Looking for meatball recipes? Try these 25+ healthy and easy ideas, from Italian, Asian, and Swedish meatballs to quick dinners and appetizers.
Best Meatball Recipes
Cozy weather calls for comfort food, and in our house, comfort food equals meatballs. From spicy barbecue turkey meatballs to Italian-inspired chicken meatballs, Moroccan-flavored recipes, and even Asian-inspired dishes, there are endless ways to make meatballs at home.
So are meatballs healthy? When prepared properly, meatballs are a great source of protein and vegetable. Of course, the actual nutritional value varies depending on the ingredients and cooking method. Below, I’ve compiled some of my favorite healthy and delicious meatball recipes.
Simple methods, such as using ground turkey instead of ground beef and packing additional vegetables, can make delicious meatballs with far fewer calories and saturated fat.
What’s the secret to tender meatballs?
The general rule for moist and tender homemade meatballs is to not overdo the meat mixture. This is true whether you use ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken. Overmixing will result in dense, dry, tough meatballs.
25 Easy Meatball Recipes to Try
Below you will find an easy homemade meatball recipe that the whole family will enjoy. Using lean meats like ground turkey and chicken, this recipe turns everyone’s favorite comfort food into a healthy dinner idea.
Slow Cooker Meatballs
I love making easy and juicy Italian turkey meatballs in the slow cooker. You can’t beat a rich, flavorful tomato sauce, or how tender the meat becomes after cooking it in a crock pot for hours.
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Greek Turkey Meatballs
Mix together these tender Mediterranean-style turkey meatballs stuffed with healthy zucchini and enjoy for a weeknight dinner, meal prep lunch, or snack. Dipped into tzatziki or served with a Greek salad, it will always satisfy.
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Italian Turkey Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner
Prepare a nutritious, protein-rich meal all on a baking sheet with this sheet pan dinner idea of Juicy Roasted Turkey Meatballs with Roasted Vegetables. This meatball recipe is perfectly seasoned, easy to customize, and great for meal prep.
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Korean-Style Turkey Gochujang Meatballs
Inspired by sweet and spicy street food, these Asian meatballs are loaded with fresh ginger and garlic and drizzled with Korean gochujang glaze. They make a healthy appetizer idea or salad topper and the flavor is irresistible.
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Spaghetti and Meatball Soup
This health-conscious spaghetti and meatball soup recipe is kid-friendly, with thinly sliced spaghetti noodles and lean turkey meatballs simmered in a light tomato broth. Save the crushed red pepper flakes for the little ones, and season them in a bowl to taste.
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Air Fryer Meatball Sub
Air Fryer Meatball Subs are an easy and healthy twist on a classic. Add homemade meatballs, marinara, and cheese all rolled into a roll for a quick, high-protein dinner your family will love!
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Chicken Romano Meatballs
This easy meal idea packs all the flavor of the beloved classic Italian Chicken Romano into a juicy meatball recipe. Filled with sharp Romano cheese, garlic and herbs and served with a light lemon wine sauce perfect over pasta.
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Harissa Chicken Meatballs
Moist and flavorful harissa chicken meatballs are grain- and gluten-free and made with cauliflower rice instead of breadcrumbs. You’ll love how quick and easy these meatballs are cooked in a mild harissa sauce and ready to serve over rice or couscous.
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Moroccan Meatballs
Tomatoes and olives add delicious Middle Eastern flavor to these Moroccan meatballs. We love the exotic flavors of this kefta recipe that’s easy to make thanks to the Instant Pot. These gluten-free meatballs are amazingly juicy and full of flavor.
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Italian beef and spinach meatballs
Meatballs are one of my favorite ways to pack hidden vegetables into a meal. This time, we filled juicy Italian beef meatballs with pecorino cheese and delicate spinach. Even the pickiest eaters won’t be able to resist this.
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italian wedding soup
This is a classic soup recipe that the whole family will love. My Healthy Italian Wedding Soup is made by “marrying” tender turkey meatballs and leafy escarole in a light, flavorful broth. Dotted with orzo pasta for a comforting one-pot meal.
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Cheesy Turkey Meatball Skillet
You’ll love the flavor of these easy turkey meatballs topped with melted cheese and cooked in one skillet. Serve with a salad for a light meal, and don’t forget some crusty bread to soak up the tangy tomato sauce!
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Salisbury Steak Meatballs
Enjoy your TV dinner. There’s a new quick and easy homemade meal in town. Inspired by Salisbury Steak, these delicious meatballs can be made on the stovetop, in the slow cooker, and even in the Instant Pot. Serve over fluffy mashed potatoes.
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Zucchini Meatballs
Another easy meatless meatball recipe, this time made with grated zucchini, fresh garlic, and salty pecorino. Bake these vegan zucchini meatballs in the oven and then toss them in your favorite marinara sauce.
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Swedish Meatballs
Enjoy this light version of traditional Swedish meatballs made with half ground beef and half ground turkey marinated in a creamy sauce made with low-fat cream cheese.
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Vegan Eggplant Meatballs
Next Meatless Monday calls for some amazing meatless “meatballs.” This is an easy vegan meatball recipe made with smoked eggplant, protein-rich white beans, and a handful of spices and seasonings.
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Honey Lime Meatballs (Slow Cooker)
Enjoy your slow cooker with these sweet and savory Honey Lime Mini Meatballs made with ground beef and spicy turkey sausage. My family can’t get enough of the sweet and spicy flavors.
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Chicken Marsala Meatballs
Add some fun to a classic chicken dinner. Chicken Marsala Meatballs are made with the rich, earthy mushrooms we love in the original, and cooked in a delicious Marsala wine sauce.
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Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Buffalo chicken is a classic for a reason. The tongue-tingling heat is unbearable! This roasted buffalo chicken meatballs recipe also includes delicately chopped vegetables. Enjoy as a light snack on game day with spicy meatballs, cool blue cheese, and celery.
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Southwestern Türkiye Meatballs
Cilantro, spicy jalapenos, garlic, and cumin give this healthy turkey meatball recipe a mouthwatering Southwestern twist. Paired with my favorite creamy tomatillo dip, it makes the ultimate party appetizer or afternoon snack.
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Substituting Bread Crumbs in Meatball Recipe
yes. Breadcrumbs along with eggs often act as a binder in meatball recipes. However, you can substitute breadcrumbs in most meatball recipes. This is especially useful if you make it gluten-free or prefer dishes that are lower in carbohydrates. Easy substitutes for bread crumbs in homemade meatballs are ground old-fashioned oats (just a few pulses in a food processor are all you need), riced cauliflower, or mashed sweet potatoes.
Is it better to bake meatballs or fry them?
Baking meatballs is generally a healthier choice because it reduces the amount of oil, fat, and calories in the recipe. It’s also generally a less confusing and more hands-off approach.
That said, it’s perfectly okay to fry meatballs in a skillet on the stovetop. Much depends on the type and amount of oil used. A little high-quality extra virgin olive oil goes a long way in keeping it light. Below you will find healthy recipes for baked and pan-fried meatballs.
What to Serve with Meatballs
Whether you’re preparing meatballs for a weeknight dinner or as a party appetizer, there are endless ways to make meatballs into a delicious meal or snack. Here are some healthy serving suggestions:
Storage method
We recommend storing cooked meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can reheat it on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave. Don’t forget to refer to the specific storage instructions for each recipe.
Looking for more healthy dinner ideas?
Meatballs never disappoint whenever we’re craving a nutritious, quick, protein-packed dinner (plus they’re great for leftovers). Find My Recipe has hundreds of easy meal ideas. Check it out for more inspiration!
