Looking for meatball recipes? Try over 25 healthy and easy ideas—from Italian, Asian and Swedish meatballs to quick dinners and appetizers.
The Best Meatball Recipes
Cozy weather calls for comfort food, and in our house, comfort food equals meatballs. I have so many ways to make homemade meatballs, from spicy BBQ turkey meatballs to Italian-inspired chicken meatballs, recipes bursting with Moroccan flavor to Asian-style dishes.
So, are meatballs healthy? When properly prepared, meatballs are an excellent source of protein and even vegetables. Of course, their real nutritional value depends on the ingredients that go into them, and the method you use to cook them. Below, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite meatball recipes that are healthy and flavorful.
Simple swaps like using ground turkey in place of ground beef, and packing in extra veggies can lead to tasty meatballs that are much lower in calories and saturated fats.
What’s the Secret to Tender Meatballs?
The general rule for moist, tender homemade meatballs is to not overwork the meat mixture. This holds true whether you’re working with ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken. Over-mixing results in dense, dry, and tough meatballs.
25 Easy Meatball Recipes to Try
Below you’ll find easy homemade meatball recipes that the whole family will enjoy. Using lean meats like ground turkey and chicken, these recipes turn everyone’s favorite comfort food into wholesome, healthy dinner ideas.
Slow Cooker Meatballs
I love making these easy and juicy Italian turkey meatballs in the slow cooker. You can’t beat the rich and savory tomato sauce, or how tender the meat turns out after cooking for hours in the crock pot.
Get the Recipe
Greek Turkey Meatballs
Whip together these tender Mediterranean-style turkey meatballs filled with healthy zucchini for an easy weeknight dinner, meal-prep lunch, or snack. Dip them in tzatziki or serve them in a Greek salad, they’ll always satisfy.
Get the Recipe
Italian Turkey Meatball Sheet Pan Dinner
Prepare a nourishing and high-protein meal all on a baking sheet with this sheet pan dinner idea made from juicy turkey meatballs baked up with roasted veggies. This meatball recipe is seasoned to perfection, easy to customize, and great for meal prep.
Get the Recipe
Korean-Inspired Turkey Gochujang Meatballs
These sweet-and-spicy street food-inspired Asian meatballs are bursting with fresh ginger and garlic, tossed in a Korean-style gochujang glaze. They make a healthy appetizer idea or salad topper, and the flavors are irresistible.
Get the Recipe
Spaghetti and Meatball Soup
This health-conscious spaghetti and meatball soup recipe is kid-friendly, made with cut-up spaghetti noodles and lean turkey meatballs swimming in a light tomato broth. Leave out the crushed red pepper flakes for little ones, and spice up your bowls to taste.
Get the Recipe
Air Fryer Meatball Subs
Air Fryer Meatball Subs are an easy, healthy twist on the classic. Made with homemade meatballs, marinara, and cheese all tucked into a roll for a quick, high-protein dinner your family will love!
Get the Recipe
Chicken Romano Meatballs
This easy meal idea wraps up all the beloved flavors of classic Italian Chicken Romano into a juicy meatball recipe. Stuffed with sharp Romano cheese, garlic, and herbs, and served in a light lemony wine sauce that’s perfect over pasta.
Get the Recipe
Harissa Chicken Meatballs
These moist and flavorful harissa chicken meatballs are grain-free and gluten-free, made with cauliflower rice in place of breadcrumbs. You’ll love how quickly and easily these meatballs cook up in mild harissa sauce, ready to be dished up over rice or couscous.
Get the Recipe
Moroccan Meatballs
Tomatoes and olives infuse these Moroccan meatballs with delicious Middle-Eastern flair. We love the exotic flavors of this Kefta recipe, made easily thanks to the Instant Pot. These gluten-free meatballs come out amazingly succulent and full of flavor.
Get the Recipe
Italian Beef and Spinach Meatballs
Meatballs are one of my favorite ways to pack hidden veggies into a meal. In this case, I took juicy Italian beef meatballs and filled them with Pecorino cheese and sneaky spinach. Even the pickiest of eaters can’t resist these.
