Cheesy Garlic Stuffed Meatballs

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I dare you to read this recipe for Cheesy Garlic Stuffed Meatballs without wanting to make some immediately.

If you are anything like me, you simply can’t do it.

And that’s okay.

These mozzarella stuffed meatballs are so delicious, versatile, and easy to make – you can even whip them up in large batches to have on hand in the freezer anytime you need them.

Garlic and cheese stuffed meatballs in a skillet simmering in spaghetti sauce, topped with fresh parsley.

Cheesy Garlic Stuffed Meatballs

Heat them up and serve them with spaghetti, on pizza, as sliders, or in meatball sub sandwiches.

In fact, I recommend making a double batch – one to eat now and one to freeze so that you have some ready for when you need a quick and easy dinner.

Perhaps best of all, these Cheesy Garlic Stuffed Meatballs make a tasty appetizer before dinner or for parties and other gatherings.

Take them with you to your next potluck or serve them up at your big Game Day Party and watch them quickly disappear.

Fun and delicious, with just a hint of cheese inside, these Cheesy Garlic Stuffed Meatballs are homemade and are sure to become a new family favorite.

I’d love to hear about some of the ways you serve them up!

Ingredients

  • Ground beef
  • Garlic
  • White onion
  • Italian bread crumbs
  • Egg
  • Milk
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Fresh Italian parsley
  • Olive oil
  • Spaghetti sauce
  • Mozzarella cheese sticks

Note: You may also substitute smoked gouda for the mozzarella cheese. That’s a great flavor combination too!

How to Make Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

In a large bowl, add in garlic, onion, and beef.

Press together well with your hands making sure the mixture is mixed well.

Add in eggs and bread crumbs. Mix well with your hands.

Pour in milk then add salt and pepper. Mix it again with your hands.

Roll meat into balls.

Ground beef that has been shaped into meatballs in a skillet.

Push cheese into the center and roll again.

Stuffing a piece of mozzarella cheese into the ground beef mixture before shaping it into a ball.

Add olive oil to the skillet and turn to medium heat.

Place meatballs in a skillet and brown the outsides.

Meatballs with garlic, onions, and cheese browning in a skillet.

Once the meatballs are browned pour in spaghetti sauce.

Cover and simmer on medium low heat for 15 to 20 minutes until meatballs are thoroughly cooked.

Serve topped with Parmesan on a bed of pasta if serving as spaghetti and meatballs.

Fresh Italian parsley tops meatballs simmering in spaghetti sauce.

Serving as an appetizer

If you are serving the stuffed meatballs as an appetizer, you’ll want to keep them warm.

We like to serve them either straight from the stove or keep them in a warming plate if it’s a buffet.

They are great on a toothpick or skewer on a platter.

Cheesy Garlic Stuffed Meatballs Variation Options

  • For a heartier meal, serve the meatballs over cooked quinoa, rice, or pasta.
  • To make ahead, freeze the meatballs on a baking sheet until solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking as directed.
  • Serve the meatballs with a simple green salad and crusty bread for mopping up the delicious sauce.
  • For a fun appetizer, make mini meatballs and serve with toothpicks. Or, turn them into sliders by serving on small rolls with your favorite toppings.
  • Swap out the ground beef for ground turkey, lamb, pork, chicken, or a combination.
  • Use any shredded cheese you have on hand. Cheddar, Swiss, provolone, and Gruyere would all be delicious.

Tips for Making Meatballs

  • The key to great meatballs is to not overmix the meat. Mix just until everything is combined.
  • For light and fluffy meatballs, add some breadcrumbs to the mixture.
  • To ensure perfectly cooked meatballs, use a cooking thermometer. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
  • Adding flavor to your meatballs is easy! Mix in some minced garlic, onion, herbs, or even a little bit of BBQ sauce, hot sauce, or ketchup. Get creative and make them your own.
  • For extra cheesy meatballs, stuff them with a small piece of cheese before rolling into balls.
  • Or, top with shredded cheese after they have been cooked.
  • Yes, you can make these cheesy garlic stuffed meatballs in the air fryer or cheesy garlic stuffed meatballs baked. Both are great options!

Cheesy Garlic Stuffed Meatballs are the best dinner option because they are easy and so flavorful!

You can make a bunch of these and freeze them for later or your family can eat them until there is no more left!

What’s your favorite part of these meatballs?

More great recipes to enjoy:

Cream Cheese Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Dip

Cajun Shrimp Cups

Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Shrimp Skewers

Easy Cranberry Brie Bites

Goat Cheese Logs (perfect on your cheese board)

Gochujan Glazed Grilled Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Loaded Baked Potato Footballs

Roasted Artichoke and Mozzarella Salad

Southwestern Grilled Jalapeno Poppers

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Beef Bites

Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Puff Pastry Bites

Spicy Pecans

Instant Pot Barbecue Meatballs

Stuffed meatballs simmering in a skillet filled with spaghetti sauce.

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Cheesy Garlic Stuffed Meatballs

Jennifer Quisenberry
Our cheesy garlic stuffed meatballs made on the stovetop in a skillet make a delicious appetizer. But you can also serve it as a meatball sub or with spaghetti too! Take a bite and warm mozzarella cheese with a hint of garlic oozes out. They are so good.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 12
Calories 214 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Bowl
  • 1 Skillet
  • Measuring Spoons
  • 1 Cutting Board
  • 1 Knife

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds Ground Beef 90/10
  • 2 tablespoon Garlic
  • ½ White Onion Diced
  • 1 cup Italian Bread Crumbs
  • 1 Egg large
  • 3 tablespoon Milk
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh Italian Parsley
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 jar Spaghetti Sauce Your Choice
  • 3 Cheese Sticks Diced
  • Parmesan topping

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, add in garlic, onion, and beef. Press together well with hands making sure the mixture is mixed well.
    2 pounds Ground Beef, 2 tablespoon Garlic, 1/2 White Onion Diced
  • Add in eggs and bread crumbs. Mix well with your hands.
    1 Egg, 1 cup Italian Bread Crumbs
  • Pour in milk, followed by salt and pepper. Mix well with your hands.
    3 tablespoon Milk, 1 teaspoon Salt, 1 teaspoon Pepper
  • Roll meat into balls. Push cheese into center and roll again.
    3 Cheese Sticks
  • Add olive oil to skillet and turn to medium heat. Place meatballs in skillet and brown the outsides
    1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • Once the meatballs are browned pour in spaghetti sauce. Cover and simmer on medium low heat for 15 to 20 minutes until meatballs are thoroughly cooked.
    1 jar Spaghetti Sauce
  • Serve topped with parmesan and fresh parsley on a bed of pasta.
    1 tablespoon Fresh Italian Parsley, Parmesan

Notes

Please note that nutrition facts are subject to change based on your choice of ingredients.
We have calculated the calories based on serving the dish as an appetizer.

Nutrition

Calories: 214kcal
Keyword Cheesy Garlic Stuffed Meatballs, Cheesy Garlic Stuffed Meatballs Baked, Cheesy Garlic Stuffed Meatballs Homemade
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