Description
Baking meatballs in the oven is an easy, hands-off method that delivers juicy, evenly cooked meatballs with less mess than stovetop cooking. Perfect for spaghetti, subs, appetizers, or meal prep, this simple recipe combines ground meat with flavorful seasonings and cheese for a classic Italian-American dish.
Ingredients
Meatball Mixture
- 1 pound ground meat (beef, pork, turkey, or a blend)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs or panko
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Finishing
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, for brushing or spraying)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for evenly baking the meatballs.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Gently mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs: Roll the mixture into 1 to 1½-inch meatballs and arrange them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet to ensure even cooking.
- Add Olive Oil: Lightly brush or spray the meatballs with olive oil if desired to promote browning and add flavor.
- Bake: Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 18–22 minutes, or until they are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Serve or Store: Remove the meatballs from the oven and use immediately in your favorite dish or add to sauce. Optionally, cool and freeze for later use.
Notes
- For extra browning, broil the meatballs for 2–3 minutes at the end of baking.
- Using a cookie scoop helps create evenly sized meatballs for consistent cooking.
- Cooked meatballs can be frozen for up to 3 months for convenient meal prep.
- To make the recipe gluten-free, substitute regular breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
