Make this Healthy Meatball recipe that melt in your mouth and enjoy without the guilt! Use low fat ground beef to keep this recipe full of protein and super flavorful.
🗒️ In This Post
Low Fat Italian Meatballs
This healthy meatball recipe is made with 96% lean ground beef for less fat but you wouldn’t know it! The beef meatballs come out very juicy, soft and they even melt in your mouth. Serve them with spaghetti or even as sliders with a side salad for a complete meal.
So good!
🩷 xoxo, Ana
**This post was originally published on May 2020. It has been updated to be more helpful.
If you like healthy meatballs, try my Mexican Albondigas Soup! So delicious too.
Ingredients
- 96% lean ground beef – Don’t hesitate in using lean ground beef. The flavor comes from the fresh ingredients and you won’t miss the extra fat! I promise.
- The fresh ingredients:
- Freshly grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
- minced fresh garlic
- Italian bread crumbs
- eggs
- flat leaf parsley
- The spices: kosher salt and ground black pepper
- We’ll also use lukewarm water to keep them moist.
- Plus a little bit of olive oil to sear the meatballs.
- The sauce: My favorite Homemade Spaghetti Sauce goes perfect for these meatballs and use it on all of my Italian dishes.
**Here are the visuals for how to make it. You’ll find the complete recipe and ingredient list in the card at the end.**
How to make Healthy Meatballs
In a large bowl add all ingredients and combine with your hands until everything is mixed through.
Shape into meatballs.
- Heat a large pot or skillet over medium high heat.
- Fry meatballs in batches using 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Turn the meatballs about 3 times and cook them 1 to 2 minutes per side.
- Remove from heat and set aside on a plate. Repeat this process until all meatballs are cooked.
- On the same pot or skillet, add the marinara sauce and deglaze until all of the brown bits from the meat blend into the sauce.
- Return the meatballs to the pot and cook for an additional 30 to 45 minutes until soft.
How To Serve
- Enjoy over perfectly cooked spaghetti or your favorite pasta.
- These healthy meatballs also make great sub sandwiches too. Just toast or warm the bread over a skillet and fill it with the meatballs and sauce. Optional is to add your favorite cheese such provolone or mozzarella on top. (I’m getting these tips from the hubby as this is how he eats it 😉)
Ana’s Recipe Tips
- Searing the meatballs – many meatball recipes recommend placing the raw meatballs directly into the sauce instead of browning them first. I prefer to lightly fry them first as the brown bits add an incredible flavor to the sauce. Don’t be afraid to try this method. The results lend to very soft meatballs!
- Fresh Garlic: For maximum flavor, use fresh and not from a jar.
- How to Store the beef meatballs: Refrigerate in a airtight container for up to four days. Or freeze in storage containers for easy weekday lunches or in a larger container for meal prep. Thaw in the fridge overnight and gently reheat on medium heat.
More Low-Fat Recipes
I hope you like this recipe! Share it, or leave a rating and comment below. For questions that need an answer right away, please contact me and I’ll get back to you asap. Gracias!!!! xx, Ana
Print Recipe:
Healthy Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds 96% lean ground beef
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
- 1 cup italian bread crumbs
- 2 eggs - whisked
- 1 1/2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley - finely chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil - For searing the meatballs
- 2 jars of your favorite marinara sauce
Instructions
- In a large bowl add all ingredients (except olive oil and marinara sauce) and combine with your hands until everything is mixed through.
- Shape into 1 inch meatballs.
- Heat a large pot or skillet over medium high heat.
- Sear meatballs in two batches using 1 tablespoon of olive oil each time. Turn the meatballs about 3 times and cook them 2 minutes per side.
- Remove from heat and set aside on a plate. Repeat this process until all meatballs are cooked.
- On the same pot or skillet, add the marinara sauce and deglaze until all of the brown bits from the meat blend into the sauce.
- Return the meatballs to the pot and cook for an additional 30 to 45 minutes until soft.
- Serve warm.
Instead of searing the meatballs in oil, I put them on a large baking sheet with a silicone mat and bake at 350 until brown. You can remove excess grease and then add the browned meatballs to your sauce to continue cooking…just what I do
Great tip Sherri! Thank you!
Delicious. Much better than my other healthy recipe. To make it healthier use whole wheat bread & use very little water.
I love the idea of using whole wheat bread! I’m so happy you liked this recipe. Thank you!
If you bake them instead of frying. How long would you cook them and at what degrees?
Hi Hailey! If you’re baking them, go with 400°F (200°C) for about 18 to 20 minutes, or until they’re cooked through and nicely browned on the outside. Just keep an eye on them toward the end. Enjoy!
Do the nutrition facts include the marinara sauce?
Ps this was DELICIOUS! I omitted the water because I thought it was an error, but I see from other questions it wasn’t. I thought it might be lacking flavour a bit due to no herbs (I’ve never made meatballs before) but I was gladly mistaken!!
Worst recipe ever. Meatballs fall apart when trying to cook on the pan. Waste of an afternoon and ingredients
You sound like your not the greatest in the kitchen, how can you mess up this recipe 👨🍳💩😂
I’ve made meatballs for at least a decade and wanted to try a new recipe. wow!! This did not disappoint. The lukewarm water made a huge difference. These were very flavorful and moist meatballs. I used one jar roasted garlic sauce and one marinara, both Roa’s. Probably my best ones yet!
Easy, juicy and tasty
These were excellent. I used almond flour instead of the breadcrumbs and it turned out great. Looking forward to making these again!
I want to bake them in the oven.. what temp and for how long.
Hi Denise, Here is how to bake them in the oven:
*Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
* Place the meatballs in a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking. Make sure to leave some space between each to allow for even cooking.
* Bake them for approximately 20-25 minutes. Depending how big they are. You can cut one in half to see if they’re done in the middle.
Let me know how they turn out! I’m sure you’ll love them. Let me know if you have any other questions.
xo, Ana
Thank you for the response back.. OMG they came out so good.. this will be the new way I make them
Hoy las hago!!!
Perfecto Malena!! Me cuentas que tal te parecieron. Saludos!!!!
They were delicious! Think I’ll skip the frying part tho next time.tks for the recipe!
Yum! can’t wait to make them!
XOXO
These meatballs truly melt in your mouth! My family loved them!
Thank you Monica!! I appreciate the feedback. I also love these Healthy Meatballs!
Hi! Im wondering if the water goes into the meat mixture? And does both TBSP of olive oil go in pan or 1T in meat and 1T in pan?
Thanks!
The water goes into the meatballs and use 1 Tbsp of oil for each batch when you sear them. (cook meat in two batches total). Thanks for the question!
Hi! Just wondering if the TBSP of olive oil used to fry the meatballs is included in the two TBPS listed in the ingredients? In other words, how many TBSPs of olive oil are added directly to the meat mixture? Thanks for the recipe, looks amazing!
Hi Kayla! You don’t add the olive oil to the mixture. It’s just to sear the meatballs. Enjoy!