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Home » Course » Main Dish

Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

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November 10, 2022

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These cheese stuffed meatballs are oozing with flavor and mozzarella that goes great with spaghetti or a marinara dipping sauce.
Jump to Recipe
meatball with mozzarella cheese oozing out of the middle
Mozzarella cheese stuffed meatballs collage.

Easy mozzarella cheese stuffed meatballs are cheesy, tender, and bursting with flavor. We love them as our main course, but you can also make them into sliders, subs, calzones and even serve them with spaghetti noodles and homemade tomato sauce!

cheesy stuffed meatballs with one cut open

These cheesy meatballs make the absolute best entree when you smother them in our homemade marinara sauce. They are oven baked to perfection, but the other reason we really love these is that they take only 35 minutes to make, so time is never an issue. These are one of the best Italian meatballs, and your whole family will love them. Moreover, this cheesy meatballs recipe is usually a game day fave, along with buffalo chicken meatballs.

meatball with mozzarella cheese oozing out of the middle
  • Notable: tender and juicy pork and beef meatballs filled with melty mozzarella pieces, undoubtedly one of our absolute favorite meatball recipes
  • Main Ingredients: ground beef, ground pork (or pork sausage), breadcrumbs, milk, egg, parsley, parmigiano reggiano cheese, garlic, mozzarella cubes and spices
  • Cooking Method: oven baked
  • Nutrients: low carb meatballs that are a good source of protein
  • Cooking Time: 20 minutes prep time, 15 minutes cook time
  • Pairs well with: pasta, crusty bread, sandwiches
  • Diets: keto friendly
  • Special Equipment Needed: sheet pan, mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons, knife and cutting board, cookie scoop, instant read thermometer
white oval dish with mozzarella stuffed meatballs and marinara sauce
spoon scooping meatballs

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients
  • Recommended Tools
  • Instructions
  • Recipe Tips
  • What To Serve With Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs
  • More Meatball Recipes
  • How To Use Meatballs
  • How To Store
  • How To Reheat
  • Common Questions
  • Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs Recipe

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this easy mozzarella cheese stuffed meatballs recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making these cheesy meatballs you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Meatball Ingredients

  • ½ pound lean ground beef
  • ½ pound ground pork (or pork sausage)
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoon parsley (chopped)
  • ¼ cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese (or parmesan cheese)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 6 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 24 mozzarella cubes (4 mozzarella string cheese sticks cut into 6 pieces each)

Variations and Substitutions

Ground Meat: We are using a 1 to 1 ratio of beef and pork. You can substitute pork sausage for the ground pork, or use only beef, if you prefer. You can also substitute ground chicken or ground turkey, in case that is your personal preference.

Breadcrumbs: Regular or panko breadcrumbs will work.

Milk: Any percentage of fat will do. However, if you are using a plant based milk, choose unsweetened.

ingredients needed to make mozzarella stuffed meatballs

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this juicy meatball and fresh mozzarella recipe, try our Easy Dump and Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole. You’ll love it because all you have to do is mix the ingredients in a baking dish, cover and bake.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a small commission of the sale.

Baking Sheet — We recommend lining the sheet pan with parchment paper, that way the meatballs do not stick to the pan and clean up is quick and easy. If you don’t have parchment paper, you can spray the baking sheet with cooking spray or line it with foil.

Cookie Scoop – Using a cookie scoop helps to ensure each meatball is the same size.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook mozzarella stuffed meatballs in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full recipe with step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below..

PREPARE: Firstly, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 400ºF.

SOFTEN BREADCRUMBS: Then, combine the milk and breadcrumbs in a large bowl and let it sit for 3-5 minutes.

meatball ingredients in a bowl
cookie scooper full of meatball mixture

MIX: Afterwards, add the remaining ingredients except for the mozzarella and mix together with your hands.

FORM MEATBALLS: Divide meat mixture into 24 meatballs that are about the same size. Form a flat disk in the palm of your hand with each portion of meatball mixture. Then place a piece of mozzarella cheese in the center of each ball. Fold the meat mixture over the mozzarella ball so that it’s in the middle and the meat is covering it altogether.

hand holding a flattened meat patty with a cube of cheese in middle
baking sheet with 3 rows of 5 meatballs

COOK: Afterward, sit the meatballs on the baking sheet leaving a couple of inches between each one. Then bake for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.

cooked meatballs on baking sheet
white oval dish with mozzarella stuffed meatballs and marinara sauce

SERVE: Finally, remove from the oven and serve with pasta, marinara sauce, or your favorite side dish.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love meatball sandwiches then you’ll love our Meatball Stuffed Biscuits. They are the perfect appetizer for parties and game days. They are super easy to make, and therefore also an ideal weeknight dinner.

Andrea says….

You cannot beat mozzarella stuffed meatballs. These are good with anything you’d usually put a meatball on. We like to serve them with marinara sauce and this easy green greek salad recipe.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best mozzarella meatballs.

  • Tip: Do not overmix meatball ingredients, or otherwise your meatballs will be tough.
  • Tip: The meat mixture will be sticky. We therefore recommend wearing gloves or slightly oiling your hands.
  • Tip: Make sure your meatballs are all approximately the same size. That way they cook evenly. A cookie scoop helps keeping meatball sizes equal.

What To Serve With Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

We love to eat cheese-stuffed meatballs all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve them as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Bread: Serve this easy mozzarella meatball recipe with crusty bread or soft dinner rolls. Our Garlic Bread is made with fresh parmesan cheese and store-bought french bread. If you have extra time make Pizza Dough Garlic Knots.

Salad: Pair these yummy meatballs with a fresh salad. A green salad like our amazing Italian Salad or Strawberry Avocado Salad. Or even a Caprese Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.

