meatballs. IKEA keeps the recipe a secret, so the Food Network chefs went to a nearby store for a taste test and then created this very similar version.

Recipe: The almost famous Swedish meatballs

Italian Meatballs with Parmesan

Italian meatballs with cheese are fried until crispy, then simmered in marinara sauce, sprinkled with fresh basil, and served over boiled pasta, usually spaghetti. The Parmesan cheese makes the meatballs juicier, firmer, and more flavorful.

Recipe: Italian Meatballs with Parmesan

Meatball Sub with French Fries

Rachel's recipe features everything that makes a classic meatball sub: crispy buns, juicy meatballs, and a tangy marinara sauce. Top the sandwiches with a little grated provolone cheese.

Recipe: Meatball Sub with French Fries

Meatballs in BBQ sauce

For a hearty texture, Ree stirs in steel-cut oats into the meatballs, then tops the dish with a sweet and sour barbecue sauce you'll want to use in almost everything.

Recipe: Ground beef meatballs

Swedish meatballs

Meatballs just got more sophisticated! Transform a simple meal into something extravagant with bread crumbs, dry sherry, and pickles.

Recipe: Swedish meatballs

Beef meatballs

These meatballs, crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside, will delight both kids and adults. To make them, ground beef is mixed with breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, and spices. Then, small meatballs are formed and baked in the oven until done.

Recipe: Beef meatballs

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Elevate your favorite bar menu item—this version is even tastier (and cleaner)!

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Meatballs "Hedgehogs"

Beef, uncooked rice, onions, and Italian seasoning combine for a simple weeknight dinner. Where does the name come from? When the meatballs bake, the grains of rice protrude, much like the spines of a hedgehog.

Recipe: Meatballs with gravy "Hedgehogs"

Biscuits with meatballs

Italian pork meatballs with Parmesan and fennel are fried until golden brown, then wrapped one by one in biscuit dough circles with a slice of mozzarella and baked in the oven. Molly Yeh uses store-bought biscuit dough in her recipe, but homemade will work just as well. Serve the meatball rolls as an appetizer. Dip them in marinara sauce and enjoy!

Recipe: Biscuits with meatballs

Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

Keep the roasting pan in the basement. This version of Swedish meatballs is an appetizer that can be made and served in the same container.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

Ragu soup with spaghetti and meatballs

This dish is thicker than a soup but less dense than a stew, making it perfect for spaghetti and meatballs. Rachel uses a meatloaf mix made with ground beef, pork, and lamb.

Recipe: Stup with spaghetti and meatballs

Italian meatballs with cheese

Fill large meatballs with small mozzarella balls and wrap the meat around the cheese. When cutting, the gooey mozzarella will ooze into the homemade sauce. You can form the meatballs a day in advance; cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.

Recipe: Large Italian-style cheese meatballs

Mini meatballs

These meatballs from Trisha make a great party appetizer. Trisha loves using lean ground beef as a base, adding ground pork for a bold flavor.

Recipe: Meatballs

Magical meatballs without bread

These meatballs are firm and juicy even without bread. Their secret ingredient is cashews! A godsend for those on a gluten-free diet. Yet, the taste is just like classic meatballs. Serve them as an appetizer or warm them up in tomato sauce and eat with pasta.

Recipe: Magical meatballs without bread

Meatballs braised in marinara sauce

These Italian-style pork meatballs are incredibly juicy, tender, and flavorful. First, the meatballs are pan-fried until half-done, then simmered briefly in an Italian marinara sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, and basil, topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

Recipe: Meatballs braised in marinara sauce

Mediterranean-Style Meatballs with Vegetables

These meatballs are loaded with spinach. Kids (and adults who don't like vegetables) won't even notice: they're served in warm pita bread with lettuce and tomatoes and topped with a zesty yogurt sauce with dill.

Recipe: Mediterranean Spinach Meatballs

Orecchiette with Chicken Meatballs

Use ground chicken for Giada's savory meatballs and serve them with hearty orecchiette pasta and fresh mozzarella.

Recipe: Orecchiette pasta with chicken meatballs

Giant Meatballs

These giant meatballs are the perfect Sunday lunch. They're packed with flavor and are sure to bring everyone together!

Recipe: Meatballs in tomato sauce

Spicy Chorizo ​​Meatballs

Make Guy Fieri's meatballs in 25 minutes when you're craving something spicy but short on time.

