By Becky Hardin
Updated Oct 3, 2025
I can’t get enough of these Mozzarella-Stuffed Italian Meatballs! Each one is juicy, tender, and oozing with melty mozzarella in every bite. I mix up perfectly seasoned ground beef, tuck in a cube of rich whole milk mozzarella, and let the magic happen as they cook into cheesy perfection. They disappear fast in my house, so I’ve learned to always make a double batch—because one is never enough!
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Easy Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs Recipe
Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs are cheesy, juicy, and delicious, the perfect appetizer for any occasion or a quick and easy weeknight dinner. To say I’m obsessed with this recipe is an understatement. I want to throw copies of this recipe from the rooftops so that everyone can enjoy these Mozzarella Meatballs as much as I do!!
Though I do love my Grandma’s meatball recipe that’s been in my family for generations, I have to say this mozzarella stuffed recipe is just as good. I like to make them small and serve them as appetizers for tailgating, parties, or before dinner. Sometimes I’ll toss them into pasta, grab some Italian bread, whip up a salad, and turn them into a meal.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1½ lbs. ground chuck 80-90% lean
- ▢ ⅓ cup Parmesan breadcrumbs
- ▢ 1 tsp salt
- ▢ ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ▢ 1 tsp dried sweet basil
- ▢ ½ tsp dried oregano
- ▢ 1 egg lightly beaten
- ▢ 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- ▢ 1 tbsp water
- ▢ 4 oz. mozzarella pearls or 6 ounces fresh mozzarella cut into ½” cubes
- ▢ 2 cups marinara sauce
- ▢ fresh basil or parsley chopped
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray the foil with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground chuck, breadcrumbs, salt, black pepper, basil, oregano, egg, Worcestershire sauce, and water. Mix until ingredients are incorporated. 1½ lbs. ground chuck, ⅓ cup Parmesan breadcrumbs, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, 1 tsp dried sweet basil, ½ tsp dried oregano, 1 egg, 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tbsp water
- Pinch off 2 tbsp of the meat mixture and roll into a ball. Make a large indentation in the middle (without pushing all the way through), and place 3 mozzarella pearls in the middle of the indentation. Bring the meat up and around the cheese, and completely close off the cheese inside the meat. Roll gently to smooth out the meatball. Place the ball on the lined baking sheet and repeat until all meatballs are made. 4 oz. mozzarella pearls or 6 ounces fresh mozzarella
- Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. If the cheese bubbles out, the meatballs still taste great. (I made several of these and just a few cooked without the cheese bubbling out.)
- While the meatballs cook, heat the marinara sauce in a small stovetop pan until hot. 2 cups marinara sauce
- Remove the meatballs from the oven and allow them to cool just a few minutes. Place the sauce in a serving bowl and arrange the meatballs over the sauce. Sprinkle with grated or shredded Parmesan cheese and serve immediately. fresh basil or parsley
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Mozzarella Stuffed Italian Meatballs Step by Step
Get the oven going and prepare a baking sheet : Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray the foil with cooking spray.
Make the meatballs : In a large bowl, combine the 1½ lbs. ground chuck, ⅓ cup Parmesan breadcrumbs, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, 1 tsp dried sweet basil, ½ tsp dried oregano, 1 egg, 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, and 1 tbsp water. Use your hands to incorporate all the ingredients.
Pinch off 2 tbsp of the meat mixture and roll into a ball. Make a large indentation in the middle (without pushing all the way through), and place 3 mozzarella pearls in the middle of the indentation, and roll the meat around the cheese to completely cover the cheese. Roll gently to smooth out the meatball. Place on the lined baking sheet and repeat until all meatballs are made.
Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. If the cheese bubbles out, the meatballs still taste great. (I made several of these and just a few cooked without the cheese bubbling out.)
Heat the sauce: While the meatballs cook, heat 2 cups of marinara sauce in a small stovetop pan until hot.
Remove the meatballs: Remove the meatballs from the oven and allow them to cool just a few minutes.
Serve: Place the sauce in a serving bowl and arrange the meatballs over the sauce. Sprinkle with grated or shredded Parmesan cheese and serve immediately. Enjoy!
How to Store
Store uneaten meatballs in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat over the stove or in the microwave.
Flash freeze meatballs on a cookie sheet and once frozen, transfer to a freezer safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat over the stove or in the microwave.
Serving Suggestions
I love making these mozzarella-stuffed meatballs for game day or parties—they’re always the first thing to disappear! I usually set out a whole spread with my favorite crowd-pleasers like cheeseburger sliders and this addictive crack dip . It’s the ultimate party lineup!
more meatball recipes to try
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatballs
Peruvian Chicken Meatballs with Green Sauce (Drop Meatballs)
Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs (with Dijon Sauce)
Mozzarella Stuffed Italian Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs. ground chuck 80-90% lean
- ⅓ cup Parmesan breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp dried sweet basil
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tbsp water
- 4 oz. mozzarella pearls or 6 ounces fresh mozzarella cut into ½” cubes
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- fresh basil or parsley chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray the foil with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground chuck, breadcrumbs, salt, black pepper, basil, oregano, egg, Worcestershire sauce, and water. Mix until ingredients are incorporated. 1½ lbs. ground chuck, ⅓ cup Parmesan breadcrumbs, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, 1 tsp dried sweet basil, ½ tsp dried oregano, 1 egg, 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tbsp water
- Pinch off 2 tbsp of the meat mixture and roll into a ball. Make a large indentation in the middle (without pushing all the way through), and place 3 mozzarella pearls in the middle of the indentation. Bring the meat up and around the cheese, and completely close off the cheese inside the meat. Roll gently to smooth out the meatball. Place the ball on the lined baking sheet and repeat until all meatballs are made. 4 oz. mozzarella pearls or 6 ounces fresh mozzarella
- Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. If the cheese bubbles out, the meatballs still taste great. (I made several of these and just a few cooked without the cheese bubbling out.)
- While the meatballs cook, heat the marinara sauce in a small stovetop pan until hot. 2 cups marinara sauce
- Remove the meatballs from the oven and allow them to cool just a few minutes. Place the sauce in a serving bowl and arrange the meatballs over the sauce. Sprinkle with grated or shredded Parmesan cheese and serve immediately. fresh basil or parsley
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
