These Baked Meatballs Parmesan are the ULTIMATE delicious and filling weeknight dinner. Kids and adults can both agree that this simple meal made with homemade meatballs, rich marinara sauce, and covered in two kinds of cheese is a recipe to add to the regular rotation!
There are few recipes out there as well loved as this one! As a matter of fact, My son loves it so much he asked for leftovers 3 days in a row the last time we had it!
I love this Baked Meatballs Parmesan recipe for SO many reasons. Here are some things I really appreciate about this meal, and hopefully you will too!
- Everyone loves it! You don’t have to have a dinner time battle, because kids and adults can both appreciate this meal.
- It’s BOTH homemade and easy! These meatballs are made from scratch, but there is no need to fear, because this recipe is simplified so that the ingredients are mostly on hand items, and the prep is super quick so you can have it in the oven even on a busy weeknight.
- It is completely versatile! This meal feels nice enough to feed company, but is fast enough to make even on a packed evening! Plus it feeds a crowd, so everyone will have plenty!
- Perfect for special diets– These baked meatballs are gluten free, low carb, and high protein. If you are feeding some that have special dietary needs you are covered, and it is CRAZY delicious even if you aren’t on a special diet!
- Can be frozen or meal prepped– You can make this Meatball Parmesan Bake ahead of time and pop it in the freezer for a busy night, or make it and use it as a wholesome option to meal prep for the week ahead. See my directions below for the method on these!
I could keep going, but I think you get the picture! This classic meatball dish is a triple threat! Delicious + Fast + Wholesome!
Recipe Notes
This spaghetti recipe with ground turkey is as simple as promised! Just one pot and under 30 minutes to create a delicious sauce for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make turkey meat spaghetti sauce to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
This meatball recipe is really quick and simple. There are many methods for making meatballs, but when you break it down, you need two crucial things:
- Ground meat
- A binder
The Meat
You can use a variety of things for these, but for this recipe we use a combination of beef and pork for flavor.
You can choose how lean you want the meat, but as a general rule of thumb, the more fat is in the meat, the more tender the meatball will come out.
If you want to experiment you can substitute any combination of ground meat to make meatballs including beef, pork, chicken, turkey, veal, etc. Just keep in mind, the more lean the meat in general, the the less tender the meatball.
The Binder
For the binder in these baked meatballs we use a combination of parmesan cheese, heavy cream and egg for the perfect combination of flavor, tenderness, and richness.
Why no breadcrumbs you ask?
This recipe is simplified for weeknight ease and friendly for multiple diets and, most importantly, STILL CRAZY DELICIOUS!
If you have a recipe you prefer with breadcrumbs, you can try my Italian Turkey Meatballs, or Homestyle Meatballs, and continue with the instructions from there, but I’d encourage you to give this a try. It is super simple and you may love it even more!
Other Ingredients
- Parmesan cheese
- Heavy cream- I like heavy cream in this recipe because it adds to the flavor and the fat content helps to keep the meatballs from drying out. Cream adds a lot of richness and flavor, but you can substitute half and half or milk if you are in a pinch.
- Egg
- Onion
- Garlic
- Seasonings- We use a combination of Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
- Marinara sauce- You can use your favorite brand, or make my quick homemade marinara sauce (it is to die for!)
- Mozzarella cheese
Recipe Step by Step
Combine the ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl.
Use your hands to mix the meat until everything is just combined, then roll it into balls.
Place the meatballs in a casserole dish.
Cover the meatballs with marinara sauce and cheeses.
The Perfect Tender Meatball
We talked above how the fat content of the meat is one crucial element to getting a perfectly tender meatball, but there are a couple other tricks as well.
- Freshly ground meat– Don’t buy the tubes of meat, instead, buy the freshly ground packages of meat in the store where you can still see the “strands” of meat. The prepackaged tubes tend to already be compressed which can turn your meatballs tough.
- Use your hands– When it is time to mix the meatballs, it is time to get your hands dirty. Literally! Using your hands is the best way to mix the meatballs because it allows you to use feel to work the meat just until it is combined without overworking it.
