There’s a reason why kids love them—adults too—and once you get the hang of making homemade balls, you’re bound to stop ordering take-out meatballs altogether. Well, maybe not, but these 32 best meatball recipes might make you consider it.
Best Meatball Recipes
Behold our 31 very best meatball recipes, from turkey, chicken and ground beef meatballs, to Swedish and Italian. We’ve also included plenty of options for making everyone’s favorite ball gluten-free, in the air fryer, slow cooker and Crock Pot. There are easy meatball soups to choose from, obviously a lot of spaghetti with meatballs and tons of new flavors and spins to try, ranging from Thai and Moroccan, to Korean. Browse through all these delicious recipes the next time you’re craving a meatball pasta bake, ramen with meatballs, or glazed mini meatballs on skewers for the ultimate party app!
Meatball Grilled Cheese
Grilled cheese is always a good idea, but sometimes the classic gets old—which is where Meatball Grilled Cheese comes into play. Get the recipe
Italian Baked Eggs & Meatballs
Make this one-pan meal for brunch or dinner, suggests Julia Foerster, a blogger at platedcravings.com. If you’re cutting back on red meat, substitute ground turkey for the beef. Get the recipe
Patricia Heaton’s Family Favorite Meatballs
You’ll love the way the aroma fills up the whole house on a cold winter day when you’re making these meatballs. Pro tip: Feel free to use a little more ground beef to make even more meatballs. Get the recipe
Cherry-Glazed Turkey Cocktail Meatballs
The poultry-friendly flavor of stuffing makes for one scrumptious turkey meatball. Get the recipe
Best Meatball Recipe
Nothing brings together a spaghetti dish like the best meatball recipe. Join Chef Jon Ashton as he unveils his secrets behind making easy, delicious, homemade meatballs from scratch with minimal cleanup. Get the recipe
Moroccan Meatballs with Herb Yogurt Sauce
Kefta—meatballs that are popular in North Africa and the Middle East—paired with yogurt sauce and butter lettuce leaves are an easy way to entertain, says Chef Andrew Zimmern. “It’s roll-your-own party food that I think makes for really fun eating.” Get the recipe
Asian Meatballs with Apricot Chili Dip
These tasty bites from Chef Jon Ashton are perfect for tailgating or any get-together. You can form the meatballs and make the sauce up to a day ahead of time. When guests arrive, just bake the meatballs and heat up the sauce. Get the recipe
Traditional Spanish Meatballs
Never had albondigas? This is a very traditional Spanish tapas dish where meatballs are usually served 3-4 in a dish, smothered with zesty tomato sauce and served with plenty of bread on the side to sop it all up. Get the recipe
Carla Hall’s Chicken Meatloaf Balls
Chef Carla Hall, formerly co-host of The Chew, based this chicken meatloaf balls recipe from her cookbook Carla Hall’s Soul Food on the meatloaf her mother used to make. Get the recipe
Mortadella Meatballs with Pistachio Sauce
Warning: This meatball recipe may just be your new favorite! And don’t even get us started on the Pistachio Sauce. You will definitely want to make extra sauce to keep on hand. Get the recipe
Classic Italian Meatballs
For a robust meal, serve up these classic meatballs with spaghetti and pasta sauce. On their own, they’re fit for a party as an appetizer. Get the recipe
Kung Pao Meatballs
Let frozen meatballs do the heavy lifting in this quick and creative dish inspired by Kung Pao, a stir-fry made with chicken, peanuts, hot red chiles and a sweet sauce. Get the recipe
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs
These Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs are extra special because they’re actually a two-for-one. They make a terrific appetizer—just set out some toothpicks next to the slow cooker and let your guests go nuts—or they can also be a simple weeknight supper! Get the recipe
Crock Pot Italian Meatballs
Use this Crock Pot Italian Meatballs recipe for an easy meal during a busy holiday season, or turn them into yummy meatball sandwiches and subs. Get the recipe
Spaghetti & Meatball Nests
A classic pasta dish gets a new shape with these fun nests. Pro tip: make them in a muffin tin! Get the recipe
Meatball Pizza
This scrumptious—and filling—meatball pizza will put those hunger pangs at bay. Get the recipe
Banh Mi-Inspired Skillet Meatballs