Recipe: Spicy Chorizo ​​Meatballs

Cheese-Stuffed Meatball Tacos

The secret ingredient in this appetizer is fresh chorizo, a spicy Mexican pork sausage (not to be confused with the uncooked Spanish chorizo). It adds a spicy flavor characteristic of tacos and ensures the meatballs' juiciness.

Recipe: Cheese-Stuffed Meatball Tacos

Eggplant Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

Vegetarians rejoice! This is a twist on traditional spaghetti and meatballs that anyone can enjoy: the meat is replaced with eggplant. It even has that classic meaty flavor, thanks to the roasted vegetables mixed with the pasta and sauce.

Recipe: Vegetable meatballs made from eggplant and beans

Tex-Mex style meatballs

Cilantro, chili powder, and cumin give these meatballs a classic Tex-Mex flavor. Make a big batch; leftover meatballs can be frozen and reheated later.

Recipe: Meatballs "Taco"

Meatballs in Marsala sauce

Who said Marsala only goes with chicken and lamb? Try these meatballs in wine sauce served over creamy mashed potatoes.

Recipe: Meatballs in wine sauce with mashed potatoes

Asian-Style Pork Meatballs

Shiitake mushrooms, green onions, and ginger are just a few of the unique ingredients that transform pork meatballs into an Asian-inspired appetizer. They're perfect served in lettuce leaves, topped with homemade hoisin sauce and sesame seeds.

Recipe: Asian pork meatballs

Greek meatballs in egg-lemon sauce

Combine mint, parsley and marjoram with ground lamb and beef to make meatballs and cook in chicken stock and lemon sauce.

Recipe: Greek meatballs in egg-lemon sauce

Meatballs stuffed with ricotta cheese

Cook the stuffed meatballs in a skillet until they are perfectly golden brown.

Recipe: Meatballs stuffed with ricotta cheese

Swedish Turkey Meatballs with Apple

These mouth-watering meatballs in a spicy sauce are a perfect idea for a cozy Sunday dinner at home. Although they're made with lean ground turkey, the grated apple ensures they're juicy, tender, and full of flavor.

Recipe: Swedish Turkey Meatballs with Apple

Spaghetti with meatballs

Spaghetti with meatballs in a rich tomato sauce is a traditional Italian dish, often prepared for a big Sunday dinner. In this recipe, the sauce is made from scratch, simmered for several hours, and turns out rich, flavorful, and delicious.

Recipe: Spaghetti with meatballs

Pepperoni meatballs

Three types of beef are combined with chili paste, fennel, anise seeds and a splash of red wine.

Recipe: Pepperoni meatballs

Spaghetti with turkey meatballs in tomato sauce

The abundance of herbs and the heat of the spices in the sauce create a multifaceted flavor without excess fat, while grated carrots, onions, and Parmesan add moisture and volume to the dish.

Recipe: Turkey meatballs in a quick spicy tomato sauce with whole wheat spaghetti

Meatballs with pastrami

Looking for a unique party appetizer, or just want to try a new twist on a classic? These pastrami meatballs are just the ticket.

Recipe: Canapes with meatballs

Spaghetti squash with meatballs

Feed the kids some nutritious spaghetti squash by serving it as pasta with juicy meatballs and a quick homemade marinara sauce.

Recipe: Spaghetti squash with meatballs

Italian Meatloaf Sandwiches

This meatloaf is made with the same mixture Italians use to make meatballs: ground beef, pork, and veal, seasoned with Parmesan and parsley. It's topped with a ketchup-balsamic sauce mixture, which turns into a wonderfully sticky crust when baked. Slice the meatloaf and make delicious Italian-style sandwiches.

Recipe: Italian Meatloaf Sandwiches

Rigatoni pasta with meatballs

It's hard to beat a classic. That's why Ree serves a generous portion of rigatoni, cooked al dente, with the meatballs. It's the perfect dinner for any occasion.

Recipe: Rigatoni pasta with meatballs

Meatballs "Taco"

Spices like chili powder and cumin, along with chunks of savory pepper jack cheese in the center of the meatballs, give them a wonderfully spicy Tex-Mex flavor. They're easy to prepare and incredibly juicy.

Recipe: Meatballs "Taco"