Baked Meatballs Recipe
These Baked Meatballs are juicy, tender, and packed with classic Italian flavor, making them the perfect easy dinner for busy weeknights. Baked at 400°F for just 18–22 minutes, they're a healthier alternative to frying while still delivering perfectly browned, flavorful meatballs every time. Serve them with spaghetti, meatball subs, mashed potatoes, or your favorite marinara sauce, and enjoy a freezer-friendly, family-approved recipe that's ideal for meal prep, holidays, and everyday dinners. If you've been searching for the best baked meatballs recipe, how long to bake meatballs, or easy oven baked meatballs, this foolproof recipe is one you'll make again and again.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean ground beef (85/15)
- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup yellow onion finely diced
- 2 tbsp parsley freshly chopped
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil optional
- fresh parsley for garnish
- sauce of choice optional for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk. Allow the mixture to sit for 2 to 3 minutes until the breadcrumbs absorb the liquid.
- Add the ground beef, eggs, Parmesan cheese, garlic, onion, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Using clean hands, gently mix everything together until just combined. Avoid overmixing, which can make the meatballs dense.
- Using a medium cookie scoop or about 2 tablespoons of mixture, portion the meatballs into approximately 1½-inch balls. Roll gently between your palms.
- Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between each one.
- If desired, lightly brush the tops with olive oil for extra browning.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- Let the meatballs rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve with warm marinara sauce over pasta, on sub rolls, alongside mashed potatoes, or as an appetizer
Notes
Notes
- Don't overmix the meat mixture.
- Freshly grated Parmesan provides the best flavor.
- A cookie scoop helps make evenly sized meatballs.
- For extra juicy meatballs, use 85/15 ground beef.
- Meatballs freeze beautifully for up to 3 months.
- Reheat in marinara sauce for the best texture.
- Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted; cook to 165°F.