The Best Oven Baked Meatballs
These oven baked meatballs are simple, flavorful, and incredibly useful for easy weeknight dinners or meal prep. Made with ground beef, almond flour, egg, and a few pantry seasonings, they bake beautifully in the oven without the need for standing over the stove. The result is a batch of tender, golden meatballs that can be served right away or stored for later meals.
This easy baked meatballs recipe is the kind of basic dinner staple that works in many different ways. Serve the meatballs with marinara sauce over spaghetti noodles, pair them with Alfredo sauce, enjoy them with spaghetti squash, or add them to rice bowls, sandwiches, or a quick protein-packed lunch. Since the meatballs are cooked on a sheet pan, cleanup is straightforward, and the recipe is easy to double if you want extra for the freezer.
Looking for another option? Ground chicken can also be used to make delicious baked chicken meatballs if you want a lighter variation.
Key Ingredients
- Ground beef – the main ingredient in these homemade oven baked meatballs. This recipe uses 80/20 ground beef for rich flavor and a tender texture.
- Almond flour – helps bind the meatballs while keeping the recipe gluten-free as written. Breadcrumbs or panko crumbs can be used instead if preferred.
- Egg – works with the almond flour to hold the meat mixture together so the meatballs keep their shape while baking.
- Seasonings – onion powder, garlic powder, dried basil, kosher salt, and black pepper add classic savory flavor without making the recipe complicated.
How To Make Oven Baked Meatballs
Step 1: Add the ground beef, almond flour, egg, onion powder, kosher salt, garlic powder, dried basil, and black pepper to a large mixing bowl. Use a bowl that gives you enough room to combine the ingredients evenly without overworking the meat.
Step 2: Mix the meatball ingredients until fully combined. Scoop a heaping tablespoon of the mixture at a time and roll it between your hands to form a round meatball. Arrange the raw meatballs in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one so they cook evenly.
Pro Tip
For evenly sized oven baked meatballs, use a large cookie scoop or small ice cream scoop. Uniform meatballs cook at the same rate, look neater when served, and make portioning easier for meal prep.
Step 3: Bake the meatballs in a 375°F oven for about 24 minutes, or until they are cooked through and lightly golden brown. If desired, sprinkle a little extra salt and pepper over the tops before baking.
Step 4: Serve the meatballs warm with your favorite sauce, pasta, rice, or vegetables. They are also excellent for storing in the refrigerator or freezer for a future meal.
How To Serve Oven Baked Meatballs
These homemade baked meatballs are versatile enough for many family meals. The classic option is to toss them with an easy pasta sauce and serve them over spaghetti noodles. They also work well with spaghetti squash, rice, barbecue sauce, or any sauce you already enjoy. Because the flavor is savory and simple, the meatballs can fit into Italian-inspired dinners, quick meal prep bowls, or casual lunches.
If you are planning ahead, bake the meatballs, let them cool, and store them for later. Having cooked meatballs ready in the refrigerator or freezer makes it easier to prepare a satisfying dinner on busy nights.
Other Meatball Recipes You Might Like
Sloppy Joe Orzo with Mini Meatballs
Dinner/Entree
Swedish Meatballs
Dinner/Entree
Greek Chicken Meatballs
Chicken
Saucy Italian Meatballs with Parmesan Orzo
Dinner/Entree
Made this recipe and loved it?
If you tried these oven baked meatballs, consider leaving a rating and review. It is especially helpful to share any substitutions or changes you made so other home cooks can learn from your experience.
Oven Baked Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pound ground beef, 80/20
- ¼ cup almond flour
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
-
Prep: Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
-
Make the meatballs: Add the ground beef, almond flour, egg, onion powder, kosher salt, garlic powder, dried basil, and black pepper to a large bowl. Mix until combined. Using your hands is usually the easiest method. Scoop a heaping tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a meatball. Repeat until all of the mixture is used. You should have about 20 meatballs.
-
Bake: Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, about ½ to 1 inch apart. Sprinkle the tops lightly with additional salt and pepper if desired. Bake for 24 minutes, or until cooked through and golden brown.
-
Serve: Enjoy the meatballs however you like. They are especially good with spaghetti noodles and spaghetti sauce.
Notes
- Almond flour: Italian breadcrumbs or panko crumbs can be used instead.
- Baking sheet: The meatballs can also be cooked in the cups of a mini muffin tin.
- Storage: Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Let the baked meatballs cool completely. Place them on a clean baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour, then transfer the frozen meatballs to a storage bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Yield: This recipe makes approximately 20 meatballs.
Nutrition
