How to Cook Meatballs
There are many different ways that you can use to cook meatballs. No matter what tasty recipe you use, you’ll want to learn how to cook meatballs so that they are tender, juicy and flavorful. I’ve got all the best tips and tricks right here!
How to Cook Meatballs
Meatballs are such a versatile dish and go well with loads of different sauces. Whether you like a simple homemade marinara sauce, sticky sweet BBQ sauce, or a hearty cream sauce you can easily cook meatballs through various different cooking methods.
You can make meatballs from ground pork, lean ground beef, ground turkey and even ground chicken. And no matter what kind of meat you use, any of these cooking methods will work! You make baked meatballs in the oven, tender meatballs in the air fryer, stove top meatballs and even slow cook or grill them.
Whether you’re looking for a low carb dinner like spaghetti squash and meatball marinara or Greek inspired Mediterranean lamb meatballs, there are tons of yummy recipes to go around. Meatballs are a great meal for a busy weeknight and are fabulous meal prep too!
Find your favorite meatball recipe and choose whichever cooking method will work best for you. Once you learn how to cook meatballs one way, then you can try another! So whenever you need a tasty meal, there are many different ways to throw them together.
Why You’ll Love Learning How to Cook Meatballs
From cooking meatballs in simmering sauce to tossing them in the air fryer, there’s so many benefits to learning how to cook meatballs:
- You can meal prep some dishes really quickly, or simply get dinner on the table without a whole lot of hassle. Make meals that the whole family will enjoy!
- These cooking methods work for any recipe and all different meat. So if you find a recipe you want to use but want a different cooking method, just choose any of these.
- Meatballs are an easy source of protein and there are loads of recipes out there that fit any dietary restrictions. If you need gluten free, there are recipes with no breadcrumb mixture. If you need low fat, there’s plenty of lean recipes. You can find anything you need and use these cooking methods!
How to Cook Meatballs
Depending on what type of meatballs you’re making and how quickly you want to cook them, there are many cooking methods to choose from. I’ve got the best tips and tricks for each method, so keep reading to find what will work best for you:
Skillet Method
Prepare the meatballs according to recipe instructions and then heat a large skillet over medium heat on the stovetop.
Add some oil to the skillet and then place raw meatballs onto the skillet once the oil is hot. Cook meatballs for 8-10 minutes, using tongs to rotate them occasionally.
Cook until no pink remains in the middle and the meatballs reach a safe internal temperature. Once cooked, transfer to a plate and add your favorite sauce. You can also create a sauce in the same skillet and then place the easy skillet meatballs back in to allow them to simmer in the sauce. Or simply simmer uncooked meatballs in sauce until cooked through.
Air Fryer Method
My air fryer turkey meatballs are a favorite, but any recipe can be cooked in the air fryer! Here’s the instructions:
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3-5 minutes. If you do not have a preheat function on your air fryer, then just turn it on for a few minutes before cooking.
While it preheats, combine all ingredients for meatballs in a large mixing bowl. Then form into evenly sized balls and set to the side.
Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray and place meat balls into an even layer across the bottom of the basket. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until they reach a safe internal temperature.
Remove and serve with your favorite sauce!
Oven Method
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and then line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Mix together all of the ingredients in a bowl and then form meatballs that are evenly sized. Place each one onto the lined baking sheet.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown on the outside and cooked all the way through. Allow to sit for a minute or two and then serve with any variety of sauces you want!
Grill Method
Did you know you can grill meatballs? It’s actually super simple! Preheat your grill to a medium high heat and grease the grill grates well.
Form balls from the meatball mixture and then carefully place them onto the grates. You’ll want to make sure that the meatballs are large enough so that they don’t slip through the gaps on the grates, but not so large that they don’t cook through the middle.
Grill for 10-12 minutes, using tongs to rotate a few times. Remove from the grill once they are cooked through and serve with any sauce!
Slow Cooker Method
Heat a skillet over medium heat with a bit of oil, then place each meatball in the hot pan and lightly brown them. Transfer to a slow cooker and cover with plenty of sauce.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through and tender. Slow cooking allows the flavors to meld together so well! It’s a great “set and forget” method for dinner.
Instant Pot Method
Set your Instant Pot to sauté mode and once warm, heat some oil or ghee in the bottom of the pot. Brown your meatballs on all sides, about 2 minutes per side, then remove and set aside. You may need to do this in batches.
Once every meatball is cooked, place them back into the Instant Pot and add sauce or chicken broth. Enough so that they don’t stick to the bottom while they cook.
Place the lid onto the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. Use a quick release method and then remove the meatballs from the pot.
