43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (2024)

Home » Recipes » Appetizers + Snacks » 43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party

posted by Gina Dickson on July 30, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links. Thanks for supporting small business.

Do you need easy party food? Meatballs are always a hit, and they are easy to make before it’s time for guests to arrive. Browse through these meatball appetizer recipes for a party, and pick out a few saucy wonders. They’re perfect for groups and budget-friendly!

Meatballs go with more than just marinara sauce. The possibilities are endless. I’ve collected all my favorite easy meatball appetizer recipes for your next party in one place!

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (1)

Along with great meatball recipes, I have also included simple tips for cooking meatballs to help you make the perfect tender meatball that is full of great flavor and holds together in your sauce.

After learning how to make the perfect meatball, scroll through the list of all the best meatball recipes I could find! Tap the recipe button to learn more and print the recipe card.

🎉 Party Meatballs

When it comes to planning parties, I’ve discovered quick and easy tips that will be helpful to you. I have some great budget-friendly meatball appetizer ideas for a party, such as a baby shower, engagement party, or birthday celebration. I like to serve meatballs as a hearty appetizer.

  • Meatball appetizers are easy to keep hot and serve no matter what size of party you are having.
  • Family-friendly appetizer that both kids and adults enjoy.
  • Meatballs are a freezer-friendly party food to keep on hand for last minute gatherings!

Meatballs are also great for Game Day Party food. You can stuff them into hoagies or serve them as bite-sized treats tossed in my bacon BBQ Sauce. They also work for holiday parties or any time you expect a crowd.

💰Budget-Friendly Tip: Because meatballs are made with ground meat, you can add them to a selection of other Budget-friendly Appetizer Ideas for a party that’s easy on the wallet. You can even serve them up for delicious budget-friendly meat for your weeknight dinner’s main course dish.

Tips For Making The Best Meatballs

With a few basic tips, you can cook delicious meatballs for your next party or dinner.

🤫 What’s the secret to tender meatballs?

  1. Add Moisture with Day-Old Bread: Include day-old bread soaked in milk or water in your meatball mixture. The soft bread will create a light and tender texture to your meatballs.
  2. Avoid Overcooking: When cooking ground beef, chicken, or pork meatballs, be be sure not to overcook them. Overcooking can lead to toughness, so keep a close eye on the cooking time to ensure your meatballs remain juicy and tender.
  3. To help keep meatballs from drying out, serve them in a sauce after cooking. This not only makes them tasty but also helps retain moisture, keeping your meatballs delectably tender.

💡 What’s the trick to meatballs that don’t fall apart?

The number one thing to do is make sure you use a binder when making your meatballs. There are quite a few ways to do this including:

  • Add bread pieces soaked in milk or mix in dried bread crumbs and eggs.
  • Use crumbled Ritz crackers and egg mixture with the raw meat.
  • You can also use eggs as a binder.

🏆 Top Tip For Making Perfect Round Meatballs

: Use a cookie scoop when forming the meatballs. This helps pack them together without overhandling the meatball mixture, which makes them tough.

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (2)43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (3)

How To Make Meatballs Without Eggs

Soft Eggless Meatballs

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (4)

Learn how to make delicious egg-free meatballs that are packed with flavor. This easy-to-follow recipe will show you the secrets to creating mouthwatering meatballs without sacrificing texture or taste. This homemade meatball recipe is a great way to stretch your grocery budget and make meal prep easy.

Get Recipe

Should meatballs be cooked before putting in sauce?

It is best to cook meatballs before putting them in the sauce. Browning meatballs until golden brown in a frying pan is best to add color to the outside of the meat, seal the juices, and also help them keep their shape. It also helps separate grease before putting the meatball in the sauce. After they’re browned, finishcooking themin the sauce.

This method gives the meatballs a light, crunchy outside, and a juicy, tender inside. It also infuses a flavor from the meatballs into the sauce.

Is it better to bake or pan-fry meatballs?

Pan fry or baking meatballs are both good ways to cook them. However, baking them allows any excess grease to be drained off.

How do I keep meatballs soft after cooking?

There’s no one way to achieve tender meatballs, but here are some tricks I’ve used, especially when they will be kept hot for an extended period of time.

  • Add moisture when making the meatballs. This could be from veggies, barbecue sauces, or a little bit of ice water.
  • Don’t over-mix or pack them into balls too tightly.
  • Keep the meatballs larger than an inch in diameter. Smaller than an inch tends to dry out when cooking.
  • Pan-fry the outside of your meatballs first before adding to the sauce. This seals in the juices and keeps the inside tender.
  • Use a timer to prevent overcooking overcook the meatballs.
  • Use a mixture of meat with some fat. I like to use 30% high-fat meat to 70% lean ground beef for a soft meatball.

