Baked Cheesy Veggie-Stuffed Meatballs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-05 · Updated 2026-06-05

Tender beef meatballs stuffed with melted mozzarella and finely chopped vegetables baked to golden perfection. This Italian-inspired kid-friendly recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs ground beef, mozzarella cheese, carrot for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 4 oz, cut into 1/2-inch cubes mozzarella cheese
• 1 small, finely grated carrot
• 1/2 small, finely grated zucchini
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, mix 1 lb ground beef with 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1 large egg, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until combined.
2. Step 2: Add 1 small finely grated carrot and 1/2 small finely grated zucchini to the meat mixture and mix well.
3. Step 3: Take about 2 tbsp of the meat mixture and flatten it in your palm. Place one 1/2-inch cube of mozzarella cheese in the center, then carefully fold the meat around the cheese to form a ball. Repeat to make 12 meatballs.
4. Step 4: Place the 12 meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil evenly over them.
5. Step 5: Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes until the meatballs are browned and cooked through, and the cheese is melted inside.
6. Step 6: Let the meatballs rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to settle.