Want to learn the secret to making tasty meatballs that are easy to make? While many pan fry them for Italian gravy, it’s much easier to bake meatballs in the oven and I’ve got a recipe to keep them moist and delicious. Here’s how to do it!
While pan-fried meatballs have a little more flavor, baking meatballs in the oven is easier, healthier for you, and makes less of a mess!
I usually make meatballs as I’m preparing my Sunday sauce.
I learned how to make meatballs from my grandmother and mother. Not that they ever sat down to really show me how to make them, but I watched as they made Italian gravy every Sunday.
For years, I’ve perfected how I make meatballs and my family loves them every time.
It’s important to note that I don’t make meatballs the same way twice and that’s because I don’t measure things out.
But I do make them a particular way and this recipe shares how I generally make them. So feel free to tweak the ingredients as you like.
Are you ready to make meatballs in the oven for Italian gravy? Let’s go!
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What is the Secret to Making Good Meatballs?
Be selective with your meats. Leaner meats like chicken or turkey can overcook easily and be tougher than fattier meats of beef or pork.
And if you want meatballs with more flavor, mix in a few different meats like beef and pork.
It’s also important to keep moisture in the mixture with eggs (that help bind the meatballs together) and milk or cream. I tend to use half and half because that’s what I have on hand but the point is, you want to keep the meat moist so it doesn’t dry out when cooking.
Finally, be gentle when forming the meatballs. Because rolling and packing them too tightly will make them tougher and chewier after cooking.
Is It Better to Bake or Pan-Fry Meatballs?
To me, the answer depends on what your goals are.
Pan frying is quicker to cook, but the meatballs are higher in fat and it makes a huge mess on the stove top.
Baking takes longer to cook, but the meatballs are lighter in calories because they are not fried in oil. And, there is much less mess to clean after baking.
So for me, baking meatballs in the oven is better than pan-frying them.
How to Make Meatballs in the Oven for Italian Gravy
My family loves how I make meatballs and I almost never make them the same because I generally don’t work with measured ingredients and eyeball it instead.
So the recipe ingredients below are a rough estimate based on how we like it.
If I’m feeling lazy about it, I’ll swap out real onions and garlic for the prepared spices so there is some flexibility when making these. They just won’t taste the same.
To me, meatballs in Italian gravy taste better when they have more seasonings in the mix.
This recipe makes about 20-25 meatballs depending on how big you make them.
That may sound like a lot, but they go quickly. And if you have leftovers, they freeze easily too.
Ingredients for Meatballs in the Oven Recipe
I typically use one type of meat when making Italian gravy with meatballs, but sometimes I’ll mix it up with pork.
Lately, I’ve been making meatballs in the oven with turkey to lighten the calories even more.
So think of this recipe as more of a guide than anything set in stone because you can easily play around with the ingredients.
- ground beef
- Italian bread crumbs
- parmesan cheese
- eggs
- milk Whatever you have on hand is OK
- Worcester sauce
- basil
- oregano
- onion
- garlic
- fennel seeds
- salt and pepper to taste
Directions to Make Meatballs in the Oven
Making meatballs is pretty straightforward and easy to do because you pretty much dump all the ingredients in a bowl, mix it together and make the meatballs.
You can use a mixer, but I prefer to make meatballs with my hands. It’s less to clean up and easier for me but feel free to use a mixer if you want!
Here’s how to make my recipe for oven meatballs.
- Pre-heat oven to 400
- Grab an oversized bowl and dump all the ingredients in
- Mix it up with hands until fully mixed
- Make meatballs to be a little bigger than a golf ball
- Place on baking sheet
- Bake for 25 minutes
- Remove from oven and add to Italian gravy
As an aside, meatballs can also be cooked directly in the sauce but I prefer them pre-cooked before going in the sauce.
How to Make Meatballs in the Oven for Italian Gravy
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 lb ground beef
- ¾ cup Italian bread crumbs
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp milk Whatever you have on hand is OK
- 2-3 dash worcester sauce
- 2 tbsp basil
- 2 tbsp oregano
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp fennel seeds
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400
- Grab an oversized bowl and dump all the ingredients in
- Mix it up with hands until fully mixed
- Make meatballs to be a little bigger than a golf ball
- Place on baking sheet
- Bake for 25 minutes
- Remove from oven and add to sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
More Italian Recipe Ideas
I’m a huge fan of Italian food and make dishes all the time for my family.
It’s part of my heritage and the food is delicious!
Here are some easy recipes to try.
- Baked Shrimp Scampi Recipe
- Grandma’s Recipe for Bruschetta Tomatoes
- Caprese Salad
- Grilled Sausage and Peppers
- Italian Seafood Stew
- Proscuitto and Brie Appetizer Bites
- Caramelized Pear Flatbread Recipe
Thank you so much for following along.
Enjoy a beautiful day! xo