🧊 Can I cook frozen meatballs?

Yes, you can cook frozen meatballs. The big advantage of frozen meatballs is most are already cooked so they just need to be heated.

Cook them in a preheated oven at 350° F. Place the number offrozen meatballsyou want in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from the baking sheet and toss them into your sauce.

🏆 TOP TIP: Be sure not to have the meatballs too close together; there should be an inch or more space between them to allow air to circulate around them, which heats and browns them at the same time.

Should I thaw meatballs before going in a crockpot?

No, it’s not necessary. You can put frozen meatballs directly into your crockpot. It’s best to have them on the bottom so they will get the most heat.

Add the rest of your ingredients on top and follow the cooking time in the recipe.

How To Serve Meatballs At A Party

The trick to serving effortless meatballs at your next party is to make them ahead of time and, when the party starts, learn how to keep them warm throughout the party.

🔥 What’s the best way to keep party meatballs hot?

  • Stovetop: keepthemwarmover very low heat for up to 1 hour
  • Crockpot: After you have cooked the meatballs in sauce, transfer to a crockpot and set the temperature to a warm setting. They will keep for several hours. It is good to stir every hour to keep the sauce from sticking to the slow cooker.
  • Chafing dish: An affordable option for large parties to keep food warm is a chafing dish. Another perk is they make cleaning up after the party a breeze.

24 Piece Party Serving Kit Includes Chafing Kits and Serving Utensils

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (5)43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (6)

What To Serve With co*cktail Meatballs

co*cktail meatballs go well with a wide variety of party foods. Here are some ideas:

  1. Dipping sauces: co*cktail meatballs go great with a number of dipping sauces, including honey mustard, sweet chili sauce, Bacon Barbecue Sauce, Taco Bell Baja Sauce, Copycat Taco Bell Red Sauce, and marinara sauce. Serve plain meatballs and create a dip bar for your guests.
  2. Finger foods: co*cktail meatballs can be served with other finger foods such as Spicy Pimento Cheese and crackers, vegetables and dip, deviled eggs, or stuffed mushrooms.
  3. Salads: A fresh salad can balance out the richness of the sauced meatballs. Try a simple Green Jacket Salad with a vinaigrette dressing, a Homemade Caesar Salad, or a pasta salad.
  4. Rice or noodles: Serve your meatballs over Instant Pot Coconut Rice or stir in Easy Asian Noodles.
  5. Bread: Make a meatball sub bar for your party guests! Offer a selection of bread rolls for guests to make mini sandwiches with their meatballs. Options could include small rolls, pita bread, naan bread, or Garlic Cheesy Pull Apart Bread.
  6. Skewers: If you are serving your meatballs on skewers, you could also include other skewered items, such as grilled veggies, fruit, or The Whole Sha-Bang Shrimp.

Remember, have fun, and get creative with your sides. Enjoy!

Crockpot Meatballs For A Party

Creamy Rich Meatballs and Gravy Recipe (Easy Slow Cooker)

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (7)

Learn how to make tender meatballs with abundant rich flavorful gravy using a slow cooker. This step-by-step recipe will teach you how to create a delicious appetizer or satisfying meatballs and creamy gravy sauce meal sure to impress your family and friends.

Get Recipe

Saucy Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe; Easy Slow Cooker

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (8)

These sweet and sour meatballs are a mouth-watering combination of tender meatballs, juicy pineapple chunks, and colorful bell peppers, all simmered in a delicious blend of sweet BBQ and teriyaki sauce. Preparing them is a breeze; it only requires 10 minutes of prep time, and your slow cooker takes care of the rest. You can serve these delicious Hawaiian meatballs as a main dish over rice or as a simple appetizer at your next party.

Get Recipe

3 Ingredient Sauce Ideas For Easy Crockpot Meatballs

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (9)

When you need an easy appetizer, all you have to do is grab some frozen meatballs and pick your sauce combination. The best part is it will take youless than 5 minutesto prepthese saucy meatballs.

Get Recipe

Traditional Meatballs With A Twist

If you’re looking for classic flavors that appeal to a wide variety of people then look no further. These meatballs make the perfect appetizer to serve large groups. They’re guaranteed to be a hit!

