Classic Homemade Meatballs

Whether you’re making subs or spaghetti, these classic oven-baked meatballs are perfect for all of your favorite recipes. They’re perfectly juicy and flavored with delicious seasonings and parmesan cheese!

These homemade meatballs are delicious on their own, but even better covered in a tasty sauce! Try them in Swedish meatballs or topped with homemade alfredo or lobster sauce.

3 meatballs covered in marinara sauce being scooped out of a skillet with a wooden spoon.

Oven-Baked Meatballs Recipe

If you’ve been on the hunt for your go-to meatball recipe, this is it. Not only are these classic homemade meatballs so juicy and flavorful, but a breeze to make! You can make a batch of them in just about 30 minutes from start to finish. They’re then ready to serve as an appetizer, use for meatball subs, or on top of a bed of pasta alongside your favorite sauce! (I have some delicious recommendations below!) No matter how you serve these tasty meatballs, they’re sure to be a smash hit with your friends and family.

Each meatball is packed with flavor from all of the delicious herbs and parmesan cheese. Say goodbye to the dry, flavorless meatballs you’ve had in the past! The meatballs in this recipe are broiled which gives you a delicious, golden brown outside (with just a hint of crispiness!) and a tender, juicy inside. These incredible homemade meatballs are going to be a game changer for all of your Italian-inspired dishes. You’ve got to try them out with your next batch of spaghetti!

Ingredients for Homemade Meatballs

With how simple the ingredients are for these amazing meatballs, you’re going to want to make them from scatch every time! Their juicy, savory flavor will most definitely have you hooked. If you’re looking for ingredients, they can all be found in the recipe card at the end of the post..

White Bread: I used white bread with the crusts torn off to add a little texture to my meatballs, but you can definitely switch this out for fresh breadcrumbs as well!
Milk: Keeps your meatballs juicy and tender!
Ground Beef: I used ground beef but feel free to use ground pork! A mix of both works, too! If you’re wanting leaner meatballs, you can also switch out the beef for ground turkey.
Eggs: Help give the meatballs structure and bind all of the ingredients together.
Grated Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan just makes every Italian dish better! Use freshly-grated parmesan if possible. It adds the best flavor!
Seasonings and Spices: Time to break out the spice rack! For this recipe, I used a blend of basil, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, and onion powder along with salt and pepper to taste.

4-photo collage of meatballs being prepared and shaped.

How to Make Classic Homemade Meatballs

It’s so easy! You’ll be able to whip up a batch of these in no time at all! If your family is anything like mine, you may want to make a double batch. Homemade meatballs always fly off the table!

Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup! Set aside.
Prepare Bread: Place the torn bread and milk into a small bowl. Let the bread soak and absorb the milk while you combine the rest of the ingredients.
Combine Beef, Eggs and Seasonings: In a large bowl, add the ground beef, eggs, cheese, basil, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Add Bread: Next, add the soaked bread to the meat mixture. Slightly squeeze the milk out of the bread before adding it to the bowl of ingredients.
Combine: Mix all of the ingredients together until combined well. Hands are best here!
Preheat Oven: Turn the oven to broil and allow to heat for a few minutes while you roll the meatballs.
Shape: Divide and roll mixture into 14 meatballs. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
Broil: Broil meatballs for 12 minutes. You can rotate the meatballs half way through if you prefer.
Serve: Serve with homemade marinara sauce, or use in recipes like my meatball soup or meatball sub.

Tips and Tricks

These are just a few extra tips to help you craft the best homemade meatballs of all time! Your family won’t be able to get enough.

Use Fatty Meat: Sorry diet- the key to tender, juicy meatballs is to use meat with a high fat content. You can use leaner meats like ground turkey, but they require more moisture and the addition of things like olive oil in order to stay soft and moist. You can find my full recipe for turkey meatballs here!
Mix Gently: When shaping your meatballs, if you pack them too tightly, they may turn out dense and rubbery once cooked. You don’t want to overwork them! I always like to use my hands to mix and shape my meatballs, this way I know exactly how much pressure I’m applying. A gentle hand is the secret ingredient to melt-in-your-mouth meatballs!

Tasty Sauces for Serving

Don’t get me wrong- these homemade meatballs are incredible on their own, but coating them in a flavorful sauce never hurts! Homemade marinara is always a good idea, but you should try out these other tasty choices as well! Find my full list of sauces and dips here.

Vegetable

Cherry Tomato Sauce

Easy Recipes

How to Make the Best Basil Pesto Sauce

Dinner

The Very Best Bolognese Sauce

Dressings, Sauces, and Dips

The Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe Ever!

Cooked meatballs in marinara sauce, topped with grated parmesan in a white skillet.

How Long Do Homemade Meatballs Last?

You’ll want to keep these around to have for meatball subs! Here’s how to store them so they stay fresh and delicious.

In the Refrigerator: In an airtight container, your homemade meatballs will last for up to 3 days.
In the Freezer: Store in a freezer bag or airtight container for 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating: I like to reheat these meatballs for 10-15 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Closeup of 3 meatballs in a wooden spoon.