Simple Homemade Baked Italian Meatballs

These Simple Homemade Baked Italian Meatballs are baked instead of fried, making them a lighter, easier alternative without sacrificing flavor. They’re made with a savory blend of ground beef, garlic, fresh herbs, and breadcrumbs, then baked until golden brown and perfectly tender inside. With a crisp exterior and rich, comforting taste, they’re perfect served on their own, with pasta, or tucked into a sub roll for the ultimate meatball sandwich.

This recipe is one that I hold near and dear to my heart! Passed down through my Sicilian-American family, this Easy Homemade Baked Italian Meatball recipe gives you the exclusivity of the “secret family meatball recipe” that we all yearn for, in a simple, easy to make dish that won’t break the bank.

Why I Love This Recipe

Growing up, I don’t think that there was a single family meal that my great-grandmother attended, in which she didn’t bring meatballs. She passed away many years ago now, but these meatballs help me to relive that childhood nostalgia and feel closer to her, even though she’s not here.

Now, I’m continuing the tradition in my own home. If it were up to my three-year-old, we would have mommy’s homemade meatballs and Simple Homemade Tomato Basil Sauce with Roasted Garlic just about every night, and honestly, I’m not mad about it! I love that these meatballs serve as a base for so many yummy meals, like homemade meatball subs, spaghetti and meatballs, and any other meatball-based recipe you can think of!

The best part? These meatballs are a healthier alternative to traditional meatballs due to the fact that they are baked rather than fried. Pair them with my Simple Homemade Tomato Basil Sauce with Roasted Garlic for a delicious, AND nutritious meal that everyone will love!

Ingredients

Ground Beef: I prefer to use 80-85% lean ground beef, but you can use whatever ground meat you’d prefer, just adjust the se asonings to taste.

Garlic Cloves: Minced garlic cloves add that pop of zesty garlic in each bite, but can be omitted if preferred.

Egg: Egg acts as a binder ingredient to help the meatballs keep their shape.

Bread Crumbs: Like the egg, breadcrumbs work with the egg and milk to bind the ingredients together, so that they don’t fall apart when cooking.

Milk: I prefer whole milk, however, you can substitute with any dairy or dairy substitute.

Seasonings: The seasonings included in this recipe ensures that each bite is rich and full of flavor and depth! The seasonings can be adjusted to your tastes, and feel free to experiment with different spices!

Directions

Step 1: Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13″ casserole dish.

Step 2: In a large bowl, add the ground beef, minced garlic cloves, egg, milk, breadcrumbs, and seasonings, and mix until well combined. I prefer to use my hands for this step, to ensure that all of the ingredients are well combined.

Step 3: Divide meatball mixture into 12 balls, roughly 1.5-2″ around, and tightly roll between hands to form meatballs. Transfer each meatball into the greased 9×13″ casserole dish.

Step 4: Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes, or until cooked through.

Step 5: Serve and enjoy!

Storing

One thing that I love about this recipe is that I can make a few batches as once, and pop them in the freezer for whenever I need a quick meatball without the work! In the freezer, these should last roughly 3-6 months. Alternatively, you can store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Easy Homemade Baked Italian Meatballs

Recipe by Kempton’s KitchenCourse: DinnerCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

332

kcal

These homemade Italian meatballs are oven-baked to perfection—crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside. Made with a savory mix of ground beef, garlic, and herbs, they’re a lighter twist on the classic, delicious on their own or with your favorite sides.

Ingredients

• 1.5lb Ground Beef

• 3 Garlic Cloves (minced)

• 1 Egg

• 1/3c Italian Breadcrumbs

• 1/4c Milk

• 1/2tsp Onion Powder

• 1/2tsp Garlic Powder

• 1/2tsp Basil

• 1/4tsp Thyme

• Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

• Preheat
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9×13″ casserole dish.
• Mix
• To a large bowl, add all ingredients and mix until well combined. I like to use clean hands for this step, as I feel that I’m able to really ensure all of the ingredients are well combined, however, you can use any utensil to mix.
• Once well combined, roll meatball mixture into 12 balls about 1.5-2″ big (my family prefers bigger meatballs; however, you can easily adjust the size of the meatballs to your family’s preferences, cooking time may vary based on size of meatballs).
• Arrange meatballs onto greased 9×13″ pan, and cook uncovered for 35-40 minutes, or until cooked through.
• Optional
• Once cooked through you can eat as-is, drizzled with sauce, or drop them into my Simple Homemade Tomato Basil Sauce with Roasted Garlic for 5 minutes prior to serving!