Basic Meatball Recipe Without Breadcrumbs - The Typical Mom

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Meatball Recipe Without Breadcrumbs

By Justine

5 from 2 votes

Updated Nov 24, 2025

Published Jan 09, 2024

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Raw and baked meatballs on a sheet pan, with text: How to Make a basic meatball recipe for spaghetti or appetizers.

We have used this basic meatball recipe without breadcrumbs for years. You can add them into spaghetti or sauced as an appetizer! They are easy to bake in your oven in just 10 minutes this week.

What can you use to make meatballs without breadcrumbs?
What is the best meat to use?
What can you use other than eggs to make meatballs?
Gluten Free Option
Can you use ground turkey to make meatballs?
Meatballs without Breadcrumbs Recipe
What do I serve meatballs with?
Sauce for Meatballs
How long can you freeze cooked meatballs?

You definitely need a basic meatballs recipe in your back pocket because they are so versatile that you can use them for all sorts of meals!! You can make them with ground beef or ground sausage without breadcrumbs.

Whether you want to make a party appetizer, or spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, these will be a hit. You can make them in bulk and save some for later too. We buy bulk meat online or get 1/2 a cow from a local farmer each year. It is great because that means I go to the store less often and I know it is organic, grass fed meat.

Needless to say we have a lot of ground beef to use every year!! These are a favorite for sure in my house because they’re so versatile. Eat them as is for a protein packed, low carb dinner or dress them up with tasty sauces of all kinds. You can bake these, or steam them in your Instant Pot if you want too.

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What can you use to make meatballs without breadcrumbs?

You will need some sort of binding agent to make these. Some use breadcrumbs (I have too at times) but we wanted an alternative once and found that the best one we found to be was quick oats. This will help keep them together to not fall apart and give them a great texture (and added fiber).

Crackers can be pulverized into a sand-like texture and used too. Quinoa can be made and incorporated instead, or flaxseed meal will help to bind ingredients and add fiber too.

What is the best meat to use?

Then you are going to want to choose what type of protein you’re going to use. We are using half lean ground beef and half of it will be ground sausage. Hot Jimmy Dean, probably my favorite combination to use.

An egg for me is a must for an easy meatball recipe and/or my quick meatloaf recipe. The addition of herbs and spices is a must to get bold flavors and have that wow factor! And a diced onion brings a bit of texture to them which we love, but optional.

Then it’s time to pop them in the oven or your air fryer or oven! When they are done you can just enjoy as is as a keto low carb snack or throw them into a meal. Sauced is wonderful too like our Swedish meatball sauce for a feel good comfort meal.

Raw meatballs on a baking tray with the text How to Make Basic Meatballs above them.

What can you use other than eggs to make meatballs?

If you cannot have eggs this is a good tip to have on hand. To make egg free meatballs just substitute 2 tablespoons tomato paste per egg during the mixing process. This works especially well for Italian style meatballs, or when serving the meatballs with a tomato sauce. You could mix in 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes in place of two eggs too. Use russet or Yukon gold potatoes for the least change in flavor.

Gluten Free Option

You can make these gluten free if necessary. And once they are made you can cook them however you like. In the oven is directed below but you can follow how to cook meatballs on the stovetop here as well. With sauce they are killer.

Add a bit of Worcestershire sauce to add more flavor. Whip up a a batch and bake or air fry them. Make a huge batch, use some and freeze the rest for later too! If you love batch cooking this is a great one to prepare ahead of time, use some now and more later.

Can you use ground turkey to make meatballs?

