The easiest way to make a bunch of meatballs is by baking them in the oven. They come out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. This simple meatballs recipe also makes them flavorful without being overpowering with the spices. Totally Picky-Eater-Friendly.
HERE'S ALL IT TAKES
- 1 pound fresh lean ground beef
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons dried parsley
- 2 tablespoons dried basil
- 1 fresh egg
- 6 tablespoons plain breadcrumbs or crushed soda crackers
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Heat oven to 400ºF. Generously grease a 12 x 17-inch sheet pan with olive oil or regular cooking oil.
In a mixing bowl, combine the meat with all the ingredients. Use your clean hand to incorporate all the ingredients well. Using a 1-inch cookie dough scooper, scoop out meatballs onto the greased sheet pan. Space about an inch apart.
Bake for 20 minutes until light brown. Remove quickly from pan with a metal spatula.
They taste great eaten on their own. Of course, I threw mine in a pot of fresh tomato sauce and let them simmer together for about 10 minutes. That made for one AWESOME spaghetti dinner.
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Pretty close to my mom’s meatloaf recipe — well the flavor combo anyhoo. We love meatballs in just about anything we can put them in. They’re perfect for this, of course and I wish I had a plate for breakfast right now. Fabulous shot!
Thank you, Kelly!
As soon as I get the time, I plan to make up a large batch just to keep up in the freezer. Charlie needs to have food on hand he can put together quickly when I’m not around.
Oh, do, Jill! I always make meatballs in the oven and do 3-5 pounds of ground beef or turkey at a time. I usually use a slightly bigger scoop to make my husband happy–usually a #40. When they are cooked and cooled I line clean sheet pans with parchment, transfer the meatballs to the new pan and freeze them solid. Then I stick them in big freezer bags and tuck them away. I pull out the number I want and throw them into my sauce to heat (the crock pot is a great way to do this on a really busy day or for a party.)
Tomato sauce is wonderful, of course, whether the meatballs are being served by themselves, over pasta, or in a big sandwich with lots of melted mozzarella and a heavy sprinkling of parmesan, some sliced sweet onions… But we also love them in barbecue sauce, or in an extra-saucy meatball stroganoff over wide egg noodles or farfalle (don’t add the sour cream till the meatballs are fully heated.) Boy this is making me hungry!
THANK YOU for the meatball tips, Geekbearinggifts!
I’ve been dreaming of a good meatball sandwich with lots of thick tomato sauce and just the right amount of mozzarella melting inside. I just haven’t come across a good hoagie bun, yet. Oh but when I find it, you can expect I’ll post a mouth watering picture of it here on SDR.
Of course, now you have my mouth watering for stroganoff! I have good friend with a Ukrainian upbringing that KNOWS how to make outstanding cream sauces with sour cream. I’m going to pick her mind for some ideas and see what I can come up.
Do you have a special tomato sauce recipe you make for your meatball sandwiches?
OH! I almost forgot about the barbecue sauce idea. I know just the recipe to use, too. I’ve got to eat them with the Manly Barbecue Sauce That Will Put Hair on Your Chest. It’s our favorite around here.
Meatballs are a good thing to have on hand. They lend themselves to appetizers, soups, sandwiches, additions to meals and the main event. If you are going to make any, you’d might as well make a bunch. I freeze them in small quantities and always have a good snack, pizza topping or pasta partner ready for those days that didn’t go just as I had planned.
THANK YOU, Terri!
I had not thought to use them as a pizza topping. GREAT IDEA!
OH OH OH! Imagine shaping and filling a calzone then baking it on a grill…
I have been meaning to stop and say, this is the best recipe ever! Not because I have tried it yet, because of the ingredient list and yield. Perfect ingredients and amounts, oh and thank you.
Tried this out this evening. It was a hit! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Thomas!
yum!
This working mom thanks you!!!
This working mom thanks you for reading, Yasna. ;D
Super easy, delic, and handy … thanks again, I appreciate your recipes so much!