Sides: Traditionally, gooey mozzarella cheese meatballs are served on a bed of pasta (or zucchini noodles) with pasta sauce. Our homemade marinara sauce is the perfect addition to these beef and pork meatballs.

  • 2 halves of a french bread open and toasted with garlic and parmesan

    Garlic French Bread

  • Gold ladle scooping up marinara sauce from white large dutch oven pot.

    The Best Marinara Sauce

  • italian salad in a bowl with wood salad utensils

    Easy Italian Salad Recipe With Homemade Salad Dressing

  • garlic knot dipped in marinara sauce

    Pizza Dough Garlic Knots Recipe

More Meatball Recipes

If you love meatballs, then you have to try our other amazing homemade meatball recipes. No matter if you want to try chicken, turkey, Italian or air fryer meatballs, we have got you covered.

  • chicken meatballs stack

    Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

  • meatballs lined up in an air fryer

    The Best Air Fryer Meatballs

  • birds eye view of a black large saute pan on a dark gray counter. Pan is full of red marinara sauce, large cooked meatballs and sprinkled with fresh slices of basil.

    The Best Italian Meatballs

  • wood bowl full of turkey and spinach meatballs with tongs picking up one on top

    Turkey Meatballs with Spinach

How To Use Meatballs

You can use these scrumptious cheesy meatball directly to make delicious Fettuccine Pesto, Meatball Sub Sandwiches, Meatball Calzones or Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders. However, these scrumptious recipes can also come in handy for using up leftovers:

  • skillet full of pesto fettuccine pasta and meatballs

    Easy Basil Pesto Pasta With Meatballs

  • Easy Baked Cheesy Meatball Sub Sandwich

  • stack of calzones

    Meatball Calzones

  • side view of hawaiian roll meatball slider.

    Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders

How To Store

Refrigerate: Let your cheese stuffed meatballs cool completely. Afterwards, you can refrigerate them in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: If you plan to freeze the meatballs before eating, undercook them slightly. Then let them cool completely before you transfer them to a freezer safe sealed container or freezer bag. Freeze them for up to 3 months. After they’re defrosted, cook them thoroughly, testing the internal temperature to make sure they’re 165°F.

Defrosting: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

How To Reheat

You can warm fully cooked leftover mozzarella stuffed meatballs in the microwave or in the oven until heated through.

cheese stuffed meatballs on a plate with tomato sauce

Common Questions

Is it better to bake meatballs or fry?

Baking meatballs doesn’t require oil or butter and you don’t have to constantly watch or stir them compared to frying. Frying can also lead to overcooked meatballs that may not be as tender, however, the cooking method is usually a personal preference.

What is the secret to tender meatballs?

To keep meatballs tender you want to be sure that you don’t overmix the meat mixture and you cook just until the internal temperature is 165 degrees.

Can you freeze mozzarella stuffed meatballs?

You can freeze the stuffed meatballs raw or after they have been cooked. However, if you are going to bake them and immediately freeze before eating, it’s best to undercook them slightly.

meatball with mozzarella cheese oozing out of the middle
5 from 6 votes

Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs Recipe


Course Appetizer, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
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24 meatballs
These cheese stuffed meatballs are oozing with flavor and mozzarella that goes great with spaghetti or a marinara dipping sauce.
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Equipment

  • baking sheet and parchment paper
  • knife and cutting board
  • mixing bowl
  • cookie scoop

Ingredients
  

  • ½ pound ground beef
  • ½ pound ground pork or pork sausage
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons parsley chopped
  • ¼ cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 24 mozzarella cubes 4 mozzarella string cheese sticks cut into 6 pieces each

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place parchment paper on your baking sheet.
  • Combine breadcrumbs and milk in a bowl. Let sit for 3-5 minutes to soften breadcrumbs.
    meatball ingredients in a bowl
  • Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl, except mozzarella. Mix together with your hands.
    meatball ingredients mixed together in a bowl
  • Form 24 equal size meatballs.
    melon scooper full of meatball mixture
  • Add a piece of cheese to each meatball. Using your hands, make sure meat is surrounding the cheese. Roll in your hands to make a round, uniform shape.
    hand holding a flattened meat patty with a cube of cheese in middle
  • Place meatballs on your baking sheet.
    baking sheet with 3 rows of 5 meatballs
  • Cook for 15-18 minutes. Meatballs will be done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
    cooked meatballs on baking sheet
  • Remove from the oven and enjoy.
    white oval dish with mozzarella stuffed meatballs and marinara sauce

Notes

  • It can be helpful to use gloves or oil your hands before forming meatballs to prevent them from sticking to your hands.
  • If you plan to freeze the meatballs before eating, undercook them. After they’re defrosted, cook them thoroughly, testing the internal temperature to make sure they’re 165°F.
  • You can refrigerate meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Recipes You’ll Love:
  • Easy Lasagna: Make quick lasagna with your favorite jar of marinara sauce.
  • Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon: This easy side dish is a delicious way to eat your veggies.
  • Garlic French Bread: Buy a loaf of french bread and make it better with our cheesy garlic butter.
  • Homemade Red Wine Marinara Sauce: This easy marinara sauce is bursting with flavor and pairs perfectly with these meatballs.
  • Red Wine Sangria: Have a little sangria with your meal! Or try this delicious Fall Sangria recipe.
  • Easy Dump and Bake Meatball Pasta Casserole: Use your leftover meatballs in this delicious pasta meal.

Nutrition

Calories: 147kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 317mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg

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posted in: American, Appetizers, Beef, Cheese, Course, Cuisine, Game Day Party Snacks, Ingredient, Main Dish, Method, Oven, Pork

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