Name: Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 26 min
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef (80/20); ¼ cup parmesan cheese (shredded); 1 large egg; 2 Tablespoons milk (or water); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley (minced); 1 Tablespoon fresh basil (minced (or 1 teaspoon dry)); ¼ teaspoon dried oregano; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon pepper; ¼ teaspoon onion powder; ½ cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs; 5 mozzarella string cheeses (cut into 5 pieces each (or about 24 1-inch pieces of mozzarella cheese)); Chopped fresh basil or parsley (for garnish (optional)); Freshly shredded parmesan cheese (for serving (optional)); Marinara sauce (for serving (optional)); Spaghetti noodles (for serving (optional))

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Meaty, cheese and versatile, these Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs can be used however you like. Pastas, appetizers, casseroles and more.

Overhead of Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs in pan in sauce with cheese oozing out of some meatballs.

I’m a sucker for meatballs, but when they come stuffed with cheese then I’m literally drooling.

These Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs are full of flavor with the herbs and ingredients used in the meat mixture.

Add in slices of mozzarella cheese and getting that cheese pull, honestly how can you compete with that.

We love making these and love serving them with spaghetti or any of our other favorite pastas for a dinnertime meal. There is so many ways these meatballs can be served.

Sometimes we just make them and set them out on plates with toothpicks and eat them as a delish appetizer. They are just that good.

If you are a meatball fanatic and are looking for one that doesn’t lack in flavor, then give these Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs a try.

Close up of meatballs topped with herbs and cheese.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:

These make nice large meatballs so you don’t need as much when serving with a pasta dish.
They are great as an appetizer for any occasion.
The cheese in the middle really gives that extra depth of goodness in each bite.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST):

Ground beef
Parmesan cheese
Egg
Milk (or water)
Garlic
Fresh parsley
Fresh basil
Dried oregano
Salt
Pepper
Onion powder
Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
Mozzarella string cheese,(or about 24 1-inch pieces of mozzarella cheese)
Chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
Freshly shredded parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Marinara sauce, for serving (optional)
Spaghetti noodles, for serving (optional)

Ingredients needed to make Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs.

HOW TO MAKE MOZZARELLA STUFFED MEATBALLS, STEP BY STEP:

Preheat oven to 375 F.
Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl gently combine all the ingredients except the string cheese. Do not overmix or the meatballs will be tough.
Roll the mixture in roughly 4-Tablespoon sized balls each and set on the baking sheet.
With your thumb, push a hole into the center of a meatball to create a well. Push a piece of the string cheese into the hole and then re-roll into a ball, making sure all the cheese is covered. If any cheese is poking through, you will be more likely to have the cheese ooze out while cooking. Continue until all meatballs are stuffed.
Evenly space them on the baking sheet and bake for about 15-18 minutes, till no longer pink inside.
Remove from oven and use in any recipe using meatballs.
If serving with marinara sauce and spaghetti, pour the marinara sauce into a skillet and gently place the meatballs on top, evenly. Turn the heat to medium low and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Serve over spaghetti.

Step by step photos on how to make Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs.

CAN I MAKE THESE IN ADVANCE?

Yes, once your meatballs are all assembled, place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before transferring to a baking sheet to bake.

Add an additional 2-3 minutes of cook time if cooking cold from the fridge meatballs.

WHAT IS THE BEST TYPE OF CHEESE TO USE?

We use mozzarella string cheese for this, but you can also use fresh mozzarella and cut it into larger pieces.

If you want to switch up the flavor you can use other flavors of string cheese or even block cheese like Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Gouda, etc.

WHAT WAYS CAN I SERVE THESE MEATBALLS?

Pasta
Casseroles
Pizza
Soups
Subs

Whatever you think that these meatballs would be good with you can absolutely try to serve them with that!

CAN I AIR FRY THESE MEATBALLS?

If you want to air fry these Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs instead of baking you can do that.

Spray your air fryer with olive oil spray and place meatballs in a single layer (you may have to do batches).

Heat your air fryer to 350-375 degrees F and cook for 15 minutes, turning halfway through until the inside reaches 165 degrees F.

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs served over a plate of spaghetti with sauce.

HOW TO STORE:

These can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container where they will keep for up to 4-5 days.

If you want to freeze the meatballs you can do so before baking or after baking. If you want to freeze before cooking, line the meatballs on a piece of parchment paper and freeze on a tray for 30-45 minutes.

Then transfer to a freezer bag where they will keep for up to 3 months.

To bake raw meatballs after frozen, place frozen meatballs on a sheet pan and add an additional 4-6 minutes to baking time.

If you freeze after baking, let the meatballs come to room temperature before freezing on the baking sheet for 30-45 minutes before transferring to a freezer bag where they will keep for up to 3 months.

To bake cooked meatballs from frozen, add about 4 Tablespoons of water to a skillet and turn heat to medium. Add meatballs and cover with a lid. Cook for about 8 minutes, turning halfway through cooking.

TIPS AND TRICKS:

You can use other meats for these, ground chicken, turkey, pork, italian sausage.
Change up your cheese flavors, see above for some ideas.
You can serve these meatballs in various ways, see above on ways to serve.
Make sure you seal these really tight or you run the risk of the cheese oozing out.
These can be made in the air fryer, see above on how to do that.
Easily double this recipe to serve more people or have more on hand for later.
These can be frozen, see above on how to do that.

Fork holding up one of the Stuffed Meatballs with cheese oozing out.

When it comes to a tasty versatile recipe, you cannot go wrong with these Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs.

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Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs