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Italian Lamb Meatballs

ByCaro Jensen Updated on
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This easy Italian lamb meatball recipe combines flavorful ground lamb with classic Italian herbs for a delicious dish perfect for pasta nights or meal prep. With simple ingredients and endless easy meal options, these juicy and rich lamb meatballs are a crowd-pleaser for sure.

A black plate with lamb meatballs in a wooden board.
Table of contents

Simple ingredients: Apart from the ground lamb, this recipe uses staple ingredients only including dried herbs for an easy weeknight dinner or handy snack.

Perfect for meal prep: Meatballs are a staple in my weekly meal-prep routine and you can easily make a big batch of meatballs for easy lunches or dinners throughout the week.

For more easy ground lamb dishes, check out my ground lamb pie, Greek lamb wellingtons, and lamb kofta kebabs as well.

If you loved this Lamb Meatball Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating below. Thank you!

A black plate with lamb meatballs in a wooden board.

Italian Lamb Meatballs

Caro Jensen
These easy Italian lamb meatballs combine flavorful ground lamb with classic Italian herbs for a delicious dish perfect for pasta nights or meal prep.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Appetizer, Dinner, Snack
Cuisine Italian
Servings 18 meatballs
Calories 85 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 lb ground lamb
  • 1 egg medium-sized
  • 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp ground paprika
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil extra virgin

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, mix together the ground lamb, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic, thyme, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper.
    1 lb ground lamb, 1 egg, 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, 1 garlic clove, 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp ground paprika, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • Use your hands to shape the ground meat mixture into meatballs, about 1-inch diameter, slightly smaller than golf balls.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the lamb meatballs until golden brown about 4-5 minutes on both sides.
    1 tbsp olive oil

Notes

Check if they’re cooked: Open one up and check if it’s no longer pink on the inside or use a meat thermometer to ensure meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Storage: Cooked meatballs should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. Ensure they cool completely before storing to prevent condensation.

Nutrition

Calories: 85kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 5gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.001gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 154mgPotassium: 64mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 43IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg
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Ingredients and substitutions

Ingredients laid out to make lamb meatballs.
  • Lamb: Look for ground lamb with a higher fat content of 15-20% for juicier meatballs. You can also use ground beef.
  • Breadcrumbs: This recipe uses white breadcrumbs but you can use wholemeal or panko breadcrumbs as well.
  • Garlic: If you don’t have fresh cloves available you can substitute it with 1/2 tsp of ground garlic.
  • Herbs: Oregano and thyme are classic Italian herbs that complement the lamb. You can use fresh thyme or oregano just up to the quantity to 1 1/2 tsp each. Alternatively, you can omit all seasoning and herbs in this recipe and simply use 1 tbsp of my Mediterranean seasoning or Tuscan spice mix.

Variations

  1. Spice it up: Increase the heat by adding 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper. You can also use my lamb dry rub to instantly season the ground lamb.
  2. Greek lamb meatballs: Add fresh mint, lemon zest, and feta cheese for a Greek twist.
  3. Moroccan meatballs: Substitute the herbs and spices with 1 tbsp chermoula spice mix for a North African twist.

Step-by-step: lamb meatballs

Meatball ingredients in a glass mixing bowl.

1: Combine all ingredients apart from the olive oil to make the meatball mixture.

Shaped meatballs on a plate.

2: Form meatballs by hand (1-inch diameter).

Meatballs being fried in a pan.

3: Heat the olive oil on medium-high heat and add the lamb meatballs.

Meatballs being fried in a pan.

4: Cook the meatballs on both sides for 4-5 minutes each.

Serving ideas

Serve with pasta alongside your favorite rich tomato sauce or sour cream Stroganoff sauce. You can also make them for my Marry Me meatball pasta or enjoy these meatballs with a creamy Alfredo sauce.

Make meatballs wraps or sandwiches with tzatziki and red cabbage salad.

Two meatball wraps on a black plate.

Enjoy as a standalone appetizer with a dipping sauce such as my homemade Dijonnaise or a refreshing yogurt mint sauce.

Caro Jensen

Hi, I'm Caro, I help home cooks get confident cooking delicious food from scratch. I post new recipes here every week but you can connect with me on any of the platforms below. I'd love to hear from you!

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5 from 1 vote