Cheese Stuffed Baked Meatball Recipe (Keto Meatballs)

Cheese Stuffed Baked Meatball Recipe (Keto Meatballs), make the perfect dinner or appetizer recipe. Two tasty ways to make these baked meatballs - mozzarella stuffed or cheeseburger stuffed. Serve the mozzarella stuffed meatballs with your favorite spaghetti sauce, and the cheeseburger stuffed meatballs with a BBQ or big mac sauce. Kids love eating these meatballs, and they are really fun to make! These meatballs are keto, low carb, sugar-free, and gluten-free.

Make-Ahead Appetizer or Dinner

Make these meatballs ahead of time and then freeze. I will often make several batches of meatballs at one time and then freeze a couple of months before the holidays. That way I have a super easy, homemade, meatball appetizer when I need it!

If serving meatballs for a party, here's an easy trick: thaw meatballs and place in the slow cooker. Pour marinara or spaghetti sauce over the top and turn the slow cooker on low. Heat on low until meatballs are warmed through. Turn slow cooker down to warm. Voila! Super easy and they stay nice and warm.

Low Carb and Keto Meatballs

These meatballs are low carb and keto-friendly as the breadcrumbs have been removed and nutritional yeast has been substituted. If you haven't tried Nutritional Yeast you will be surprised. It adds a cheesy taste to your recipe - in addition to a bunch of nutrients like Thiamin (500% of your daily value), Niacin (200%), Riboflavin (480%), Vit B6(350%) and B12 (580%).

If you are not following a low carb or keto diet, you can definitely substitute seasoned breadcrumbs.

fat 14 g | net carbs 5.9 g | protein 18.2 g

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs Crockpot

Okay, so you can cook your meatballs in the crockpot, but it is preferable to use your slow cooker to reheat already baked meatballs in marinara or spaghetti sauce. This makes an easy dinner or appetizer.

I've made meatballs in a slow cooker before but without browning them first.  I don't recommend this as they really lacked flavor. In order to have the best tasting meatballs they really need to be browned in a skillet before adding to the slow cooker. They don't have to be completely cooked through, but they have to be browned.

While browning meatballs in a skillet works just fine, it is much more hands-on than just baking. I don't particularly like standing over a stove if I don't have to, so I opt for the simpler method and bake them... 🙂

Kid-Friendly Recipe!

Kids love eating these meatballs, but did you know they love to make them too? They are fun to make because you get to squish the meat and stuff with cheese. So much fun. As a kid, I always love making meatloaf and meatballs because I would use my hands to mix all the ingredients. I'm still that way today! LOL!

What To Serve With Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

For an easy dinner, I would serve the mozzarella stuffed meatballs with spaghetti sauce over pasta, zucchini noodles, or steamed veggies.

Here is my super easy recipe for spaghetti sauce. You'll love it!

As appetizers, I would serve the mozzarella stuffed meatballs with marinara or spaghetti sauce. The cheeseburger stuffed meatballs would taste best with bbq sauce, a favorite dressing like ranch, or a copy cat big mac sauce.

I have to tell you that my family went bonkers over the cheeseburger stuffed meatballs! They suggested the next time I make them add a piece of bacon. According to them, everything is better with bacon. Yum. What a great idea! Thanks, fam! 🙂 

Big Mac Sauce Recipe

How to Cook Meatballs In The Oven

Cooking meatballs in the oven is so much easier and less messy than frying in a pan!

To cook meatballs in the oven, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Shape meatballs and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.

Optional, you can place meatballs on a rack that will allow meat juices to drip through while baking.

Common Questions

Can I make meatballs ahead of time?

Yes! You can make meatballs ahead of time.

Either form them and place them on a tray to bake later in the week, or you can go ahead and bake them and reheat when you're ready. You can also bake them and freeze them for later as well.

How to make meatballs without breadcrumbs?

You can make meatballs without breadcrumbs. While breadcrumbs do act as a binder, it is a combination of eggs, moisture, fat content, and how much you press the meat together when forming the meatballs that hold the meatballs together in this recipe.

