CookingLight diet CookingLight diet

Our Best Meatball Recipes

August 08, 2013
Photo: Johnny Autry
The classic meaty morsel gets a tasty upgrade in these mouth-watering, healthy meatball recipes.
Start Slideshow

1 of 32

Meatball Madness

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Spaghetti and Meatballs

We love 'em with noodles, we love 'em in soups, we love 'em on skewers, too. We're taking the meatball to more delicious (and lighter!)  places than we ever have before.

Let's start out with a healthier take on a time-honored dish—Spaghetti and Meatballs. 

You can't go wrong with this classic family favorite. We amp up jarred marinara with charred onion, garlic, and plum tomatoes.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 32

Sweet and Sour Turkey Meatballs with Polenta

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Sweet and Sour Turkey Meatballs with Polenta

This Asian twist on an Italian-style favorite just plain works. The four sauce ingredients create an instant, incredibly balanced barbecue-type lacquer, full of vinegar and chile punch, caramel notes, and umami richness.

3 of 32

Southwestern-Style Meatballs

Photo: Greg Dupree
View Recipe: Southwestern-Style Meatballs

These juicy, tender bites can be served in soups, pastas, sandwiches, pizzas, or salads. Make them for dinner tonight and freeze the remaining morsels (if there are any left behind) for a quick meal on busy weeknights.

Advertisement

4 of 32

Linguine with Ricotta Meatballs

Photo: Linda Pugliese
View Recipe: Linguine with Ricotta Meatballs

Fresh pasta takes only two to three minutes to cook. Bring your pot of water to a boil early, and drop the pasta in just before the meatballs are finished so that everything is done at the same time. Ricotta cheese makes the meatballs light and tender and not too dense; they're a bit too fragile to toss with the pasta, so they're scooped out of the sauce and then placed on top at the end. If you can't find fresh linguine, use fresh fettuccine.

5 of 32

Spaghetti and Meatballs in Tomato-Basil Sauce

Photo: Jen Causey
View Recipe: Spaghetti and Meatballs in Tomato-Basil Sauce

Feed a crowd of 8 tonight, or cook 6 ounces pasta to serve 4 and freeze half the meatball mixture for later. Spoon into whole-wheat hoagie rolls instead of over pasta.

6 of 32

Turkey Meatball Subs

Photo: Stephen Devries
View Recipe: Turkey Meatball Subs

These subs with be a big hit with your family. The balsamic vinegar in the sauce really adds a whole level of flavor. Plus, these sandwiches make great leftovers!

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 32

Tortilla Soup with Chorizo and Turkey Meatballs

Photo: Jason Wallis
View Recipe: Tortilla Soup with Chorizo and Turkey Meatballs

Smoked chorizo gives this tortilla soup a deep, smoky flavor without overpowering. This soup is a perfect go-to for parties or quick get-togethers.

8 of 32

Quick Quinoa Meatballs

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Quick Quinoa Meatballs

This recipe comes from Jessica Goldman Foung, whose low-sodium diet requires the use of a creative variety of spices to boost flavor. If your diet allows, seasoning the recipe with 1/2 teaspoon salt adds just 40mg sodium per meatball.

9 of 32

Meatballs in Brussels Sprout Cups

Photo: Justin Walker
View Recipe: Meatballs in Brussels Sprout Cups

Friends will love the ingenuity of these appetizers—little meatballs cradled in Brussels sprout cups—cleverly seasonal.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 32

Italian Meatball Sliders

Photo: Nigel Cox
View Recipe: Italian Meatball Sliders

Melted mozzarella and savory meatballs are nestled within a fluffy water roll. You might just have a new dinnertime favorite.

11 of 32

Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

We lightened up a kid-friendly favorite that will still please your pint-sized diners.

12 of 32

Swedish Meatballs with Red Currant Pan Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Swedish Meatballs with Red Currant Pan Sauce

Silky and sweet, the red currant pan sauce would be delicious served over pork chops or grilled poultry. Use leftover jam for anything from spreading over biscuits to creating a flavor base for barbecue sauce.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 32

Turkey Meatball Soup with Greens

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Turkey Meatball Soup with Greens

In our play on Italian wedding soup, cooked quinoa serves as a nutty, whole-grain binder for the meatballs. We like the tenderness of lacinato kale in this soup, but you easily can substitute other varieties.

14 of 32

Meatball Stroganoff

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Meatball Stroganoff

Beefy sirloin draped in wine-spiked, creamy mushroom sauce: the comfort of stroganoff with a meatball twist. Serve sautéed Broccolini, spinach, or Brussels sprouts alongside this hearty entrée.

