Baked Meatballs are simple, restaurant-quality meatballs you can make at home. Mix a few everyday ingredients and bake for a golden, flavorful result in under 30 minutes. Serve over pasta with plenty of your favorite red sauce.
Ingredients to Have on Hand
- Ground beef, pork, and veal (veal optional)
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Dried parsley
- Eggs (one whole egg + one egg white or two whole eggs)
- French bread — one slice, torn into small pieces (any white bread works)
Using a mix of beef, pork and veal gives great depth of flavor, but equal parts beef and pork also work very well.
Blend Meat with Eggs
I recommend one whole egg plus one egg white for a slightly lighter texture, though two whole eggs give nearly the same results. The egg(s) and torn bread act as the binder to keep the meatballs tender and intact.
Recipe FAQ
Torn French bread (or any white bread) mixed into the meat provides structure and moisture. Combined with the eggs, the bread helps bind the mixture so the meatballs hold their shape while baking.
Shape the Meatballs
For even cooking, shape all meatballs to the same size. Using an ice cream scoop ensures consistency so they finish at the same time in the oven.
Pro Tip: An ice cream scoop yields consistently sized meatballs; aim for golf-ball size for best results.
Made from Scratch and Fast
These meatballs are quick and approachable—no long simmering required. They bake in under 30 minutes and pair beautifully with jarred or homemade red sauce.
Homemade Red Sauce
If you prefer homemade, a simple tomato-cream or classic tomato sauce complements these meatballs wonderfully, but a quality store-bought sauce works great too.
Recipes with Beef
Want more beef-forward meals? Try pot roast, lasagna, or sliders for easy dinners that highlight savory beef flavors.
-
Dutch Oven Pot Roast
-
Lazy Lasagna
-
Better Than Bouillon Gravy (Make-Ahead)
-
Cheeseburger Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls
More Dinner Ideas
Here are a few more scratch-made, fast dinners you can get on the table in an hour or less:
- Quick Cheeseburger Pie
- Skillet Chicken Tacos
- Baked Beef Burritos
If you try these baked meatballs or any recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment to let me know how it turned out.
Recipe
Baked Meatballs
Ingredients
- 3/4 lb ground beef
- 3/4 lb ground pork
- 3/4 lb ground veal (optional)
- 1/8 cup dried parsley
- 1 slice French bread, torn into small pieces (no crust)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1 egg white
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl.
- Use an ice cream scoop to portion equal-sized meatballs (about golf-ball size).
- Place meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until browned and sizzling.
- Serve over pasta with sauce. Makes about 18–20 meatballs.
Notes
I use one whole egg plus one egg white for a lighter texture, but two whole eggs work fine too. For a different pairing, these meatballs are also tasty with a creamy pumpkin pasta sauce.
Nutrition
Please note: nutrition details are estimates from a food database and should be considered approximate.