Dress up frozen meatballs with this simple one-pan supper adapted from Cast Iron Gourmet by Megan Keno. A riff on a bahn mi sandwich, it starts with frozen pork meatballs. Get the recipe
Cheesy Meatball and Orzo One-Dish Casserole
The joys of a single-pot recipe are hard to summarize. Well, that’s not quite true: the words “one-pot casserole” make most of us very happy. This recipe turns super-convenient frozen meatballs into a creamy, slightly cheese main dish, complete with the vegetables built right in. Get the recipe
Avocado-Stuffed Meatballs
You may think stuffing meatballs with avocado would be difficult, but the secret is to use a very small amount. Be careful when folding over the edges to seal up the meatball, as the filling can seep out a bit. For an exotic flair, try using a tablespoon of minced preserved lemon rind in place of the lemon zest and juice. Get the recipe
Spicy Ramen With Pork Meatballs and Eggs
Miso, chile paste, soy sauce, ginger and garlic amp up store-bought chicken stock to give you a jump on a comforting bowl of ramen. Make the pork meatballs up to 3 days ahead, cool and refrigerate. Let them come to room temperature before adding them to your ramen bowl. Get the recipe
Asian-Style Ground Turkey Meatballs
Turkey is lower in calories and saturated fat than beef, making it a healthy alternative for these Asian-style, ground turkey meatballs. Get the recipe
Lazy Meatball Kebabs with Yogurt
Meatball skewers with a cool, creamy yogurt dipping sauce is a warm-weather appetizer idea that’s perfect for hot days. Bonus: They taste even better the next day. Get the recipe
Crock Pot Swedish Meatballs
This simple slow cooker recipe starts with frozen meatballs, making it a busy cook’s new best friend. With a simple beef and onion-based sauce that’s then made creamy with some sour cream, it has layers of flavor too! Serve over warm egg noodles and they make a full-meal deal. Get the recipe
Meatballs with Tomato-Mint Sauce
“We eat meatballs in the Tuscan manner, without pasta,” say husband-and-wife Cooking Channel stars chef Gabriele Corcos and actress Debi Mazar in their cookbook, Super Tuscan. “We’ll put out a platter of them, and before long, they disappear. Mint may be a surprising addition, but it really adds a fresh flavor.” Get the recipe
Frozen Pizza with Meatballs, Arugula and Fresh Veggies
Upgrade an unassuming frozen cheese pizza with a perfectly savory combo of toppings. This meatball pizza might be the best frozen pizza ever, with fresh red onion and arugula, pepperoncini peppers and Italian seasoning. Get the recipe
Beef Bulgogi Meatballs
This recipe for beef bulgogi meatballs, from Everyday Korean by Kim Sunée and Seung Hee Lee, is a tasty spin on a familiar dish. Shape these into meatballs and serve with the dipping sauces along with lettuce leaves or steamed rice. Get the recipe
Ravioli & Meatball Soup with Garlic Bread Croutons
Even though this is technically a soup, it’s really a complete meal in one bowl. And the garlic bread crouton garnish will fill you up on a chilly fall day. Get the recipe
Italian Meatball Soup
This is the ultimate feel-good weeknight meal. Filled with hearty meatballs, orzo, chopped carrots and fresh spinach, this soup requires minimal prep and is ready in just 30 minutes. Get the recipe
30-Minute Chicken Parmesan Meatball Poppers
It was only a matter of time before Chicken Parmesan was transformed into a meatball popper. Tender and flavorful ground chicken is combined with lots of herbs and Parmesan cheese and baked to perfection. Get the recipe
Spicy-Sweet Cranberry Meatballs
You can make this spicy and sweet cranberry meatball appetizer up to two days ahead and refrigerate the meatballs in their sauce. Reheat over low heat on the stovetop or in a slow-cooker. The meatball mixture also makes great slider patties. Get the recipe
Frozen Meatball Stroganoff
Meatball stroganoff is a classic comfort food recipe that’s easy to make and so satisfying, thanks to its hearty flavors. Today there are many versions of the recipe, like vegetarian mushroom stroganoff, or a budget-friendly ground beef stroganoff. In this shortcut version, frozen meatballs deliver the perfect time saver for the dinnertime favorite. Get the recipe
Spooky Eyeballs Casserole
It’s fun to make special dinners that the kids will not only think are cool, but will also eat up. This easy-peasy casserole will sure be a big hit with the whole family. Of course, you can make this any time of year—just leave out the eyeballs! Get the recipe
