Name: Oven Baked Cheese Stuffed Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: serves 4 people
Cuisine: Slovenian
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil, for the meat; 1 onion; 2 garlic cloves; 1 tbsp parsley, chopped; 500 g (1.1 pounds) ground meat; 70 g (2.5 oz) bread, cubed; 100 ml (1/2 cup) hot milk; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp ground black pepper; 1/2 tsp oregano; 80 g (3 oz) cubed cheese (Edam, Gouda or Mozzarella); 1 tbsp olive oil, for cooking; 1/2 onion; 1 garlic clove; 1 tsp sugar; 5 basil leaves; 650 ml (2 2/3 cups) tomato passata; 180 ml (2/3 cup) water; 150 g (5 oz) grated cheese (Edam, Gouda or Mozzarella)

Oven Baked Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

Cheese-stuffed meatballs are truly divine! If you enjoy classic meatballs in tomato sauce topped with cheese, this recipe is definitely for you. Our kids absolutely love the melted cheese surprise in the center, and they always get excited about the generous amount of sauce. We typically serve them with spaghetti, but they also pair wonderfully with mashed potatoes as a side dish. These meatballs are easy to make in advance; you can prepare them ahead of time and freeze them, making them perfect for busy weeknights. They are juicy, tender, and flavorful—exactly how meatballs should be!

Delicious Oven Baked Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

If you and/or your kids adore meatballs, they will love them too. These are the main reasons why:

the meatballs are juicy, tender, not too big, and filled with cheese that melts in your mouth
an excellent recipe for big families, as you can easily make more
there’s a generous amount of tomato sauce included
keep refrigerated or freezer for busy days
a lovely main dish for all family members, big or small
great for any day of the year, no matter the season

What to serve with tasty little meatballs

Serve these juicy Meatballs with a generous amount of that delicious tomato sauce and one of these sides:

Storing and freezing

Feel free to store or freeze these meatballs. We can easily make them ahead and freeze them for later, so we can have them ready for a quick meal any day of the week.

You can keep the Oven-Baked Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Before serving, reheat.

We can freeze them, too. First, let the meatballs cool, then place them in a freezer bag or airtight container, seal and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost, then reheat in a pan on the stove or in a microwave.

How to make Oven Baked Cheese Stuffed Meatballs at home (video)

Check this short video to see how we made these cheese-stuffed meatballs at home.

Next, try these divine meatball recipes

Made in collaboration with Digital House for SEB d.o.o.

Ingredients

meatballs

1 tbsp olive oil, for the meat

1 onion

2 garlic cloves

1 tbsp parsley, chopped

500 g (1.1 pounds) ground meat

70 g (2.5 oz) bread, cubed

100 ml (1/2 cup) hot milk

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1/2 tsp oregano

80 g (3 oz) cubed cheese (Edam, Gouda or Mozzarella)

1 tbsp olive oil, for cooking

tomato sauce

1/2 onion

1 garlic clove

1 tsp sugar

5 basil leaves

650 ml (2 2/3 cups) tomato passata

180 ml (2/3 cup) water

150 g (5 oz) grated cheese (Edam, Gouda or Mozzarella)

Tools and equipment

Tefal Ingenio pan with removable handle

cutting board

kitchen knife

plate

large bowl

METHOD

make the meatballs

Place an oven-safe Tefal Ingenio pan with a removable handle (or a different oven-proofed pan) over medium heat. Add olive oil, diced onion, minced garlic, and chopped parsley. Cook for 5 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally. Add cubed bread to a small bowl and cover with warm milk. Set aside for 5 minutes.
meatballs with cheese

Add the ground meat to a large bowl. Add soaked bread, egg, pan-fried onion, garlic, and parsley. Season with salt, pepper, and oregano. Stir into an even mixture. Scoop some of the meat mixture. Add a cube of cheese and shape it into a meatball, ensuring the cheese is well closed. Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat it to 210 °C / 410 °F.
bake the meatballs

Add oil to a pan and place over medium heat. Pan-fry the meatballs for 2 - 3 minutes until they brown and smell delicious. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 - 18 minutes at 210 °C / 410 °F or until they are beautifully brown. While the meatballs are baking, prepare the tomato sauce.
tomato sauce

Transfer the meatballs from the pan to a plate. Then, place the same pan over medium heat. Add diced onion and thinly sliced garlic, and saute for 2 - 3 minutes. Add sugar and basil, stir to combine, and cook for the sugar to melt. Add the tomato passata to a pan and water and cook for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the meatballs and cook for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with grated cheese, cover with a lid, and wait for the cheese to melt for approximately 2 - 3 minutes.
serve

Divide the Oven-Baked Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs between four plates and serve with spaghetti or mashed potatoes. Sprinkle with fresh basil, then serve.

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Oven Baked Cheese Stuffed Meatballs