Dutch Oven Meatballs

These Dutch Oven Meatballs are a classic comfort food. They are quickly put together with very simple ingredients. While they are commonly used in Italian inspired recipes, you can easily change some of the ingredients to enjoy other flavor cuisines. Make extra to keep on hand in the freezer when you just don't know what to make for dinner.

It's an easy one-pot recipe that is perfect for meal prep since they freeze so well. And you can keep it low carb too, just add your favorite veggies.

If you love using your Dutch oven for easy cooking, try my Beef Stroganoff, Roast Chicken, or Eye Round Roast Beef.

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to make meatballs in a Dutch Oven:

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Ground Beef- We are using beef with 85% fat for the meatballs. You can choose to use a sirloin with 90-95% fat or ground turkey. You can also use a meatloaf mix with pork, veal and beef. If there is a lot of fat leftover in the pot, drain it off before adding sauce ingredients.

Tomato Sauce- Choose marinara, tomato sauce, whole tomatoes or diced tomatoes. (See suggestions below for other sauce ideas.)

Fresh Herbs- If you have access to an herb garden, fresh oregano, basil and thyme are so delicious in the sauce. If not, 1 teaspoon of each will work.

Add veggies- You can increase the fiber in the meatballs by adding finely grated carrots or zucchini. Or try finely minced red or green bell pepper.

How to make Dutch Oven Meatballs

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, salt, pepper, beef, cheese, onion, garlic, seasoning and breadcrumbs. 

Combine the meatball mixture gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. 

Heat a large Dutch oven or other large heavy bottoms pot over medium heat.   Spray with some non-stick cooking spray.

Step 2: Form meatballs into approximately 1 ½ inch meatballs. 

Cook on each side for about 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Remove meatballs to a paper towel lined large plate.

Step 3: Add the tomatoes, sauce, sugar, chopped herbs to Dutch oven.  Bring to a simmer. Add meatballs back to the pot, cover and simmer for another 20-30 minutes.    The meatballs are done when they have an internal temperature of at least 160°F. They will continue cooking to 165°F as they simmer in the sauce.

Taste the sauce for seasonings, salt or sugar. Serve over your favorite pasta or zoodles.

What to serve with Meatballs?

We are a family that both loves and limits carbs. So for the recipe, I used regular linguine (as shown on the left) and edamame pasta (on the right). Someone had buttered rolls to dunk in the sauce and someone didn't. LOL!

What goes well with Spaghetti and Meatballs?

I always serve a salad with any pasta dishes. Its fresh taste compliments the heavier sauces. My Butter Lettuce and House Salad are favorites.

Recipe Tips

• If you mix by hand, dampen your hands with some water or use just a bit of oil between your hands to help avoid the beef mixture from sticking.
• Or you can use a cookie or ice cream scooper for even, rounded meatballs.
• Mix the meat mixture just until combined. Over mixing can cause tough meatballs.
• Seasoning: Season the meat mixture generously with salt, pepper, and your choice of herbs and spices. Italian seasonings are usually garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, oregano, basil and thyme. You can spice it up by adding red pepper flakes or some paprika.
• If you don't have or need to leave out the eggs, add some milk and a few tablespoons spaghetti sauce for moisture and to help bind the mixture together. My Meatloaf without Eggs recipe is just as moist and delicious as one with eggs.

Can I use different types of meat in the meatballs?

You can use ground turkey or chicken. It may need a little bit of olive oil if the meat is very lean. Or try ground pork or veal, or a meatloaf mix which has beef, pork and veal.

What sauces go well with meatballs?

1. Marinara Sauce: This is a classic choice for italian meatballs and made with tomatoes, garlic, onions, and herbs like basil, thyme and oregano. It's light and savory flavor will not overwhelm the flavor of the meatballs.
2. Alfredo Sauce: Alfredo sauce is a rich and cheesy, creamy sauce and is a delicious option for meatballs.
3. Barbecue Sauce: Tangy and sweet barbecue sauce adds a flavorful, smoky twist to meatballs. You can make mini meatballs and serve as an appetizer with the sauce.
4. Sweet and Sour Sauce: This combination of tangy vinegar, sweet sugar, and savory soy sauce makes for a delicious thick sauce that adds a unique flavor to meatballs. It's often used in Asian-American cooking.
5. Brown or Mushroom Gravy: A rich and savory sauce made with mushrooms, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, onions, and thyme. It's perfect to serve over Fettuccine noodles or mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower.