Homemade Stovetop Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

Homemade stovetop meatballs make all the difference in flavor, and they’re simple to prepare. I’m even using jar marinara sauce (I love Rao’s) here to make the meal super fast.

It’s worth the hands-on prep work to make these meatballs on the stove fast for hungry bellies.

Spaghetti and meatballs are such a comfort food in our house and in so many others because it is a staple weeknight meal.

I have so many fond memories of weeknights; my family gathered around the table to come together after our individual busy days.

A big, hot bowl of spaghetti and meatballs came out, and the pace slowed down. I love that about busy nights when we can all sit together and share over something so familiar.

Stovetop meatballs

Meatballs can seem intimidating to assemble and cook. But, I promise just a little hands-on assembly time is all you need, then they are quick to fry on the stovetop.

Of course, I’m using my cast iron skillet here. These cast iron meatballs take just 2-3 minutes per side in the pan, so in about 20 minutes, your meatballs will be finished cooking.

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How to cook meatballs on stove

With a decent spice pantry, these stovetop meatballs will be a fast meal without having to run to the store.

I recommend always having a freezer full of ground beef so that you can quickly thaw and throw a meal together.

A busy afternoon out and about is no problem with this recipe in your back pocket. Cast iron skillet meatballs are one of those easy meals in our house. 

What you will need:

• Onion
• Garlic
• Avocado oil
• Ground beef
• Bread crumbs
• Eggs
• Salt
• Pepper
• Parsley
• Oregano
• Basil
• Thyme
• Sage
• Rosemary
• Crushed red peppers
• Marinara sauce of your choice 

I like to start the process with these meatballs by first assembling all of the spices. That way, they are ready to go.

Gather your salt and pepper, dried parsley, oregano, basil, thyme, sage, rosemary and crushed red peppers.

Measure the quantities and dump them all in a small bowl and quickly mix so that they are on hand when assembling. Nothing throws off my cooking rhythm more than stopping to dig through my spice cabinet.

Now that those spices are ready, finely dice up your onion and mince the garlic. Heat your cast iron skillet over medium heat and quickly saute them up.

Grab a large bowl and throw in the ground beef, the sauteed onions and garlic, bread crumbs, and eggs and mix to combine.

Then throw in the spices gathered beforehand and mix those in quickly.

Hands are the perfect tool here. Grab and twist so that the ground beef is broken up, but be sure not to overwork the meatballs mixture. It can make for tough beef meatballs if too much time is spent mixing. 

Now grab an ice cream scoop or similar tool to have even proportions for assembly. Shape the beef meatballs into small balls and set them aside, ready for frying in the cast iron skillet.

Reheat that pan used to saute the onions and garlic over medium heat. A 12″ skillet will make quick work of these meatballs on the stove.

Cook the meatballs 2-3 minutes per side, using tongs to flip to keep them together. Consider 4 sides to a meatball, don’t overthink it. 

You can either leave the meatballs in the pan or take them out and drain some excess oil.

Once they’re all cooked, reduce the heat to low and make sure your meatballs and jar of marinara sauce are together in the pan.

This step is to allow the pre-made sauce to heat up and combine it with the meatballs. Serve over noodles for spaghetti, or make a meatball sandwich using homemade bread.

That’s it! About 30 minutes of work, and you have a warm, comforting family meal perfect for busy weeknights. 

I love this simple recipe with baked beans or fried zucchini fritters.

It also makes a great side for guests when paired with this dutch oven lasagna.

Perfect for meal prep

If you consider yourself an organized meal prepper, the best part about these stovetop meatballs is that you can do the prep work over the weekend and have them ready in the fridge.

That way, the meatballs come together even quicker. That is really helpful for throwing together a 30-minute dinner on a busy weeknight.

I wish I were better at that kind of prep work, but between work and family, we’re hardly working in advance. 

Leftover stovetop meatballs

If you find yourself with leftover meatballs, I love to make a meatball sub sandwich. It’s a simple meal to make with leftovers.

A meatball sandwich is even one my oldest kids are able to make themselves, so all the more reason to keep this recipe in your rotation. 

Freezing meatballs

These stovetop meatballs can be easily frozen if you want to make a giant batch all at once. However, make sure to cook them through before freezing.

I do suggest draining the fat and letting the beef meatballs cool completely before adding them to your preferred freezer container. 

Simply portion what you need and thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, reheat on low over the stovetop with a little liquid to prevent them from drying out. 

Wrapping up

Spaghetti and meatballs are a classic American family dish to enjoy during the week. I hope you enjoy this quick recipe for stovetop meatballs and find it in your easy meal rotation.

There are plenty of ways to make it an even quicker process, and always have them on hand.

More quick weeknight meals here:

• Venison Tacos with Black Bean & Corn Salsa
• Authentic Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
• 20 Minute Steak and Potato Bites
• Homestyle Meatloaf (or try with venison)
• Lamb Dumplings