10 Unconventional Meatball Recipes You Need to Make Right Now
Your mama's homemade meatballs are delicious, sure, but sometimes the balls just need to speak for themselves, without the support of a bowl of spaghetti and red sauce. From IKEA's Swedish spheres to sweet-and-sour meatballs that challenge Chinese takeout, these 10 atypical meatball recipes do just that.
Enjoy your IKEA meatballs without the risk of impulse-buying cheap shelves. This recipe is way easier to put together, too.
Key ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Allspice
- Beef broth
- Sour cream
For those that need to be tricked into eating vegetables. You’d never know these things were packed with fiber unless I told you! Oh. Recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Ground turkey
- Zucchini
- Marinara sauce
These monsters are for those that need to be tricked into eating cheese (really?). Get the recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Mozzarella balls
- Crushed tomatoes
- Spaghetti
These Asian-inspired meatballs are made in your slow cooker while you do literally anything else. Recipe right this way!
Key ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Pineapple chunks
- Red pepper
- Apple cider vinegar
- Soy sauce
Like Italian wedding soup but without the commitment. Recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Ground chicken
- Pasta
- Romano cheese
- Tomatoes
- Spinach
All the flavor of Italian meatballs, but without marinara. Garlic breath for days here.
Key ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Progresso creamy roasted garlic recipe starter
Take all the work (and mess) out of eating hot wings. Get the game-day recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Ground chicken
- Hot sauce
- Butter
- Blue cheese dip
These tangy pork meatballs can be eaten inside lettuce wraps with the accompanying mango salad recipe, but they're just as good on their own. Recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Pork sausage
- Sesame oil
- Fish sauce
- Sweet Thai chili sauce
Meatball salad. Why didn't you already think of this? Why didn't I already think of this?! Recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Ground turkey
- Pasta shells
- Grape tomatoes
- Mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil
Forget everything you thought you knew. Recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Spaghetti
- Marinara sauce
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Perry Santanachote is Thrillist's recipes editor. Follow her at @perrysant.