- Don’t overcook it! I talk about this in many of my recipes, but the #1 enemy of tender meat is over cooking! Meatballs should be cooked to an internal temp of 160˚F to be perfectly done. If they cook too long, it can result in dry, tough meat.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Freezing these Baked Meatballs Parmesan is an easy way to have a meal on hand for a busy night. There are two options for freezing depending on how you want to store it in the freezer.
Freezer Method 1
- Prepare the meatballs as directed.
- Store them flat in a zip top bag/bags.
- Freeze.
- When ready to prepare the Baked Meatballs Parmesan, thaw the frozen meatballs in the refrigerator until completely thawed.
- Place the meatballs in the baking dish and continue at step 3.
Freezer Method 2
- Prepare the dish as directed through covering the meatballs in marinara in a freezer friendly dish.
- Store the casserole dish in the freezer. Pre-shredded cheese can be stored separately in the freezer, or used fresh when ready to prepare.
- Once ready to bake, thaw in the refrigerator until completely thawed.
- Cover with cheese combination in step 3 and continue as directed.
How to Serve Baked Meatballs Parmesan
This dish has hearty meat, a delicious tomato based sauce, and of course the ooey gooey cheese. It can definitely stand on it’s own as a balanced meal if you just want to serve it straight up on a plate.
There are several ideas for sides that go great with this meal as well if you want to round out your dinner table. Choose one, or bulk it up with a few!
Classic Side Dishes
- Pasta
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Garlic Bread – Seriously the BEST for scooping up that sauce!
- Italian House Salad– Side Salad with Creamy Italian Dressing
- Garlic Roasted vegetables – One of my go to sides!
Low Carb Side Dishes
- Zoodles
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Sautéed Spinach with Garlic
- Brown Butter Broccoli – this is SO GOOD!
Meal Prep + Leftovers
These Baked Meatballs Parmesan make a delicious dinner, and are just as delicious reheated, so they are perfect for meal prep and leftover makeover meals.
To store the Baked Meatballs Parmesan:
- Place in meal sized containers
- Store in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Store in the freezer for up to a month.
Leftover Meal Ideas for Baked Meatballs Parmesan
- Meatball subs– Cut open sub rolls and add butter and a sprinkle of garlic salt to each side. Place on broil for 2-4 minutes or until the butter is melted and the edges are golden brown. Add meatballs with sauce to the sub rolls and place back in the oven until heated through.
- Meatball Pizza– Use your favorite pizze crust and spread with a thin layer of marinara sauce. Chop meatballs up and spread over the crust. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top and add any toppings such as green pepper, onion, black olives or mushrooms that you want. Bake as directed on your pizza crust.
- Meatball Zucchini Boats– Half and hollow out zucchini squash and place cut side up on a baking sheet. Sprinkle zucchini with garlic salt. Chop meatballs into quarters and place the quarters inside the hollowed out zucchini. cover with sauce and extra cheese if desired. Bake at 350 for about 20-25 minutes or until the zucchini is tender and the meatballs are heated through.
Need more dinners this Easy + Delicious?!
Here are a few other simple dishes that can be prepped quick and are sure to please the family!
Meatball Parmesan Bake
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated, divided
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoon onion, grated
- 6 cloves garlic, pressed
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, dried
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Garnish (optional)
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Combine the beef, pork, 3/4 cup parmesan, heavy cream, egg, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, and mix or work with your hands until completely incorporated.
- Form Meatballs into 24 balls and place side by side in a 9×13 casserole dish.
- Cover the meatballs with marinara sauce, then evenly spread the mozzarella and remaining parmesan cheese over the top. Bake uncovered at 350˚F for 35-45 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through (160˚F internal temp.)
- Remove the casserole dish from oven and let set for 5 minutes. Then serve hot. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Leftovers
Extras can be stored in an airtight container for- 3-4 days in the refrigerator
- In the freezer for up to a month
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