Get the Recipe
Italian Wedding Soup
This is a classic soup recipe that the whole family loves. My healthy Italian wedding soup is made from a “marriage” of tender turkey meatballs and leafy escarole in a light and flavorful broth. It’s dotted with orzo pasta for a comforting one-pot meal.
Get the Recipe
Cheesy Turkey Meatball Skillet
You’ll love the flavors of these easy turkey meatballs topped with melted cheese and cooked all in one skillet. Keep things light with a side of salad, and don’t forget the crusty bread for sopping up all that tangy tomato sauce!
Get the Recipe
Salisbury Steak Meatballs
Move over, TV dinner – there’s a new fast and easy homemade meal in town. These saucy Salisbury steak-inspired meatballs can be made on the stovetop, in the slow cooker, and even in the Instant Pot. Serve them over a bed of fluffy mashed potatoes.
Get the Recipe
Zucchini Meatballs
Another effortless meatless meatball recipe, this time made with grated zucchini, fresh garlic, and salty Pecorino. Bake these vegetarian zucchini meatballs in the oven and then toss them in your favorite marinara sauce.
Get the Recipe
Swedish Meatballs
Enjoy this lightened-up version of classic Swedish meatballs, made with half ground beef and half ground turkey, soaked in a creamy sauce made with low-fat cream cheese.
Get the Recipe
Vegan Eggplant Meatballs
Your next meatless Monday calls for these incredible meat-free “meatballs”. This is an easy vegan meatball recipe made from smoky eggplant and protein-rich white beans, with a handful of aromatics and seasonings.
Get the Recipe
Honey-Lime Meatballs (Slow Cooker)
Let your slow cooker do the work with these sweet and zesty honey-lime mini meatballs made from ground beef and spicy turkey sausage. My family can’t get enough of the sweet and spicy flavors.
Get the Recipe
Chicken Marsala Meatballs
Try this fun twist on the classic chicken dinner. Chicken marsala meatballs are made with all the rich flavors and earthy mushrooms that we love about the original, cooked in a delicious marsala wine sauce.
Get the Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Buffalo chicken is a classic for a reason. The tongue-tingling heat is just irresistible! This recipe for baked buffalo chicken meatballs is filled with sneaky minced veggies, too. Pair these spicy meatballs with cooling blue cheese and celery for an easy game day snack.
Get the Recipe
Southwest Turkey Meatballs
Cilantro, spicy jalapeños, garlic, and cumin give this healthy turkey meatball recipe a mouthwatering Southwestern kick. Paired with my favorite creamy tomatillo dip, it’s the ultimate party appetizer or afternoon snack.
Get the Recipe
Substituting Breadcrumbs in Meatball Recipes
Yes. Along with eggs, breadcrumbs often act as a binder in meatball recipes. However, you can substitute the breadcrumbs in most meatball recipes, which is especially handy if you’re making them gluten-free or you’d prefer a dish that’s lower in carbs. Easy replacements for breadcrumbs in homemade meatballs are ground old-fashioned oats (just pulse them in the food processor a few times), riced cauliflower, or mashed sweet potatoes.
Is It Better to Bake or Fry Meatballs?
Baking meatballs is generally the healthier option, as it reduces the amount of oil, fats, and calories in a recipe. It’s also usually the more hands-off approach, with less mess.
That being said, it’s perfectly fine to fry meatballs in a skillet on the stovetop. A lot of it depends on the amount as well as what kind of oil you’re using. A little bit of high-quality extra virgin olive oil goes a long way in keeping things light. You’ll find healthy recipes for both baked meatballs and pan-fried meatballs below.
What to Serve With Meatballs
Whether you’re preparing your meatballs as a weeknight dinner or as a party appetizer, there are endless ways to make them into a delicious meal or snack. Here are some healthy serving suggestions:
How to Store
Cooked meatballs are perfect to store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days after they’re made or in the freezer up to 3 months. You can reheat them on the stove, or in the oven or 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, and high-protein dinner (plus, they’re great for leftovers). My recipe finder is home to hundreds of easy meal ideas, check it out for more inspiration!