These Ricotta Meatballs are a cheesy, zesty take on an Italian American classic, and are ready in just 20 minutes. If you love meatballs, you’ll love this version.
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Tips for Making Homemade Meatballs with Ricotta
When making your own meatballs, it’s best to use a blend of meats. While you can make meatballs with any ground meat, beef, pork, and lamb work best because of their fat content. Chill your ingredients before cooking, and add moisture, such as eggs or breadcrumbs mixed with milk, to keep your meatballs from falling apart.
Why This Ricotta Meatball Recipe is a Keeper
My family loved these meatballs. They were flavorful and so tender. Plus, it’s easy to double the recipe and freeze these Italian-style leftover meatballs for later.
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients are in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- 20 Minutes: This ricotta cheese meatball recipe only takes 20 minutes to make.
- Adaptable: Serve these meatballs with spaghetti and marinara sauce, or in a sub. They are great for meal prep.
If you’re looking for more meatball recipes, try these: Barbecue Meatballs with Grape Jelly, Breakfast Meatballs, Swedish Meatballs and Asian Pork Meatballs.
What is the Secret to Firm Meatballs?
If you want your meatballs to be firm, make sure to use a meat with some fat content. This will help bind the meatballs together when they cook. Also, stir in an egg to keep them sticking together. Don’t overwork the meat when you form the meatballs.
Ingredient Notes for Ricotta Meatballs with Simple Tomato Sauce
This is the only Italian meatballs recipe you’ll ever need. These meatballs with a delicious tomato sauce, with the addition of ricotta cheese, are the best meatballs I have ever made. Ricotta meatballs are so tender, especially when made at home with fresh tomato sauce. Happy cooking!
- Ground Beef: 80/20 ground beef is the best kind to use for meatballs, but you can use any variety of ground beef you want.
- Ricotta Cheese: Whole milk ricotta cheese will help bind your meatballs together while giving them a refreshing taste.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Homemade Ricotta Meatballs
These delicious homemade ricotta meatballs are perfect for a cozy Sunday. Whether you’re making meatballs on the stove or in the oven, this wonderful recipe is food at its finest. No need to follow recipe exactly make variations.
- Different Meat for Meatballs: You can use different ground meats to make the meat mixture, like ground pork or lamb. You can try ground turkey as well, but as it’s more lean than beef, you’ll have to watch carefully to make sure it doesn’t cook for too long.
- Herbs: This is a wonderful recipe to get creative with. I have followed the recipe exactly or add more garlic, fresh herbs or your favorite seasoning.
- Recipe Makes: If you form the meatballs into 2-inch balls it will make around 25 meatballs.
How to Make the Best-Ever Ricotta Cheese Meatballs
You can either bake or fry ricotta meatballs. This recipe will show you how to do both! It is one of the best recipe I’ve ever tried. Make your own sauce or use Rao’s marinara sauce.
These are the basic steps for making ricotta meatballs. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions. Let us known if you tried this recipe for meatballs.
Step 1: Combine Ingredients
Place the ground beef in a medium or large bowl. Add the ricotta cheese, then crack in the egg. Use your hands or a ground beef mixer to mix the meatballs.
Step 2: Shape Meatballs
Add in the breadcrumbs, then the Parmesan cheese, basil, lemon zest, and salt and pepper. Once the ricotta mixture is well-combined, portion the meatballs into 1 to 2 tablespoon-sized balls, and roll between your hands until smooth.
If Frying:
If frying the meatballs, set the formed meatballs into a clean plate. Place 2 tablespoons of oil or cooking spray in a large skillet over medium heat, and once hot, add the meatballs to the skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes per side on medium heat, and brown the meatballs. Turn until the meatballs are cooked.
If Baking in the Oven:
If baking try cooking the meatballs in the oven, arrange the meatballs in a casserole dish or on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes, turning halfway through until the meatballs are baked. Serve the meatballs with tomato sauce and spaghetti, or serve without sauce if desired.
You could also place the delicious meatballs in sauce to simmer the meatballs. Cooking them in the sauce, makes a super tender meatball. The Italian-style meatballs almost fall apart, they’re so tender.
Ricotta Meatballs FAQs
Expert Tips for Making Ricotta Meatballs
- Meat: Spruce up your meatballs with different meat. Try ground pork or ground veal with rosemary, thyme, or oregano.
- Different Cheeses: You can try adding different cheeses to your meatballs, like pecorino.
- Meatballs in Tomato Sauce: Make ricotta meatballs with simple tomato sauce. Simmer some sauce in the pan with your meatballs, then grate some cheese overtop. Serve the tender meatballs in the sauce.
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Ricotta Meatballs
Equipment
- 1 Frying Pan or Oven
- 1 Ground Beef Mixer optional
- 1 Spoon
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Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- ¼ cup Ricotta Cheese
- 1 Egg
- 1/2` cup Breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese
- 1 teaspoon Basil
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Zest, optional
- ½ teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
Instructions
- Place the ground beef in a medium-sized bowl.
- Sprinkle in the ricotta cheese then crack in the egg. Use your hands or a ground beef mixer to combine the ingredients.
- Add in the breadcrumbs, then the Parmesan cheese, basil, lemon zest, and seasonings.
- Once all ingredients are well-combined, portion the meatballs into 1 to 2 tablespoon-sized balls and roll between your hands until they form smooth meatballs.
Frying Pan:
- Set the formed meatballs into a clean plate. Place 2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan, and once hot, add the meatballs. Cook for 5-7 minutes per side, turning to brown all over.
Oven:
- Place the formed meatballs in a casserole dish. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes, turning halfway through.
Christina’s Notes
- Fresh Herbs: Spruce up your meatballs with some fresh herbs. Try rosemary, thyme, or oregano.
- Different Cheeses: You can try adding different cheeses to your meatballs, like pecorino.
- Meatballs in Tomato Sauce: Make ricotta meatballs with simple tomato sauce. Simmer some sauce in the pan with your meatballs, then grate some cheese overtop. Serve the tender meatballs in the sauce.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.