Here you will find meatballs in barbecue sauce, marinara sauce, buffalo sauce, and the famous grape jelly meatballs!

Homemade BBQ Meatballs Recipe Easy Slow Cooker

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (10)

This easy BBQ meatballs recipe guarantees juicy, tender hand-rolled meatballs covered in a homemade smokey barbeque sauce and then simmered in a slow cooker. Perfect for easy entertaining or an easy home-cooked weeknight dinner.

Get Recipe

Buffalo Turkey Meatballs

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (11)

Buffalo Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs are the perfect quick snack or appetizer that you can make ahead and freeze in large batches. Then when you need a quick party snack just place them in your air fryer and bake. Sauce them up mild, medium, or extra hot.

Get Recipe

BBQ Chicken Meatballs

These BBQ Chicken Meatballs are one of my favorite easy party appetizers, but they also make a delicious dinner when served with a veggie side!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (12)

BEST Grape Jelly Meatballs

Grape Jelly Meatballs can be served as a main course or an appetizer for game days! These crockpot grape jelly meatballs are easy to make and loved by all!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (13)

Whole30 Swedish Meatballs

These Whole30 Swedish Meatballs are hearty, savory, and so flavorful! The gravy is smooth and creamy.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (14)

Smokey BBQ Meatballs

Homemade pork and beef meatballs take this traditional meatball recipe to an unbelievable smoky BBQ treat! These co*cktail meatballs are perfect for parties or a delicious dinner.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (15)

Quick Meatball Recipes

Let’s face it, sometimes we get pressed for time but that’s when it’s time to reach for kitchen tools that make life easier! The slow cooker meatballs are great because you can set them up and let them cook for hours with very little attention.

The Instant Pot is great for cooking your favorite homemade meatballs recipe quickly and much easier than other methods! Or reach for the air fryer for smaller groups or to use when the oven is full of other appetizers.

Discover old favorites but also some exciting new ways to serve meatballs for any special occasion.

Crockpot Meatballs with Blackberry Chili Sauce by Cook in Canuck

Crockpot meatballs are fantastic for holiday and game day parties. The sweet and slightly spicy blackberry chili sauce adds a ton of flavor to these light meatballs!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (16)

Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs

These Cranberry Meatballs are the perfect appetizer for your next get together! Make delicious party meatballs in a tangy sauce in just 10 minutes with 6 simple ingredients!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (17)

Coca Cola Crockpot Meatballs

You're going to love these savory and delicious 3-ingredient crockpot Coca-Cola® meatballs! They're perfect for game day and always a crowd pleaser!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (18)

Instant Pot Blackberry Jalapeño BBQ Meatballs

Instant Pot Blackberry Jalapeño BBQ Meatballs, an easy, sweet and spicy co*cktail meatball appetizer for holiday parties or game day.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (19)

Instant Pot Easy Korean Meatballs

Glazed Korean meatballs are easy to prepare and take minutes to cook! In recent years Korean food become some of our favorite dinner time meals.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (20)

Instant Pot co*cktail Meatballs Recipe

An easy recipe for instant pot co*cktail meatballs. Delicious homemade meatballs cooked in a rich sticky sauce are juicy and flavorful. These pressure cooker co*cktail meatballs are ready for serving in 30 minutes!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (21)

Air Fryer Taco Meatballs

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (22)

These low carb Taco Meatballs are absolutely bursting with taco flavor! They’re quick and easy to make thanks since they’re cooked in the air fryer!

Get Recipe

International Flavors

Give your easy co*cktail meatballs a makeover by making them with an international flair! In many instances, it’s just a simple swap of a meatball sauce recipe that’s needed to change it up.

There are lots of ways to incorporate more diverse flavors into your party menu! Let’s look at a few ways that are some of my favorites!

Sweet Ginger Sesame Meatballs

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (23)

These Sweet Sesame Ginger Meatballs are an Asian-style turkey meatball that can be served as an appetizer or on a bed of rice for a complete meal!

