Meatball Recipes: 25 Healthy & Easy Ideas

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.

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:

• Noodles: Serve homemade meatballs over a bed of your favorite whole-grain spaghetti or another type of pasta. Zoodles (zucchini noodles) or spiralized butternut squash noodles also make great low-carb options.
• Rice: Keep things nutritious with a side of perfect brown rice or cauliflower rice.
• Veggies: Serve meatballs with a side of roasted vegetables, sauteed broccolini, or skinny mashed potatoes (or, try this low-carb cauliflower mash).
• Bread: You can’t go wrong with a bit of bread served alongside a saucy meatball dinner or make it into a sandwich.
• Dipping Sauces: If you’re serving your meatballs as a snack, pair them with a quick marinara sauce, homemade tzatziki, or lime sesame sauce for dipping.

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.