15 of 32

Meatball Subs

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Meatball Subs

These meaty, saucy, two-napkin sandwiches are destined for heavy dinnertime rotation.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 32

Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)

These meatballs make a terrific party snack. Look for flat skewers at Asian markets, or use two skewers for each group of meatballs so they'll turn easier.

17 of 32

Barbecue Turkey Meatballs

Photo: Brian Woodcock
View Recipe: Barbecue Turkey Meatballs

Serve with simple mashed potatoes on the side to catch the sauce.

18 of 32

Meatballs with Spiced Tomato Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Meatballs with Spiced Tomato Sauce

The recipes calls for the meatballs to be served with pita wedges, but you can serve them over couscous, over pasta, or even by themselves. Let your imagination run wild.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 32

Italian Meatball Sliders

Photo: Johnny Autry and Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Italian Meatball Sliders

Skip the pasta and try these sliders instead. Best of all, you can make the meatballs ahead and freeze them for a quick meal on busy nights.

20 of 32

Lamb Meatballs with Kale, Cumin Yogurt, and Carolina Gold Rice

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Lamb Meatballs with Kale, Cumin Yogurt, and Carolina Gold Rice

Inspired by his trip to Israel, renowned chef Hugh Acheson created this Middle Eastern-style recipe using staples from his Southern backyard. Handle the meatballs gently, and form them with as little handling as possible. This will keep them tender.

21 of 32

Garlicky Meatball Pasta

Photo: José Picayo
View Recipe: Garlicky Meatball Pasta

In about 30 minutes, you can have a bowl of this tasty pasta on your table—homemade meatballs included. Refrigerated fettuccine and commercial marinara sauce helps to hasten this quick and easy pasta dinner. Serve with Mixed Greens Salad.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 32

Alicante Turkey Meatballs

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Alicante Turkey Meatballs

These plump, moist turkey meatballs, surprisingly delicate in flavor, are guaranteed to banish any memory of dried-out turkey burgers.

23 of 32

Tortilla Meatball Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Tortilla Meatball Soup

If you can't find fresh corn on the cob, substitute 2 cups frozen corn kernels, and broil them with peppers. After making the soup, you can use a few leftover chipotle chiles to spice up a pot of beans, rice, stews, or canola mayonnaise.

24 of 32

Kibbeh Meatballs with Spiced Yogurt Sauce

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Kibbeh Meatballs with Spiced Yogurt Sauce

Impress your party guests with this delectable Middle East-inspired appetizer. You can also try serving it with pita or bulgur.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 32

Basil Chicken Meatballs with Ponzu Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Basil Chicken Meatballs with Ponzu Sauce

These flavorful meatballs make fantastic appetizers, and they also add a great touch to your weeknight pasta.

26 of 32

Hidden Rainbow Albondigas

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Hidden Rainbow Albondigas

Inspired by the traditional Mexican albondigas, a soup with meatballs and vegetables, this dish "hides" the veggies in the meatballs. Picky eaters will be none the wiser.

27 of 32

Turkey Meatball Reuben Subs

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Turkey Meatball Reuben Subs

In the words of one of our readers, these subs are "ludicrously quick and easy." You'll definitely want to add them to your menu this week.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 32

Korean Meatballs

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Korean Meatballs

The hallmarks of Korean cuisine are garlicky, salty, and sweet flavors, so our essential ingredients here are garlic, lower-sodium soy sauce, and brown sugar. Serve the meatballs with store-bought kimchi and Quick Pickled Cucumbers to add characteristic heat and tang to the meal.

29 of 32

Gingery Pork Meatballs with Noodles

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Gingery Pork Meatballs with Noodles

Wide rice noodles are available on the ethnic-foods aisle at most major supermarkets and at Asian grocers. If you can't find them, any rice noodle or even spaghetti will work in this dish. You can also use ground sirloin, if you can't find pork.

30 of 32

Greek Pasta with Meatballs

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Greek Pasta with Meatballs

This riff on spaghetti and meatballs uses rice-shaped pasta, ground lamb, and feta cheese.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 32

Sesame-Soy Meatballs

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Sesame-Soy Meatballs

Serve these garlicky, spicy meatballs with steamed sugar snap peas and 2 cups of cooked rice tossed with 1 tablespoon chile paste—you'll find it on the ethnic aisle of most supermarkets or at Asian grocers.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Advertisement