Lean ground turkey and/or ground chicken are a bit too wet in my opinion so I don’t use those. You will need a sheet pan for sure. For easier cleanup you could line it with a piece of parchment paper if you’d like or just lightly spray it with some non stick spray.

how to make meatballs without breadcrumbs

5 from 2 votes

Meatballs without Breadcrumbs Recipe

By Justine This basic meatball recipe without breadcrumbs you can use in spaghetti or sauced as an appetizer! Easy to make in your oven with a few ingredients in just 10 minutes. Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 15 minutes Servings: 12 Save RecipeSaved Recipe Pin Recipe Comment Print Recipe

Equipment

1 baking sheet
1 Bowl

Ingredients 1x2x3x

▢ 1 lb ground beef, lean
▢ 1 lb ground sausage, mild or spicy
▢ 1 cup quick oats, or crushed crackers
▢ 1/2 tsp chili powder
▢ 1/4 tsp garlic powder
▢ 1/4 tsp pepper
▢ 1 tsp salt
▢ 1 large egg, at room temperature ideally
▢ 1/2 cup onion, finely diced, optional

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Instructions

Mix ingredients together in a bowl well. Make into round 1.5" balls and place on non stick baking sheet.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until they are lightly browned on the inside and cooked in the middle.
Remove and serve or if you want to add sauce and serve as an appetizer I would put cooked meatballs into a 9×13 dish. Then pour desired sauce on top, enough to cover them all well, bake for an additional 10 minutes so they can soak up the sauce. Then serve with toothpicks

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 2oz, Calories: 244kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 68mg, Sodium: 467mg, Potassium: 234mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 73IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, EntreeCuisine: American Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!

You can certainly make a double batch and freeze the amount you’d normally use for one dinner. Then you can take out 1 bag, defrost on the countertop and add into your Crockpot spaghetti and meatballs! Another idea is to defrost them and simmer an easy sauce together on the stovetop.

What do I serve meatballs with?

A good old fashioned meatball sandwich with sauce comes to mind first. I throw these in to make Instant Pot spaghetti, super cheap meal we all love. You can serve them as is with a salad, relish or salsa for a keto friendly meal too. I love to make Instant Pot Swedish meatballs with these too.

Sauce for Meatballs

Our favorite above all else is tossed with our Swedish meatball sauce. Frank’s Red Hot buffalo meatballs are popular too though. Baked meatballs with honey mustard is great or just use spaghetti sauce with some shredded parmesan cheese on top

The easiest is to just pour a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce on top and warm. Use our simple recipe for cranberry meatballs for the holidays too! If you’re having a party you can pour them into your Crockpot or Instant Pot and set to warm. Set toothpicks next to it and then people can enjoy them throughout the night.

Should you fry or bake meatballs?

I have instructions below for baking in the oven. However, everyone raves about my homemade air fryer meatballs too!

How long can you freeze cooked meatballs?

Up to 4 months!! Just cook a double or triple batch at a time. Then allow them to cool to room temperature. Load them up into freezer bags and squeeze all the air out. It’s best to put as many as you’d need in each bag. Then take them out, allow to defrost on the countertop and add into all sorts of things! Saves you a ton of prep time in the future. Batch cooking is where it’s at y’all!

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About Justine

Justine is the creative mind behind The Typical Mom and The Typical Family on YouTube. She began blogging about easy recipes, budget friendly activities for kids, and fun family travel destinations in September 2012.

More About Me

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7 Comments

Hi! Love this recipe! Question about serving size: it says 12 servings, and each is 2oz. How many meatballs does this recipe make/ how many meatballs equals 2oz?! Thanks!
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Has anyone tried boiling their meatballs instead of baking?
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I made these meatballs for the Super Bowl and everyone enjoyed them, no leftovers!! I did add 1 tsp of smoked paprika. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
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1. OH yay!
  Reply
These are my favorite go-to meatballs! They’re easy to make and super yummy!!
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1. Yay!
  Reply
Hello 🙋🏼‍♂️ For meatballs use the green can Parmasean cheese or the block Parmasean in meatballs? Ty
Reply

Hi, I'm Justine!

Welcome to The Typical Mom blog where we share easy Instant Pot recipes, use our Ninja Foodi, Crockpot and air fryer daily, and share fun family travel destinations!

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