The humble meatball is as versatile as it is flavorful. It’s so beloved it even has its own national day! Yup, March 9th is National Meatballs Day. There are a number of ways to serve meatballs, from adding them to spaghetti to turning them into a sub. All of them have one thing in common: they’re absolutely delicious. On this list, you’ll get traditional meatball dishes as well as unconventional ones. If you’ve never had a French onion soup with meatballs, you’re in for a treat! Regardless if you use homemade or frozen meatballs, these dishes are delectable either way. With these simple, beginner-friendly recipes, tonight’s leftovers will be tomorrow’s mouthwatering meal.
1. Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole
For an effortless dish that delivers maximum flavor, go for this dump and bake casserole. Five ingredients and 55 minutes are all it takes. This hearty, stand-alone meal is made of pasta, meatballs, marinara, and lots of mozzarella. It’s basically everybody’s favorite spaghetti and meatballs in casserole form! It’s so rich, meaty, cheesy, it’s pure heaven. It’s so easy, there’s no babysitting necessary. You won’t even need to cook the pasta beforehand. Just dump the ingredients into the casserole and let the oven do its magic.
2. Meatball Bombs
These meatball bombs truly are the bomb! Think of them as garlic butter bread filled with a well-seasoned meatball, marinara, and cheese. There really is something about the combination of meatballs, marinara, and cheese that makes it so addictive. With these bombs, for instance, I couldn’t stop at one. It sounds like such a complicated dish, but it’s quite the opposite. You won’t need to make bread from scratch to pull this off. All you’ll need is flattened biscuit dough. Place the fillings in the center, fold, and bake. It’s so simple, anyone can do it!
3. Meatball Pizza
Tender, juicy, and well-seasoned meatballs star in this sensational pizza! It’s also smothered in marinara and loaded with parmesan and mozzarella. Be still, my heart. Who doesn’t love pizza, am I right? There’s no bad pizza in my book, but this one is a true standout. Seriously, leftover meatballs have never tasted this good! One bite will get you hooked. And because you’ll use store-bought pizza dough here, this recipe couldn’t be easier. Just add the toppings and pop the pizza in the oven. Sigh… the sheer aroma of this pizza as it bakes will take you to eternal bliss.
4. Meatball Sub
If you’re a fan of the ‘90s sitcom, Friends, you know just how much Joey enjoys a good meatball sub. In fact, he loves it so much, he even once tried to save it from a false near-death experience! This meatball sub is super meaty, cheesy, and absolutely amazing. I’m pretty sure Joey will approve. It’s everything you can ask for in a meatball sub and more because it’s also super easy to make. Pro-tip: if using frozen meatballs, let them simmer in the sauce for a good period so they soak up all that flavor.
5. Mexican Meatball Salad
What do you do if your salad is way too dull and boring? Easy – add meatballs to the picture. This Mexican meatball salad isn’t your average salad, folks. This one is rich, creamy, and bursting with Mexican flavor! Let me give you a breakdown. At the bottom is a bed of lettuce, smothered with a creamy dressing. Top with olives, scallions, crumbled queso fresco, shredded pepper jack cheese, avocado slices, cilantro, meatballs, marinara sauce, and sour cream. How amazing is that?! So many different colors, flavors, and textures, yet they all taste so well together.
6. Mediterranean Meatball Wrap
Want a scrumptious dish with a wonderful Mediterranean flair? Look no further than these protein-packed meatball wraps. I’ll eat anything wrapped in a tortilla – ground beef, battered fish, pulled pork, and yes, meatballs, too! In fact, these meatball wraps are such a hit at home, I have to double the recipe every time I make them. Apart from the flavorful meatballs, these wraps also contain kale, red pepper strips, yogurt, and roasted garlic hummus. It’s undeniably loaded with umami goodness, but the kale and peppers balance the richness nicely.
7. Baked Spaghetti and Meatball Cups
In this recipe, spaghetti and meatballs gets a fun makeover! Are your kids usually in too much of a hurry in the morning to have breakfast? Here’s an easy solution: make them portable spaghetti and meatballs. Meatballs in a cup – they’re basically a handheld version of the classic dish that you can eat on the go. What a genius hack, indeed! Don’t worry, they’re pretty easy to make. Simply stuff a mixture of cooked spaghetti, egg, marinara sauce, and cheese into muffin cups. Place a meatball in the middle, top with more marinara and cheese, and bake!
8. Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs
Here’s another version of spaghetti and meatballs for ya! Elevate the classic American recipe by popping it in the oven. Why? Because it makes it 10 times tastier, that’s why. The casserole is topped with mozzarella cheese for added ooey-gooey richness. Once baked, the cheese forms a crispy golden crust, which gives a lovely contrast to the stringy goodness waiting inside.
9. Meatball Sliders
Meatballs are basically spherical burger patties, so it only makes sense to use them for sliders. Make them extra saucy with marinara, salty with parmesan, and gooey with mozzarella. I’m drooling already! These mini-burgers are so tasty, you’ll have to at least triple the recipe if you’re serving a crowd. They’re way too good to stop at one!
10. French Onion Soup with Meatballs
Last on the list but not in my heart is this French onion soup loaded with meatballs. As if French onion soup couldn’t get any better! The added meatballs make the sumptuous soup even richer, heartier, and tastier. It’s comfort food multiplied by a hundred. Click on a star to rate it!
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