Easy Juicy Homemade Meatballs (Oven Baked With Simple Ingredients)
Do you need an easy food to take to a potluck or to make a quick dinner? Well, this meatball recipe is perfect for those occasions. You can add BBQ sauce or leave it off. Whatever your preference these meatballs are sure to please.
In this blog post, you will learn how to make some Easy Homemade Meatballs.
How to Make Homemade Meatballs
Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C) so it’s fully heated and ready once the meatballs are prepared. In a large mixing bowl, add all of your meatball ingredients together and mix until everything is evenly combined. Be careful not to overmix the meat mixture, as overworking it can make the meatballs dense instead of tender and juicy. Mixing just until combined helps create soft, flavorful homemade baked meatballs with the perfect texture.
Next, prepare your baking tray by lining it with baking parchment and placing an oven-safe rack on top. Baking the meatballs on a rack allows the heat to circulate evenly around them while helping excess grease drip away, creating beautifully browned meatballs all around. Roll the meat mixture into evenly sized balls and place them onto the rack about 1/2 inch apart. For consistent meatballs that cook evenly, you can use an ice cream scoop or a 1/8-cup measuring cup before rolling them gently between your hands.
Place the tray into the oven and bake the meatballs uncovered for about 18–22 minutes, depending on your oven and the size of the meatballs. About 15 minutes into baking, carefully flip the meatballs over so the bottoms can brown evenly as well. The meatballs should be fully cooked through with a golden exterior while staying juicy on the inside.
Once baked, remove the meatballs from the oven and allow them to cool slightly. If serving with BBQ sauce, place the warm meatballs into a large bowl and toss them in BBQ sauce until coated to your desired level of sauciness. These easy oven baked meatballs are perfect served on their own, over rice or pasta, in sandwiches, or as an easy appetizer for parties and game days.
Does This Recipe Call for Breadcrumbs?
This recipe has breadcrumbs as optional. Breadcrumbs can often expire before you use them which can be really frustrating. While breadcrumbs are useful for bulking up the meatballs so that your batch yields more from it, you can sometimes forget them, the breadcrumbs that you intended to use have expired, or you are gluten intolerant or someone you are preparing them for is gluten intolerant.
This recipe has been tried with and without breadcrumbs and the recipe down below will have them excluded. If you want to add breadcrumbs, these are the measurements that you will need to add and change.
Add 1/2 c. breadcrumbs to the mixture and then increase the milk from 1/8 c. to 1/4 c.
What Fat Percentage in my Ground Beef Should I Use?
The recipe down below is using 10% fat/extra lean ground beef, and the meatballs are quite juicy. Where I live, there is a ground beef option of 5% fat, but these meatballs do not turn out as flavoursome, and they can be quite dry. So try to use ground beef that has fat content of 10% or higher for juicy meatballs.
5% fat – extra, extra lean
10% fat – extra lean
17% fat – lean
23% fat – medium
30% – regular
When making meatballs, you generally want a balance of flavour, moisture, and texture. Here are some tips for choosing the right fat percentage for your meatballs:
- Flavour and Moisture: if you prefer juicier and more flavourful meatballs, opt for 80/20 or 85/15 ground beef. The extra fat will ensure that they remain moist and rich.
- Leaner Option: for a healthier alternative, you can use 90/10 ground beef, but consider adding other moistening ingredients like grated onions, eggs, milk-soaked breadcrumbs, or even a bit of olive oil to prevent them from becoming too dry. But this fat percentage is perfect for a Healthy Beef Taco Salad!
- Combining Blends: some cooks prefer to mix different blends of ground beef to achieve the desired balance. For instance, combining 80/20 with 90/10 can provide a middle ground between flavour and healthiness.
- Mixing Meats: another option is to combine ground beef with other meats like pork, veal, or turkey, which can add flavour and moisture. For example, a common blend for meatballs is equal parts ground beef (80/20) and ground pork.
By selecting the appropriate fat percentage for your ground beef and incorporating additional ingredients, you can create meatballs that are flavourful, moist, and suited to your dietary preferences.
Note: In the U.K. and Ireland, ground beef is called mince.
Baking the Meatballs
This recipe calls for baking the meatballs in the oven. The best way to prevent your meatballs from becoming soggy is to have them sitting on a rack in the oven tray.
Line your oven tray with parchment paper, for easier cleaning, and place the rack on the tray. Place your meatballs on the tray. After 15 minutes of baking, flip the meatballs over to prevent soggy bottoms and have them crisp evenly.
