Cheeseburger Meatballs
These mouthwatering meatballs are made with seasoned ground sirloin (or ground turkey) and melty sharp cheddar cheese, making them uniquely delicious!
If you love a juicy cheeseburger but want something fun-sized, these Cheeseburger Meatballs will likely become your new go-to recipe. They’re tender, savory, and stuffed with melty cheddar in the center… like a party-perfect twist on a classic comfort food. I first made them for a casual football watching party, and my guests couldn’t stop popping them. Before I knew it, the tray was empty and everyone was asking for more (there wasn’t any more, haha). Now I triple the recipe depending upon how many people I have coming over. And they freeze beautifully too, so leftovers are always a welcome treat!
And if you want to round out your plate, pair these with Oven-Baked French Fries, Roasted Sweet Potato Fries, a side salad, Cheddar Cheese Crisps, or Lightened-Up Coleslaw.
Why these meatballs will win you over
- Cheesy surprise inside: Every bite reveals gooey, melted cheese.
- Game-day ready: A party-friendly snack for potlucks, tailgates, or family nights.
- Burger taste, without the grill: All the flavor of a cheeseburger, made in the oven.
- Meal-prep friendly: Freeze and reheat for a delicious protein-packed meal.
You can serve these yummy meatballs in so many ways: skewer them onto toothpicks as an appetizer with cheeseburger fixins like lettuce, red onion, pickle chips, and tomatoes, tuck them into slider buns with lettuce and tomato, or spoon them over pasta with extra sauce. Sometimes I just pile them on a platter with dipping sauces on the side (ketchup, mustard or my DIY special sauce). However you enjoy them, they deliver all the nostalgic burger vibes in a new, bite-sized form.
PS. My special sauce isn’t really so special, LOL, it’s a simple combo of equal parts ketchup and light mayo. In the spirit of Al Roker, it’s cloudy with a chance of meatballs!
If you’re a fellow meatball fan, you’ll love my Chicken Parm Meatballs, Maple Mustard Meatballs, and Italian-Style Slow Cooker Meatballs.
Craving more cheeseburger fun? Check out my Cheeseburger-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes or cozy Cheeseburger Quesadilla.
This recipe was also featured on TODAY.com!
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Cheeseburger Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground sirloin or turkey
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- ⅓ cup breadcrumbs, panko or regular
- 1 Tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 ½ cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside
- Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl until well combined, being thoughtful to not overmix. Form into about 22 fluffy meatballs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 20 to 24 minutes, or until meatballs are fully cooked through and hit an internal temp should hit 165°F.
- Optional serving suggestion: Skewer each meatball with a toothpick and garnish with lettuce, pickle chips, red onion and cherry tomatoes. Serve with ketchup, mustard or “special sauce” (equal parts ketchup mixed with light mayonnaise). Enjoy!
how many meatballs is a serving? These look good!
Hi Mary! Thank you for your question! We provide nutrition information per meatball for easy portion calculation. A “typical” serving is 4 to 5 meatballs. We hope you enjoy the recipe— it’s a favorite of ours! 🙂
— Team Joy
I Love this recipe! My friends and family love it too. My husband is a hunter so I use ground venison in place of the beef or turkey.
Hi Tracy, we’re thrilled that the whole crew enjoyed the recipe. And thanks for sharing your creative twist—we love to hear how you made it your own!
—Donna
This recipe is so easy and delicious. It is one of my family favorites. Simple, fast and easy!
Thanks!
So thrilled you love these meatballs, Mary Jean!! They’re on regular rotation in my house 😉 xx
Another easy and delicious recipe. I used ground chicken for the protein. These meatballs are so yummy. Will definitely put into the rotation
So thrilled you loved this one, Lisa! It’s on regular rotation in my house… and I often swap in 94% ground turkey meat (ground chicken was a great swap, too!!).