Get Recipe

Delicious Meatball Parmesan Bites

Meatball Parmesan Bites. Tender meatballs infused with garlic, breadcrumbs, and parmesan, bathed in red sauce and topped with melted cheese.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (24)

Mediterranean Meatballs With Dill Pesto

These Mediterranean meatballs are filled with feta, spinach and other herbs and seasonings. Serve with a fresh dill pesto for maximum flavor!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (25)

Easy Greek Meatballs (Keftedes)

Juicy, tender Greek meatballs that are bursting with flavours of oregano, mint, parsley and red onion. This a super easy and delicious recipe.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (26)

Mini Indian Meatballs with Curry Coconut Sauce

Mini Indian Meatballs with Curry Coconut Sauce. With Indian spices added like turmeric and fresh mint, served in a delicious sauce.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (27)

Mexican Meatballs With Avocado-Crema Sauce

These tender, succulent Mexican meatballs come with just the right kick of spice and a decadent avocado-crema sauce for your dipping pleasure.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (28)

Tsukune (Japanese Grilled Chicken Meatballs

Tsukune, Japanese grilled chicken meatballs, with keto teriyaki sauce is sweet, salty, and absolutely delicious! This is the best low carb Tsukune recipe!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (29)

Sweet Gochujang Meatballs Appetizer

Sweet Gochujang Meatballs appetizer using frozen mini co*cktail meatballs with garlicky maple gochujang sauce. Recipe for Instant pot, Regular and slow cooker.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (30)

Party co*cktail Meatballs

If you’re looking for unique ways to serve up meatballs, then stop here! These are a little extra special, which makes them perfect for a fancier gathering. They’ll still work for football parties, too but they may involve a bit more work than some of the other meatball recipes!

Mini Spaghetti Nests and Italian Meatballs Appetizer

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (31)

These Mini Spaghetti Nests and Italian Meatball Appetizers are made with creamy Alfredo angel hair pasta & Italian-style meatballs.

Get Recipe

Crockpot Gluten Free BBQ Turkey Meatballs

These gluten free Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Meatballs are easy to make. They’re baked and then tossed in a tangy barbeque sauce!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (32)

Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer

This bourbon meatballs appetizer recipe is so delicious, you will want to eat them for a meal and not just for an appetizer! Succulent and tasty!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (33)

Easy Meatball Bites in Crescent Dough

These are the easiest and tastiest dough wrapped meatball bites around! Adults and kid alike will marvel at how delicious these are to enjoy!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (34)

Raspberry Black Bean Meatball Skillet

A spin off of a popular appetizer, this Raspberry Black Bean dip meatball skillet will definitely become your next go-to meal!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (35)

Sticky Honey Sriracha Meatballs

These Sticky Honey Sriracha Meatballs combine staple pantry ingredients for the perfect weeknight family meal everyone will love.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (36)

Meatballs Made Without Beef

While beef or a combination of meats are most commonly used for meatballs, there are other meats you can shape into meatballs!

Cheesy Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (37)

This Cheesy Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs recipe is a delightful twist on the classic dish. These flavorful meatballs combine ground chicken, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasonings, all nestled in a rich marinara sauce topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a family meal or when entertaining guests. These classic parm meatballs are sure to become a family favorite.

Get Recipe

Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (38)

Your family will applaud your dinner when you make this delicious Eggplant and Beef Meatballs Recipe.

Get Recipe

Smoked BBQ Turkey Meatballs

These BBQ Turkey Meatballs are small but pack a ton of flavor. Easily prepped in one bowl, they’re perfect as part of a weeknight dinner or as party food.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (39)

Brie-Stuffed Turkey Meatballs

These Brie-Stuffed Meatballs are incredibly moist turkey meatballs with a delightful brie cheese surprise in the middle!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (40)

Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

These buffalo chicken meatballs are the BEST! I add a secret ingredient to the hot sauce making them super delicious and packed with flavor!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (41)

Low Carb Keto Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Recipe

See how to make buffalo chicken meatballs with just 6 ingredients! This easy low carb keto buffalo chicken meatballs recipe is a mashup of wings + meatballs, with only 10 minutes prep.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (42)

Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs + Sour Cream Dip

Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs! Finely chopped ham and Swiss cheese add tons of flavor to this low carb appetizer or ground chicken entrée.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (43)

Greek Turkey Meatballs

These baked Greek Turkey Meatballs are loaded with flavor and include feta cheese & sundried tomatoes baked right in. Serve with homemade tzatziki.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (44)

Baked Asian Turkey Meatballs Recipe

Learn how to make Asian turkey meatballs that are full of flavor, with 10-minute prep!

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (45)

Vegan co*cktail Meatballs

These vegan meatballs make the perfect party food when you’re expecting vegans or vegetarians at a party! They’re tasty enough to appeal to everyone attending, but a great way to cater to friends and family who don’t eat meat.

Meaty Vegan TVP Meatballs

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (46)

Vegan tvp meatballs that are meaty, flavorful & meat eaters approved. They are also quick & easy to make.

