I mean, is there anything more versatile than a meatball? You can use ground turkey, chicken, pork, beef, and even venison. And then there’s the sauce. You might usually stick with something full of tomatoes, but why not step outside the box and try something sweet or spicy instead? From Italy and Sweden to Greece and Morocco, these meatball recipes from around the world are here to prove they’re good for more than just a simple sub.
1. Gordon Ramsay Meatballs
Don’t be an idiot sandwich and try these meatballs already! These golden brown babes are crispy on the edges and tender inside, but would you expect anything less from a master chef? Made with a mixture of ground beef and pork, all you need is the basics to serve up this restaurant-worthy dish.
2. Grandma’s Italian Meatball
Mamma mia, are these slow-cooked meatballs the way to my heart. Using a mixture of ground beef and sirloin, this recipe broils the meatballs in the oven then finishes them off on the stovetop in a homemade tomato sauce. The result is a melt in your mouth bite good enough to compete with your nana’s dish!
3. Ikea Swedish Meatball
Who knew a furniture store could start a food trend like this? Even if you haven’t had the OG, you know where they’re from! Gone are the days of window shopping just to enjoy unbelievable food because this recipe replicates the popular dish perfectly. It’s a blend of ground beef and pork that’s pan-fried and finished in the oven before swimming in a decadent gravy to serve. Yum!
4. Sweet and Sour Meatballs
These are ideal to serve with toothpicks and not-so-subtly inhale with your cousin at a family Christmas party. Did I mention they’re made in under twenty minutes? I couldn’t think of a better potluck dish! This recipe uses frozen meatballs marinated in pineapple, soy sauce, and spices for a tangy treat.
5. Buffalo Meatballs
Switch up your game-time appetizers this year with easy buffalo-style meatballs. These baked beauties are made with ground venison and tossed in a classic buffalo sauce containing Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, butter, and honey. Serve with celery and blue cheese for dipping, and don’t forget the wet-naps!
6. Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole
If you’re a sucker for a one-pan meal, this casserole is the Taj Mahal of lazy dinners. Forget boiling the pasta; just toss uncooked noodles, frozen meatballs, jarred marinara, and tons of cheese in an oven dish with a bit of water, and let your oven do the work. Finish chores around the house, walk your dog, heck, fit in a yoga sesh while your meal cooks itself.
7. Italian Wedding Soup
Meatballs are made to be in soup, in my opinion! There is nothing more comforting than juicy meatballs surrounded by a rich and robust broth. This recipe works with pork and beef meatballs and is packed with fresh herbs, greens, and orzo pasta.
8. Greek Meatball Gyros
Meatball gyros combine all the traditional flavors of Greece in the palm of your hand. They’re topped with tzatziki sauce, fresh cucumber, and tomato salad and wrapped in a warm pita for a healthy lunch or light dinner.
9. Chorizo Meatballs
Screw waiting for dinner, I’m putting this spicy and flavor-packed protein on my breakfast plate along with two fried eggs. With its mix of ground beef and Spanish pork chorizo blended with cheddar cheese and red onion, you’ll want this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
10. Meatball Baked Ziti
If you’re a cheese lover, like me, you’ll fall head over heels for this burrata-seeped baked ziti. The meatballs are pan-seared and cooked in red wine before finishing off in the marinara sauce. Transfer all the goods to a baking dish and drown it in chunks of burrata for a feast any cheese connoisseur would love.
11. Meatballs with Sage Brown Butter Sauce
Any meal that uses sage gets a silent “wow” from me. It is such a bold herb, and I think people are intimidated to try it. But this dish sings with just a few ingredients, such as minced garlic, fresh sage, and browned butter. It sounds fancy, but it’s super easy to master.
12. Greek Meatballs
If you can see herbs and spices peeking out of the meatball, you know it’s a good recipe. And these babies are loaded with mint, parsley, cumin, and more. They’re perfect for a mezze-style appetizer or paired with rice pilaf for a hearty dinner.
13. Easy Sloppy Joe Meatball Subs
This is an excellent option for those busy nights when you get home late and just want something quick and tasty. Take frozen meatballs, cook them in a pot with canned sloppy joe sauce, and put them in a toasted sub roll. Oh, and don’t forget the cheddar cheese on top! You’ll be sitting with a mouthful of food in just 30 minutes.
14. Italian Meatball Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
I deeply love baked potatoes, and I like them the British way – with baked beans and LOTS of cheese. That said, this recipe might just change my mind. Fresh meatballs are pan-fried and simmered in marinara before being nestled in between the walls of a fluffy baked sweet potato. How amazing does that sound?