You can continue making a sauce in the Instant Pot, like I do for these Swedish meatballs, or simply serve with any of your other favorite sauces.
How to Store Meatballs
Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container and allow them to fully cool. Refrigerate for 2-3 days. To freeze leftovers, place them onto a baking sheet and into the freezer. Once frozen, transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
It is best to freeze meatballs apart from the sauce. They’re pretty easy to heat up in the slow cooker, from frozen, with your favorite sauce. Or you can thaw frozen meatballs in the fridge overnight and reheat with any method you want.
Meatball Recipes
In general, these cooking methods will work for any meatball recipe. If you’re in the mood for an Asian inspired dish, these orange chicken meatballs are delicious. Italian meatballs are a delicious dinner too!
You can also make some fun appetizers like buffalo chicken meatballs are really easy to make. You can even use meatballs in soup like this turkey meatball and zoodle soup.
Grab some fresh sub buns to make yummy meatball subs. Melt mozzarella cheese or provolone cheese over the top and add a sprinkle of Italian seasoning for the most incredible flavor!
Tips for Success
Check out these tips and tricks that work for any of these cooking methods:
- Always line your pan or grease the cooking surface that you are using. It is easy for meatballs to stick, but if you have a surface that is properly oiled with olive oil or avocado oil, or lined with parchment paper, it will help reduce the amount of sticking.
- Make evenly sized meatballs no matter what great meatball recipe you’re using. This is the easiest way to ensure that all the meatballs finish cooking at the same time and reach a safe internal temperature.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to quickly and accurately check the internal temperature of each meatball.
FAQ
It is best to at least sear meatballs before cooking them in sauce. Otherwise they will simmer a bit too much and begin to fall apart.
Use egg and fresh bread crumbs to keep your meatballs tender and juicy. It is important to use the correct ratio of meat to to binders so that you don’t end up with tough meatballs.
More Helpful Resources
- Whole 30 and Healthy Pantry Essentials
- How to Freeze Strawberries
- How to Freeze Garlic
- How to Use an Air Fryer
How to Cook Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground meat such as chicken, beef, turkey, pork
- other ingredients as required by your recipe
Instructions
Skillet Method
- Prepare the meatballs according to recipe instructions and then heat a large skillet over medium heat on the stovetop.
- Add some oil to the skillet and then place raw meatballs onto the skillet once the oil is hot. Cook meatballs for 8-10 minutes, using tongs to rotate them occasionally.
- Cook until no pink remains in the middle and the meatballs reach a safe internal temperature. Once cooked, transfer to a plate and add your favorite sauce. You can also create a sauce in the same skillet and then place the easy skillet meatballs back in to allow them to simmer in the sauce. Or simply simmer uncooked meatballs in sauce until cooked through.
Air Fryer Method
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3-5 minutes. If you do not have a preheat function on your air fryer, then just turn it on for a few minutes before cooking.
- While it preheats, combine all ingredients for meatballs in a large mixing bowl. Then form into evenly sized balls and set to the side.
- Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray and place meat balls into an even layer across the bottom of the basket. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until they reach a safe internal temperature. Remove and serve with your favorite sauce!
Oven Method
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and then line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Mix together all of the ingredients in a bowl and then form meatballs that are evenly sized. Place each one onto the lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown on the outside and cooked all the way through. Allow to sit for a minute or two and then serve with any variety of sauces you want!
Grill Method
- Preheat your grill to a medium high heat and grease the grill grates well.
- Form balls from the meatball mixture and then carefully place them onto the grates. You’ll want to make sure that the meatballs are large enough so that they don’t slip through the gaps on the grates, but not so large that they don’t cook through the middle.
- Grill for 10-12 minutes, using tongs to rotate a few times. Remove from the grill once they are cooked through and serve with any sauce!
Slow Cooker Method
- Heat a skillet over medium heat with a bit of oil, then place each meatball in the hot pan and lightly brown them. Transfer to a slow cooker and cover with plenty of sauce.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the meatballs are cooked through and tender.
Instant Pot Method
- Set your Instant Pot to sauté mode and once warm, heat some oil or ghee in the bottom of the pot. Brown your meatballs on all sides, about 2 minutes per side, then remove and set aside. You may need to do this in batches.
- Once every meatball is cooked, place them back into the Instant Pot and add sauce or chicken broth. Enough so that they don’t stick to the bottom while they cook.
- Place the lid onto the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. Use a quick release method and then remove the meatballs from the pot.
- You can continue making a sauce in the Instant Pot, like I do for these Swedish meatballs, or simply serve with any of your other favorite sauces.