Get Recipe

Vegan Swedish Meatballs

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (47)

These delicious Vegan Swedish Meatballs are reminiscent of the classic IKEA version. They are perfectly textured and seasoned with warm spices. Then they are smothered in a rich and creamy gravy that is the epitome of comfort.

Get Recipe

Canning Meatballs

Would you like to have homemade meatballs stocked in your pantry for a quick and effortless party food? This simple canning meatballs in broth guide provides easy-to-follow steps on how to can meatballs safely.

Easy Step-By-Step Guide For Canning Meatballs In Broth

This simple canning meatballs in broth guide provides easy-to-follow steps on how to can meatballs safely.

Get Recipe

43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (48)

What To Serve With Meatballs For Dinner

You can easily make any of these meatball recipes and serve them as a main course for dinner. Here are a few side suggestions to make your menu a complete meal when serving meatballs.

  • Potatoes: Mashed Potatoes Without Butter are great with meatball sauce poured over them. They would also be good over roasted potatoes or Baked Potatoes In An Air Fryer.
  • Rice: For a quick side to put the sauce over, make Instant Pot Coconut Rice.
  • Noodles: You can serve the meatballs and their sauce over spaghetti noodles, udon, egg noodles, or any of your favorite kinds of pasta.
  • Bread: Serve meatballs in a sub roll or with Beer Bread. For a keto option, serve them over a Wonder Bread Chaffle.
  • Veggies: Grilled Corn On The Cob, green beans, Crock Pot Asparagus, steamed broccoli, Green Jacket Salad or Fuji Apple Salad Recipe.

Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

One comment on “43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party”

Leave a comment »

  1. 43 Favorite Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (49)

    Addie Reply

    This is so helpful for entertaining! Thank you!

Appetizers + Snacks Recipe Roundups

posted by Gina Dickson on July 30, 2023

1 comment Leave a comment »

« Previous PostThe Easiest Method For Peeling Tomatoes for Canning

Next Post »Saucy Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce

43 Favorite  Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party (2024)

FAQs

How many meatballs for 40 guests? ›

If you are making 1-ounce meatballs for a main course you should make 6 meatballs per person. If you have some big eaters at the party I suggest making 6-10 bite sized meatballs per person.

What's a good sauce for meatballs in a crockpot? ›

Plain old-fashioned grape jelly and Heinz chili sauce are the secret to tangy, smoky, unstoppable meatballs. All you have to do is throw everything together and turn on the slow cooker. If you're using frozen meatballs, add them to the crockpot right out of the freezer.

How many frozen meatballs for 100 guests? ›

The number of meatballs needed for 100 people depends upon their size and the manner in which they are served. A standard main course serving size is 6 ounces of meat per guest, or approximately 600 1-ounce meatballs, 400 1 1/2-ounce meatballs, 300 2-ounce meatballs and 200 3-ounce meatballs.

How much ground beef for 50 meatballs? ›

Meatballs
  1. 30 meatballs = 10 to 15 ounces = ⅔ to about 1 pound ground beef.
  2. 40 meatballs = 13 to 20 ounces = ⅞ to 1¼ pounds ground beef.
  3. 50 meatballs = 16½ to 25 ounces = 1 to 1½ pounds ground beef.
  4. 60 meatballs = 20 to 30 ounces = 1¼ to 2 pounds ground beef.
  5. 70 meatballs = 23 to 35 ounces = 1½ to 2¼ pounds ground beef.
May 21, 2024

How many pounds of meat for meatballs for 20 people? ›

A good, generic rule is half a pound of meat per person (before cooking) for a large meal. Not sure what you mean by “reduce weight in pounds” - if you're trying to save money, mix some breadcrumbs and eggs into the meatballs - it's delicious and adds bulk (reducing the amount of meat you have to buy).

How much ground meat do I need for 40 people? ›

Try serving 3/4 of a pound per person to factor in the extra weight. If you're dishing up some ground beef for taco night, ¼ of a pound per person should be sufficient. You might want to consider ¾ of a pound for those with heartier appetites. A half a pound might not be enough.

What is the trick to keeping meatballs together? ›

How to make meatballs that won't fall apart
  1. Massage your meat. True story. ...
  2. Add breadcrumbs. Add breadcrumbs to the mixture, but not too many breadcrumbs. ...
  3. Add egg. ...
  4. Don't add much apart from meat. ...
  5. Roll your meatballs in flour. ...
  6. Give your meatballs space. ...
  7. Shake your meatballs. ...
  8. Brown your meatballs first.
Mar 3, 2022

How do you keep meatballs warm for a potluck? ›

What is the best way to reheat and keep the meatballs warm throughout the party? Editor: Personally, I'd warm the meatballs at 300°F on a baking sheet or casserole dish until warmed through. To keep them warm, your best bet is probably leaving them in a slow-cooker on the “warm” setting.