15. Spaghetti and Meatballs
This classic spaghetti and meatball recipe is perfect for slurping up Lady and the Tramp style. Mixing ground beef with Italian sausage makes for a helluva flavor explosion, and you’ll need a bib to get through these colossal meatballs. Add them to fresh marinara-coated noodles and serve on hefty plates – this dish means business.
16. Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs
Three ingredients in the slow cooker are all you need to prep this sweet meatball dish. You’ll use frozen meatballs and coat them in pineapple juice and BBQ sauce. Then, for extra pizazz, you’ll add pineapple rings on top. The final product is sweet and sour meatballs that are supple and addictive.
17. Turkey Meatballs
Ground turkey is a terrific healthy option, as it contains less fat but still holds tons of flavor. Packed with fresh herbs and spices, these meatballs can be baked or pan-fried and pair well with any side dish.
18. Baked Chicken Meatballs
Chicken meatballs are perfect for a picky eater and a great addition to a low-calorie meal plan. They have a neutral flavor profile and are easy to store and freeze. Throw them in your favorite soup, or eat them with cauliflower mashed potatoes and a side of roasted veggies.
19. Lamb Meatballs with Garlic and Cumin
Lamb can be easy to overcook, which is why it costs so much in restaurants. But it’s much easier to get right at home when you use ground lamb. So, making lamb meatballs is pretty much a home run. You get all the fantastic bold lamb flavors, and you’re guaranteed moisture in every bite. Blended with minced garlic, spices, and Greek yogurt, this dish is as refined as it is tasty.
20. Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs
Looking for classic Italian flavor with a twist? Try these mozzarella stuffed meatballs. They’re really a meal within themselves, so they can be enjoyed alone or with a light salad and garlic bread.
21. Glazed Moroccan Spiced Meatballs
Moroccan cuisine is known for its ability to create sweet and smoky flavor profiles that are signature to the Middle East. This recipe delivers with its use of dried apricots, mint, and parsley leaves. The meatballs will transport you to the desert and nourish you like a cold glass of water.
22. Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
These turkey meatballs are a no-brainer for parents – what a creative way to sneak greens in, right? Feel free to say yes to that double helping of mash potatoes because you got those macros covered; these meatballs are stuffed with zucchini and parmesan cheese.
23. Italian Sausage Meatballs
If you’re feeling tapped out with Italian sausage subs and pasta, re-invent them with this clever dish. Bake them in the oven and serve with marinara sauce and your choice of sides for an epic weeknight dinner.
24. Albondigas Soup
Switch out your weekly tortilla soup for this savory meatball stew. This recipe is like a Latin version of Italian wedding soup. Filled with potato and zucchini chunks in a tomato-based broth, this dish is topped with a squeeze of lime and is here to change your taco Tuesday to meatball Monday!
25. Meatball and Chickpea Traybake
This is the sort of dish I’d expect in a pricey six-course meal. Using chickpeas, beetroot, horseradish sauce, and fresh mint, its ingredients transform the meatballs into an upscale eating experience. Bake and serve with freshly made pitas to complete this sumptuous dish.
26. Vegan Meatballs in Italian Tomato Sauce
I’ve tried every ground meat known to man, and now, I’m going to prove meatless meatballs are a force to be reckoned with. Capitalizing on the rich flavor of black beans, this recipe uses the nuttiness of sunflower seeds and the robust taste of Worcestershire sauce to create an unbelievably meaty taste. Serve in tomato sauce with pasta or mashed potatoes for a vegan meal that will not leave you hungry.
27. Lemongrass Meatball Bowls
I think this dish was made in a lab by a mad scientist because this rice bowl is a freak of nature. In the best possible way, of course! Relish in pork meatballs stuffed with lemongrass paste, chili paste, and fish sauce. Laying on a bed of quinoa and topped with pickled carrots and spicy mayo, this is about as far from that Italian sub as you can get.
28. Pesto Chicken Meatballs
Don’t stop at a simple pesto pasta; infuse it in your meatballs too! These tasty orbs are made with ground chicken, shallots, basil pesto, and grated parmesan for an oh-so heavenly meal.
29. Pork and Prawn Balls in Aromatic Broth
Why stop at meat or meatless? Seafood works in this compact presentation too! Combine pork and minced prawn in a broth of hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, beef stock, lemongrass, and ginger. I know; it’s quite the aromatic and robust flavor. This dish is akin to a wonton soup sans the dough casing.
30. Meatball Subs
Let’s conclude the round-up with the most beloved of all meatball dishes: the meatball sub. It’s all in the presentation for me, and a buttered, garlicky, toasted hoagie bun is Insta-worthy. Add fresh or frozen meatballs coated in chunky marinara sauce and top with mozzarella for a sub that’s oozing with star quality. Click on a star to rate it!
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