This recipe also calls for nutritional flakes. I have found they hold together a little been when the flakes are added then if I don't use them.

How long to cook meatballs in oven at 350?

This depends upon the size of the meatball of course, but a 1-1/2" to 2" meatball will take anywhere from 20 to 25 minutes. The best way to cook a meatball is to bake until it reaches 160 degrees F. You can tell if a meatball is done is by checking the temperature with an instant-read thermometer

How long to cook meatballs in oven at 375?

Depending upon the size of the meatball, it will take anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes to cook in an oven at 375. The final temperature of the meatballs should be 160 degrees F. Check the temperature with an instant-read thermometer

At what temperature are meatballs done?

Meatballs are done when they reach 160 degrees F.

Should I bake or fry meatballs?

You can do both, but baking is easier because you don't have to stand over a stove. You can simply place the meatballs on a baking sheet, place in the oven, then go do something else while they're baking.

Can you freeze meatballs?

Yes! You can freeze meatballs! The meatballs should be cooked first.  I love to make meatballs ahead of time then freeze them for future use. I try to use them within 3 months.

What You'll Need To Make This Baked Meatball Recipe

Tools

• mixing bowl
• measuring spoons
• measuring cups
• baking sheet
• parchment paper
• instant-read thermometer

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef, 80/20 ground chuck
• 1 lb pork sausage
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast (you can substitute seasoned bread crumbs if not following a low carb diet)
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 eggs
• 1 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1/3 cup ketchup (use keto-friendly (sugar-free) ketchup)
• 8 oz mozzarella cheese sticks, sliced into 1/2 to 3/4" pieces or, 1/2" cheddar cheese cubes.
• Dill pickles cut into small cubes, approximately 1/4" or a little larger.
• Spaghetti sauce, barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, or Big Mac Sauce

How To Make Baked Meatball Recipe

Mix

In a large mixing bowl, mix ground beef, sausage, nutritional flakes (or breadcrumbs), seasoning, eggs, tomato paste, and ketchup until combined.

You can use a spoon or you can use your hands! I've always thought it was fun to mix it with my hands!

Shape

Divide mixture into 28 to 32 meatballs. Press the meatballs down and place mozzarella cheese in the center (or cheddar and pickle). Press meat around cheese and seal the meatball.

You want to have an even amount of meat surrounding the cheese. If you can feel the cheese poking through, cover it with meat.

Bake

Place the meatballs on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes, or until meatballs reach 160 degrees F.

Serve

Serve and enjoy these tasty meatballs!

How To Make Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

Following step number two above, add one 1/2" to 3/4" piece of mozzarella cheese, wrap the meat around cheese, seal, then place on a baking tray. Continue with step number three, above.

How To Make Cheeseburger Stuffed Meatballs

Following step number two above, add one 1/2" piece of cheddar cheese and a piece of pickle. Wrap the meat around cheese, seal, then place on a baking sheet. Continue with step number three, above.

More Easy Recipes With Beef!

• Big Mac Sauce Recipe (Keto Big Mac Sauce)
• Stuffed Meatloaf Recipe With Cheese And Bacon (Big Mac Meatloaf)
• Stuffed Italian Meatloaf Recipe | Keto Meatloaf
• Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff (Keto Beef Stroganoff)
• Italian Crock Pot Beef Roast (Instant Pot Beef Recipe)
• Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers (Keto Stuffed Peppers)

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Easy baked meatballs that are stuffed with delicious cheese! Mozzarella stuffed meatballs or cheeseburger stuffed meatballs are the perfect make-ahead dinner recipe or appetizer! Make and bake these keto meatballs for now - or freeze for later! Perfect for a game-day or holiday appetizer! Dip mozzarella stuffed meatballs in marinara and the cheeseburger meatballs in barbecue, ranch, or big mac sauce. #meatballs #italian #keto #lowcarb #seekinggoodeats #appetizer #easyrecipe