Is it better to bake or fry meatballs before putting in sauce? ›

Baking will result in meatballs with a crunchy exterior, though the caramelisation achieved from frying will be superior. Baked meatballs take the least amount of effort, as you'll only need to turn them once or twice throughout the cook and you can make a larger batch at once.

Is it better to bake meatballs at 350 or 400? ›

For 1-2 inches of beef, pork, or turkey meatballs without any pre-cooking, use these guidelines for your wall oven:
  • 350°F wall oven:
  • 8–14 minutes for 1-inch meatballs.
  • 14–18 minutes for 2-inch meatballs.
  • 400°F wall oven:
  • 6–10 minutes for 1-inch meatballs.
  • 10–14 minutes for 2-inch meatballs.
  • 425°F wall oven:
Aug 16, 2023

How do Italians serve meatballs? ›

In Italy, meatballs are most often a stand-alone dish. Called polpettes, Italian meatballs are often served sauceless and are much smaller than the meatballs you're probably used to. Traditional Italian meatballs typically contain equal portions of meat and soaked bread, and other additions such as egg and vegetables.

How many meatball appetizers per person? ›

co*cktail Meatballs

Here's how many meatballs per person you'll need: One serving = 4 meatballs. Party of 12 = 2 pounds.

How many meatballs are in a 32 oz bag of frozen meatballs? ›

Cooked Perfect Frozen Homestyle Bite Size Meatballs, 32 oz, 64 Count Plastic Bag.

What is the best size for meatballs? ›

Typically, meatballs will be somewhere between the size of a large cherry and a golf ball. Recipes such as Swedish meatballs and Italian-inspired meatballs are often made with a mixture of both beef and pork, but meatballs can be made with any red meat, game, poultry or a mixture.

Is 80 20 ground beef good for meatballs? ›

Pork gives the meatballs extra flavor, and veal helps keep them moist and tender. But all-beef meatballs taste great too, as long as you choose an 80/20 blend, which has enough fat to keep the meatballs from drying out. If there are other types of meat in the mix, choose 90/10.

How many burgers does 3 lbs make? ›

Ground Beef – We use 1.5 lbs of 80/20 beef to make 4 double-patty burgers, but you can easily scale the recipe up to feed a crowd (use 3 lbs for 8 double-patty burgers).

How many pounds of ground beef to feed 50 people? ›

I would suggest a quarter-pound ground beef/pork per person. That works out to about 12–1/2 - 13 pounds. You might have some leftover, but better that than having too little.

How much food for a party of 40? ›

Food for Dinner Parties
FoodUp to 10 guests40-50
Pork roast or ham5 pounds25 pounds
Casseroles2 (13x9")7 (13x9")
Side dishes5 cups25 cups
Green salad10 cups50 cups
9 more rows

How much ground beef for 50 people? ›

I would suggest a quarter-pound ground beef/pork per person. That works out to about 12–1/2 - 13 pounds. You might have some leftover, but better that than having too little.

How many pounds of meat for 50 guests? ›

How Much Food to Serve at a Party
FOODSERVE 25SERVE 50
Meats
Chicken or turkey breast8–9 pounds16–18 pounds
Fish (fillets or steaks)7-1/2 pounds15 pounds
Hamburgers6-1/2–9-1/2 pounds13–15 pounds
35 more rows
May 23, 2024

How many pounds of meat do I need for 30 guests? ›

When cooking something like steak, turkey or pork, where meat is the main dish of the meal and paired with a few side dishes, we recommend about 1/2 pound (eight ounces) per person, or up to 3/4 (12 ounces) pound for bigger appetites and those who love leftovers.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Lakeisha Bayer VM

Last Updated:

Views: 6343

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lakeisha Bayer VM

Birthday: 1997-10-17

Address: Suite 835 34136 Adrian Mountains, Floydton, UT 81036

Phone: +3571527672278

Job: Manufacturing Agent

Hobby: Skimboarding, Photography, Roller skating, Knife making, Paintball, Embroidery, Gunsmithing

Introduction: My name is Lakeisha Bayer VM, I am a brainy, kind, enchanting, healthy, lovely, clean, witty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.