Meatballs Without Sauce in the Oven
Golden, aromatic, and incredibly delicious! No one can resist! Oven-baked meatballs without sauce cook much faster than the usual ones – no need to prepare a sauce, just shape the balls and bake. The rice in the filling makes them heartier and tastier.
Updated : 06 June, 2025
Easy
About 1 hour.
Ingredients
500 grams
Ground meat
100 grams
Rice
1
Onion
1
Eggs
to taste
Ground black pepper
to taste
Salt
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
You can use any ground meat – beef, chicken, turkey, or a mix. I used pork. It can be store-bought or homemade. Use any type of unboiled rice (it will stay firm) – both round and long-grain rice work. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
Step 2
Rinse the rice until the water runs clear, then cover with cold clean water and cook. Once it boils, add salt and cook for about 5 minutes – this will make the rice semi-cooked and prevent it from getting mushy in the meatballs. Drain the rice through a sieve and rinse it under cold water to cool quickly and prevent stickiness.
Step 3
Place the ground meat in a bowl. Peel and finely chop the onion. You can either dice it finely, blend it, or grate it like I did. The amount of onion is to your liking – the more you add, the juicier and spicier the meatballs will be.
Step 4
Add the rice to the meat, crack in the egg, season with salt and pepper to taste. You can also use any spices you like. Mix the filling thoroughly until it is uniform.
Step 5
Line a baking dish with foil or parchment paper. Shape small meatballs from the mixture and place them in the dish. Keep in mind that the meatballs will shrink a bit while baking.
Step 6
Bake the meatballs for 40-50 minutes until they develop a golden crust. The exact time will depend on your oven and the size of your meatballs. Mine baked for 50 minutes.
Step 7
Serve the meatballs with any side dish or fresh vegetables. Enjoy your meal!