Putting the Meatballs in a Slow Cooker
If you are wanting to take these meatballs to a party or potluck with power outlets, the slow cooker is the way to transport them. Put a tiny drop of water into the bottom of the slow cooker and put the slow cooker on the Keep Warm setting. Bake your meatballs and transfer them to the slow cooker. If you are putting BBQ sauce on them, put it on here and make sure that it is distributed evenly.
Transport the meatballs in the warmed slow cooker and when you arrive at your destination, immediately plug the slow cooker in and put it back on to the Keep Warm setting.
This is an easy non-hassle way of bringing a warm dish and keeping it warm at a party with no stress!
Ingredients
Ground Beef: ground beef is the basis of this meatball recipe. Ground beef comes in various percentages, commonly ranging from 70% lean to 95% lean. It is the primary protein in these meatballs and provides the base flavour and texture just like in these Stuffed Peppers Recipe.
Milk: milk is often added to meatball mixtures to moisten the breadcrumbs.
Salt: salt enhances the flavour of the meat and other ingredients.
Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire sauce adds a complex, savoury umami flavour to the meatballs, enhancing their overall taste. Use it sparingly because of its strong flavour profile.
Black Pepper: black pepper complements the other spices and seasonings.
Onion: onions add moisture, flavour, and some crunch to the meatballs. Make sure to finely chop them so that no one gets a big piece of onion in their meatball. They can be sauteed before adding to the mixture to soften them and mellow out their sharp taste.
Egg: the egg acts as the binder in the meatball mixture. It holds the ingredients together and helps them maintain their shape while cooking.
Mozzarella Cheese: mozzarella cheese can be added to the mixture or stuffed inside of each meatball for a creamier texture.
Breadcrumbs: breadcrumbs bulk up the meatballs. They help you get more meatballs for your money. They help to bind the meatball mixture, absorb moisture, and provide a tender texture.
Tips
- Using a higher fat content for your meatballs will give them a nicer flavour and make them juicier like in this Easy Ground Beef Taco Recipe.
- Breadcrumbs help to bulk up the meatballs so that your yield is higher, but they can be omitted for gluten-free meatballs.
- Shredded cheese can bind the meatballs together if you are stuck and run out of eggs.
Love easy side dishes? Try these next:
Easy Homemade Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef (454g)
- 1/8 c. milk
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 c. onion finely chopped
- 1 egg
- 1/4 c. shredded cheese
- Optional 1/2 c. breadcrumbs + 1/8 c. milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉/200℃/Gas Mark 6.
- Add all of the ingredients together in a large bowl and mix well.
- Line your oven tray with baking parchment and place the rack on top of the tray.
- Roll out your meatballs and place on the rack about 1/2” apart. (For uniform meatballs use an ice cream scoop or use your 1/8 c. to measure the size and roll them in your hands to form a ball.)
- Bake uncovered for 18-22 minutes, depending on your oven, and flip the meatballs after 15 minutes to brown the bottoms.
- Remove from oven and let cool. If using BBQ sauce, place your meatballs in a bowl and mix in BBQ sauce until desired amount of sauciness is reached.
Notes
Author: Sarah Young
Homemade Meatballs FAQ
What is the secret to juicy homemade meatballs?
Using a mix of ground meat, breadcrumbs, and milk helps keep meatballs moist. Avoid overmixing the meat, as this can make them tough.
Is it better to bake or fry meatballs?
Baking is easier and less messy, while frying can give a crispier exterior. Both methods work well depending on your preference.
What type of meat is best for meatballs?
A mix of ground beef and pork is ideal for flavor and tenderness, but you can also use turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
Why are my meatballs tough?
Meatballs can become tough if the mixture is overworked or if too much meat is packed into each ball. Mix gently and avoid compressing them too tightly.
Do you need eggs in meatballs?
Eggs help bind the ingredients together, but you can substitute with milk and breadcrumbs if needed.
Can I freeze homemade meatballs?
Yes. You can freeze raw or cooked meatballs for up to 3 months. Freeze them in a single layer first, then transfer to a container.
How do you know when meatballs are fully cooked?
Meatballs should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and be browned on the outside.
What should I serve with homemade meatballs?
Serve with this Spaghetti Recipe, Mashed Potatoes, rice, or in a sandwich with marinara sauce and melted cheese.