These Cheesy One Skillet Italian Baked Meatballs are juicy, tender, and packed with flavor from fresh herbs and seasonings. They’re seared and then topped with cheese before being baked in marinara sauce for the perfect cheesy saucy meatball.
Cheesy One Skillet Italian Baked Meatballs
I have a lot delicious meatball recipes on my site but I realized recently that I don’t have a more classic, Italian baked meatball recipe on All the Healthy Things for you so I had to fix that! When I was thinking of how I wanted to execute this recipe I knew it had to be packed with flavor while still being relatively simple and easy to make…I think I nailed it!
These Cheesy Italian Baked Meatballs are full of flavor from fresh herbs, perfectly juicy, and have the perfect cheesy finish. Of course, this recipe (like almost all of the recipes on ATHT) is relatively easy to make. Plus, it’s a one skillet recipe so no need for a ton of pots and pans. Serve them over your favorite pasta or serve them with one of the side options I share later in this post for the perfect hearty weeknight dinner.
Baked Italian Meatballs Video: Watch How to Make This Recipe
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Get all of our reader favorite meatball recipes, here!
One Skillet Meatball Ingredients
Ground Beef and Pork: for these meatballs we’re using a combination of ground beef and ground pork. The ground pork helps to give these meatballs a little extra fat and moisture which gives you a juicy meatball.
Garlic and Onion: fresh garlic and onion give these meatballs a solid base of flavor.
Herbs: you’ll need fresh basil and parsley for the meatball mixture as well as some extra chopped herbs for garnish.
Egg: one large egg helps to bind the meatballs together. I recommend whisking the egg before adding it to the meatball mixture.
Almond Milk: to ensure the meatballs don’t dry out, this recipe calls for almond milk. I’ve included some substitutions for almond milk below if you need them.
Breadcrumbs: we’re using Italian breadcrumbs for these meatballs to help keep them moist.
Marinara Sauce: since I’m already making the meatballs from scratch, I like to keep things easy when it comes to the marinara sauce and use my favorite store-bought brand.
Cheese: shredded mozzarella gives the baked meatballs that delicious melty cheesy finish and grated parmesan adds the perfect flavorful finish.
Ingredients Substitutions
- Ground Beef and Pork – you can easily swap the ground beef and pork blend in this recipe for ground turkey or ground chicken if you prefer. You could also use all ground beef and skip the pork if needed.
- Breadcrumbs – if you need to keep this recipe gluten free, swap the breadcrumbs for your favorite gluten free brand. You could also use almond flour if needed.
- Almond Milk – you could substitute the almond milk for another non-dairy milk like cashew milk or oat milk if needed. You could also use regular whole milk instead of the almond milk if you prefer.
- Cheese – dairy free versions of the grated parmesan and mozzarella can both be subbed for traditional dairy cheeses if needed.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
- mixing bowl
- silicone spatula
- sharp knife
- tongs
- small pot
- cutting board
- cookie scoop
- MEASURING CUPS
- MEASURING SPOONS
- large skillet
How to Make This Baked Meatball Recipe
Step One: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Step Two: Add the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, whisked egg, almond milk, onion, parsley, basil, garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to a large mixing bowl. Gently mix together until well combined. Use a tablespoon measure to scoop and roll the meat mixture into meatballs. You should be able to make around 20 meatballs.
Step Three: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot add the olive oil and then add the meatballs to the skillet and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. You may have to do this in batches depending on the size of your skillet. Once the meatballs have browned, remove them from skillet.
Step Four: Remove the skillet from the heat and wipe down or rinse to remove any browned bits. Return the meatballs to the skillet and pour the marinara sauce over the meatballs. Top the meatballs with mozzarella cheese.
Step Five: Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and the edges of the skillet are bubbly. If desired, turn the oven to low broil and let cook for 2-3 minutes to help the cheese brown a bit.
Step Six: Remove the skillet from the oven and top with grated parmesan and additional fresh parsley and basil.
Step Seven: Serve the meatballs and sauce with the cooked pasta of your choice. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Of course these meatballs pair well with perfectly cooked pasta, but if you’re looking for some different options there are plenty of great recipes to choose from on All the Healthy Things! Here are a few non-traditional options that I think you’ll love:
- Italian Chopped Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Creamy Slow Cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes
My Favorite Make Ahead Tips for This Recipe
I love this recipe because you can do some simple prep ahead of time to make things even easier. One of the biggest time saving tips is to prepare the meatballs in advance! Here are a few of my favorite make ahead and time saving tips:
- Make a double batch of the meatball mixture – you can easily make a double batch of the meatball mixture and then freeze half for a later date. When you’re ready to make a batch of meatballs, allow the mixture to thaw in the fridge and then scoop, roll, and cook the meatballs.
- Prep and freeze the meatballs – want to save even more time in the kitchen? You can prepare and roll the meatballs in advance then place them on a large sheet pan and flash freeze for 30-45 minutes. Once the meatballs have hardened, transfer them to a freezer safe storage container. When it’s time to cook a batch of meatballs you can either cook the meatballs from frozen or let them thaw completely before cooking.
- Cook and freeze the meatballs – another great option is to prep and fully cook your meatballs in advance before freezing. When it’s time for dinner, just remove from the freezer and let the meatballs simmer in the marinara sauce until heated through. Once hot, transfer the meatballs, to the oven and top with cheese to finish baking.
Storage and Reheat Instructions
Store the meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. You can reheat in the microwave or simmer on the stove top until the meatballs are heated through.
More Delicious One-Skillet Recipes
- Lemon Chicken Piccata
- Cheesy Skillet Chipotle Chicken
- French Onion Chicken
- Turkey Enchilada Skillet
- Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Skillet Cornbread Chili Pie
- One Pan Greek Chicken with Artichokes and Olives
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
I hope you give these Cheesy Italian Baked Meatballs a try! They are so easy to make and delicious! If you do give this recipe a try, let me know!
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Cheesy One Skillet Italian Baked Meatballs
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 20 meatballs 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Description
These Cheesy Italian Baked Meatballs are juicy, tender, and packed with flavor from fresh herbs and seasonings. They’re seared and then topped with cheese before being baked in marinara sauce for the perfect cheesy saucy meatball.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/4 Italian breadcrumbs
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1/4 cup finely diced yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped basil, plus more for serving
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 25 oz marinara sauce, plus more for serving
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Make the meatballs: Add the ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, whisked egg, almond milk, onion, parsley, basil, garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to a large mixing bowl. Gently mix together until well combined. Use a tablespoon measure to scoop and roll the meat mixture into meatballs. You should be able to make around 20 meatballs.
- Sear the meatballs: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot add the olive oil and then add the meatballs to the skillet and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. You may have to do this in batches depending on the size of your skillet. Once the meatballs have browned, remove them from skillet.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and wipe down or rinse to remove any browned bits. Return the meatballs to the skillet and pour the marinara sauce over the meatballs. Top the meatballs with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake the meatballs: Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and the edges of the skillet are bubbly. If desired, turn the oven to low broil and let cook for 2-3 minutes to help the cheese brown a bit.
- Remove the skillet from the oven and top with grated parmesan and additional fresh parsley and basil.
- Serve the meatballs and sauce with the cooked pasta of your choice. Enjoy!
Recipe by: Ashlea Carver / All the Healthy Things | Photography by: Eat Love Eat
