4 meatball recipes to try at home

It is hard to go wrong with meatballs—a meal that is not just delicious but also easy to make. Meatballs contain protein and healthy fats, so adding them to meals can help strengthen muscles and improve cell growth. Another benefit of meatball-based dishes is that they can be prepared using readily available ingredients. If considering making this filling yet fun meal, choosing from a few easy meatball recipes is the best first step. 

1. Spaghetti and meatballs

This is one of the best homemade meatball recipes. To make it, one would first need to get spaghetti, ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and an egg. Then, for flavor, one must add red pepper flakes, salt, garlic cloves, minced kosher salt, virgin olive oil, finely chopped onions, freshly ground black pepper, and parsley. For the sauce, one can use tomato-based sauces along with various spices and herbs. Spaghetti sauce and jarred marinara sauce are also great options here.

• To begin the process, one needs to cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it is al dente, i.e., slightly firm. Then, one can drain the water and set the pasta aside.
• In another bowl, combine beef with parsley, Parmesan, bread crumbs, egg, a teaspoon of salt, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Once done, one can shape the mixture into 10 to 15 balls. 
• Add the meatballs to a large pot containing heated oil. At medium heat, cook the meatballs until they turn brown on all sides. After around 8 to 15 minutes, the meatballs can be transferred into a plate. 
• In another big vessel, cook chopped onions for a few minutes or until they are soft. Add bay leaf and crushed tomatoes, along with salt and pepper, to the pot. After letting the sauce come to a simmer, add the cooked meatballs to it and cover the utensil. Once the sauce thickens, it can be removed from the heat.
• Finally, grab the cooked pasta and serve it with a large scoop of sauce and meatballs.

2. Meatball sub

This sandwich has been a popular snack for years. To make it, one would need ground beef, parsley, ground mild Italian sausage, hoagie rolls, garlic, an egg, Parmesan cheese, and Italian-style breadcrumbs. Additionally, one should use salt, pepper, other herbs and spices for seasoning, and crushed tomatoes to make the sauce.

• Begin by mixing ground beef with parsley, an egg, salt, pepper flakes, garlic, bread crumbs, and Parmesan. Then, shape the mix into balls.
• Add homemade or ready-made tomato sauce to a pot or pan and cook the meatballs in it until they turn golden brown or for about 20 minutes. 
• Now, grab the hoagie rolls and brush their insides with olive oil before sprinkling garlic powder on them. Place about four meatballs inside each roll and top them with cheese before placing them in the broiler. Cook until the cheese begins to melt. 
• Take the cooked subs out of the broiler, top them with parsley and other seasonings, and serve them. 

3. Air-fried chipotle chicken meatballs

This recipe primarily requires some ground chicken, cilantro, panko bread crumbs, a large egg (beaten), cooking spray, olive oil, salsa verde, and a tablespoon of finely chopped chipotle chiles in adobo sauce. The recipe also benefits from three garlic cloves (minced), dried oregano, kosher salt, and assorted herbs and spices.

• To begin making the meatballs, combine ground chicken, chopped fresh cilantro, egg, garlic, oregano, pepper, salt, chipotle chilies and sauce, and panko in a medium-sized bowl. Once combined, shape the mixture into 10 to 15 small balls. 
• Coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray and place the meatballs in it. Here, one should ensure that they leave about half an inch of space between each meatball. 
• Then, cook the meatballs at around 370 degrees. Turn the meatballs a few times and cook until their outsides are golden brown and their centers tender.
• The air-fried meatballs can be served on a platter alongside salsa verde or another dip or sauce.

4. Meatball tortellini soup

Meatballs can also be great starters. An example here is the meatball tortellini soup. This homemade meatball recipe primarily needs 10 ounces of ground beef chuck, a large egg (lightly beaten), a quarter of low-sodium chicken broth, and packaged refrigerated cheese tortellini. The recipe also requires a quarter cup of freshly chopped parsley, a grated garlic clove, grated Parmesan cheese, kosher salt, pepper, celery, carrots, olive oil, and a few cups of loosely packaged baby spinach.

• To make the meatballs, combine ground beef, two tablespoons of parsley, a beaten egg, garlic, parmesan cheese, and pepper in a medium-sized bowl. Then, split the mixture into 15 to 20 meatballs. 
• In a pot, over medium-high heat, pour some olive oil, add the meatballs, and cook them until they turn a golden brown color. Once done, remove the meatballs and set them aside. 
• Add celery and carrots to the same pot and cook them for around five minutes until they turn soft. Add the broth and around three cups of water to this mixture and let it boil.
• Finally, add meatballs to the pot along with half a teaspoon of salt and a couple of tablespoons of parsley. Cook the meatballs for about five minutes or until the mixture simmers. Then, add tortellini to the mixture and cook until it floats to the top. Add parmesan cheese, spinach, salt, and pepper to the pot.
• Finally, add assorted herbs and spices to the soup and serve it hot.