Print

Baked Italian Meatballs Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.4 from 80 reviews

This Baked Italian Meatballs recipe offers a simple, delicious, and healthier twist on classic meatballs by baking instead of frying. Made with lean ground beef, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasonings, these tender meatballs are perfect served with your favorite pasta sauce over noodles or zucchini noodles for a comforting meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup milk (2%)
  • ½ cup crushed crackers or breadcrumbs
  • ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup finely minced yellow onion
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon fine salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Optional Garnish

  • Fresh parsley, chopped
  • Additional grated Parmesan cheese

To Serve

  • Your favorite pasta sauce
  • Cooked pasta or zucchini noodles

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400℉ and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and simplify cleanup.
  2. Mix Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the lean ground beef, egg, milk, crushed crackers, Parmesan cheese, minced onion, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well blended.
  3. Form Meatballs: Shape the mixture into 12 evenly sized meatballs about the size of golf balls, either using your hands or a cookie scoop for uniformity.
  4. Arrange Meatballs: Place the formed meatballs evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet to allow for even cooking.
  5. Bake Meatballs: Bake in the preheated oven for 16-20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165℉, ensuring they are cooked through and juicy.
  6. Remove from Oven: Once baked, take the meatballs out of the oven and let them rest briefly.
  7. Optional Sauce Toss: Heat your favorite pasta sauce in a skillet over medium heat. Add the baked meatballs to the sauce and gently toss to coat and warm through. This adds extra flavor and moisture.
  8. Garnish and Serve: Serve meatballs over cooked pasta or zucchini noodles, garnished with chopped fresh parsley and additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
  9. Store Leftovers: Store any leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to enjoy later.
  10. Feedback: Leave a review and rating to share your experience with the recipe—it helps improve content and supports the recipe creator.

Notes

  • Use lean ground beef to keep meatballs tender yet lower in fat.
  • Crushed crackers can be substituted with breadcrumbs for texture.
  • Ensure meatballs are cooked to an internal temperature of 165℉ for food safety.
  • For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free crackers or breadcrumbs.
  • Reheating meatballs gently in sauce helps maintain moisture and flavor.
  • Try serving with zucchini noodles for a low-carb option.

Keywords: Baked Italian meatballs, healthy meatballs, easy Italian dinner, baked meatballs recipe, Parmesan meatballs, ground beef meatballs

Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/baked-italian-meatballs-recipe/