• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Spring Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Sweets
  • About
  • How To's

Where Is My Spoon

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Spring Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Sweets
  • About
  • How To's
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Spring Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Sweets
    • About
    • How To's
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ร—
    Where Is My Spoon > Recipes > Meat

    Ground Veal Meatballs Recipe

    Published by: Adina April 27, 2023 ยท Last modified: April 15, 2024 1 Comment
    Jump to Recipe
    pinterest image with title for ground veal meatballs.

    Amazingly tender, juicy, and flavorful veal meatballs. Made with ground veal and white bread, they are perfectly seasoned and ready in about 30 minutes.

    many meatballs with ground veal and parsley on a white platter.

    Have you ever tried veal meatballs? If not, you should. These ground veal meatballs are incredibly tender and practically melt in your mouth.

    Ground veal meatballs are also versatile. You can serve them with mashed potatoes or in a sandwich, pair them with your favorite sauce, such as marinara, BBQ, Swedish, Italian, or Asian-style sauce, or try them with this excellent Spanish sauce for meatballs.

    Check out more delicious meatball recipes: Beef Meatballs with Zucchini, Romanian Meatballs (Chiftele), Meatballs Without Eggs, or Mushroom Stuffed Meatballs.

    Jump to recipe
    • Recipe ingredients
    • How to make veal meatballs?
    • Alternative cooking methods
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • How to serve them?
    • Recipe
    • Ground Veal Meatballs Recipe

    Recipe ingredients

    listed ingredients for making meatballs with ground veal, white bread, eggs and spices.
    • Ground veal is a lean type of ground/ minced meat made of calf trimmings. Just like other types of ground meat, it can contain meat from various parts of the animal, such as short loins of flanks.
      • Ground veal used in combination with pork or beef, which are fattier. However, todayโ€™s veal meatballs are made with veal only, and they are as juicy and flavorful as they can be; you will love them!
      • Try more veal recipes: Easy Veal Roast, Veal Shanks, or Veal Escalopes (in Lemon Sauce)
    • Bread: You will need about 3 slices of white bread, a total of 3 oz/ 90 g weighed after removing the crust.
    • Milk: Whole or reduced-fat milk 2%. Donโ€™t use non-fat milk for this veal recipe.
      • Single cream/half and half would be great, too.
    • Seasoning: Fresh garlic, sweet paprika, fresh parsley, red pepper flakes, fine sea or kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
    • Other ingredients: Dijon mustard, one small onion, garlic cloves, eggs, a little all-purpose flour, and vegetable oil.
    • Optional: A small amount of dried breadcrumbs if required (See Expert Tips).

    How to make veal meatballs?

    • Soak bread: Remove the crust from the bread. Break the slices into smaller pieces and place them in a large bowl. Pour the milk on top, mix, and leave to soak until youโ€™ve gathered the remaining ingredients and grated the onion and the garlic.
    • Combine: Add the minced veal, grated onion, lightly beaten eggs, mustard, and all the spices. Mix well to combine.
    • Form about 22-25 balls, each weighing about 2 oz/ 60 g/ about ยผ cup ground veal meatball mixture. I usually use the cup or weigh the mixture for the first 2-3 balls and then eyeball the rest.
      • Press the balls between your palms to flatten them lightly (1).
    • Flour: Place the flour on a large plate. Dredge the veal meatballs through the flour and pat them gently over the plate or the sink to remove the excess flour (2).
    collage of two pictures of raw meatballs before and after dusting with flour.
    • Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan. Cook the ground veal patties in batches without overcrowding the pan. If the pan is dry, add a bit more oil between the batches.
    • Cook the veal meatballs for 3 minutes at high temperature, flipping them halfway (3). Then, lower the heat to medium, flip them again, and cook for another 5-6 minutes, flipping 2-3 times in between or until cooked through (4).
      • The internal temperature measured with a meat thermometer (the Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab) should be 160ยฐF/ 72ยฐC.
    collage of two pictures of frying meatballs in a nonstick pan.

    Alternative cooking methods

    • Oven: Preheat the oven to 400ยฐ/200ยฐ. Place the veal meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
      • Bake for about 15 minutes, check the internal temperature (160ยฐF/ 72ยฐC), or break one to see if itโ€™s cooked through. If not, give it 2-3 more minutes and check again.
    • Air fryer: Preheat it according to its instruction manual (mine needs about 3 minutes) to 400ยฐF/200ยฐC.
      • Place the meatballs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, spray them with cooking oil, and air fry them for about 8 minutes, flipping halfway or until cooked through. The internal temperature should be 160ยฐF/ 72ยฐC (instant-read thermometer).

    Expert Tips

    • Use of dried breadcrumbs: You will only need them if you feel that the meatball mixture is too wet; that depends mainly on the size of your eggs. If using dried breadcrumbs, start with just 1-2 teaspoons, mix again, and only add more if absolutely necessary.
    • Onion: Grating an onion is not my favorite task, yet I almost always do it when making meatballs. No matter how finely you chop an onion, if you leave it raw in the meatballs, you will probably feel the pieces when eating the meatballs.
      • Alternatively, you can chop the onion very finely and cook it in a bit of olive oil until soft. However, that takes longer and means more mess than grating the onion.
    • Avoid overmixing the veal mixture. Use your hands or a rubber spatula and mix to combine well, but donโ€™t turn the mixture into a paste. Overmixing will result in tough meatballs.
    • Wet your hands when rolling the balls; it will stop the meat from sticking to your hands.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I use other types of ground meat for these meatballs?

    You can make this recipe with chicken, turkey, pork, beef ground meat, or any combination.

    How to store and reheat meatballs?

    Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for about 3 days.
    Freeze the cooled meatballs in a freezer container or a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
    Reheat the meatballs in the oven at 350ยฐF/180ยฐC for 7-8 minutes or until heated through.
    If you wish to serve them with sauce, you can reheat them gently in the sauce.

    How to serve them?

    • overhead view of a bowl of truffle mashed potatoes sprinkled with parsley and red pepperberries.
      Rich Truffle Mashed Potatoes
    • carrot rice with curry powder and parsley.
      Carrot Rice
    • brown bowl full of cooked sweetheard cabbage on a green and white table cloth.
      How to Cook Sweetheart Cabbage
    • caramelized brussels sprouts sprinkled with red peppercorns close up.
      The Best Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
    • Sauce: Try our Marinara Sauce, the tomato sauce used for pork meatballs or mushroom sauce for Polish meatballs. Or serve them with any other meatball sauce you like.
    • Use leftover veal meatballs to make sandwiches or meatball subs.

    Do you like this recipe?

    Please leave a good rating in the recipe card below. Stay in touch through social media: Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. Donโ€™t forget to tag #whereismyspoon when you try a recipe!

    Recipe

    close up deeply brown calf meatballs sprinkled with parsley.

    Ground Veal Meatballs Recipe

    Amazingly tender, juicy, and flavorful veal meatballs. Made with ground veal and white bread, they are perfectly seasoned and ready in about 30 minutes.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Share GrowSaved! Rate
    Course: Appetizers, Main Course
    Cuisine: American, German
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 24 meatballs
    Calories: 75kcal
    Author: Adina

    Equipment

    • Frying pan
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients 

    • 1 ยฝ lbs ground veal 750 g
    • 3 oz white bread weighed after removing the crust 90 g/ about 3 slices
    • ยผ cup whole milk 60 ml, Note 1
    • 1 small onion grated
    • 2 eggs lightly beaten
    • 2 garlic cloves grated
    • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
    • 2 tablespoons parsley chopped
    • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder
    • ยผ teaspoon red pepper flakes Note 2
    • 1 ยฝ teaspoons fine sea salt or kosher salt more to taste Note 3
    • โ…› teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1-2 teaspoons dried breadcrumbs if required, Note 4 โ€“ Important!
    • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour Note 5
    • 2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil

    Instructions

    • Soak bread: Remove the crust and break the slices into smaller pieces. Place them in a large mixing bowl. Pour the milk on top, mix, and soak the bread until youโ€™ve gathered the rest of the ingredients and grated the onion and the garlic.
      3 oz/ 90 g white bread without crust + ยผ cup/ 60 ml whole milk
    • Combine: Add the ground veal, grated onion and garlic, lightly beaten eggs, mustard, and all the spices. Mix to combine but donโ€™t overmix, or the meatballs will be tough. If the mixture is too soft to hold shape, add 1-2 teaspoons dried breadcrumbs (Note 4).
      1 ยฝ lbs/ 750 g ground veal + 1 small onion + 2 garlic cloves + 2 eggs + 2 teaspoon mustard + 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder + 2 tablespoon chopped parsley + ยผ teaspoon red pepper flakes + 1 ยฝ teaspoon sea salt (more to taste) + โ…› teaspoon pepper
    • Form about 22-25 meatballs, each weighing about 2 oz/ 60 g/ about ยผ cup meatball mixture. I usually use the cup or weigh the mixture for the first 2-3 balls and then eyeball the rest. Next, press the balls between your palms to flatten them lightly.
    • Place the flour on a large plate. Dredge the veal meatballs through the flour and pat them gently over the plate or the sink to remove the excess flour.
      2 tablespoon flour
    • Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan. Cook the meatballs in batches without overcrowding the pan. Add a bit more oil between the batches if the pan is dry.
    • Cook the veal meatballs for 3 minutes at high temperature, flipping them halfway. Then, lower the heat to medium, flip them again, and cook for another 5-6 minutes, flipping 2-3 times in between or until cooked through.
    • The internal temperature measured with a meat thermometer should be 160ยฐF/ 72ยฐC.

    Notes

    1. Milk: Whole or reduced-fat milk 2%. Donโ€™t use non-fat milk for this veal recipe. You can also use half-half.
    2. Red pepper flakes: Sub with a tiny amount of cayenne pepper, always to taste.
    3. Salt: If using table salt, start with less as it is more potent. Check and adjust the taste. If you are uncomfortable tasting raw meat, fry a small clump of the mixture in the pan, taste it, and then adjust the taste.
    4. Use of dried breadcrumbs: You will only need them if you feel that the mixture is too wet; that depends mainly on the size of your eggs. If using dried breadcrumbs, start with just 1-2 teaspoons, mix again, and only add more if absolutely necessary.
    5. Flour: Itโ€™s optional but recommendable. The starch caramelizes, giving the meatballs a deeper color and more flavor.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1meatball | Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 206mg | Potassium: 113mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 105IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @adinabeck or tag #WhereIsMySpoon!

    More Hearty & Comforting Meat Recipes

    • bun stuffed with brat, sauerkraut and mustard.
      Air Fryer Frozen Brats
    • greek lamb stifado in a bowl with a spoon in it, a small bowl of salt beside it.
      Lamb Stifado
    • thick butterbean and chorizo stew topped with fresh thyme in a bowl.
      Butterbean and Chorizo Stew
    • kielbasa and sauerkraut potatoes in a large pot.
      Kielbasa and Sauerkraut Potatoes

    Sharing is caring!

    94 shares
    • Share
    • Yummly
    • Reddit
    • X

    web banner representing all the websites logos that featured our food blog.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Khara Edler says

      July 29, 2023 at 7:56 pm

      These were good! Thank you for the recipe! We are gluten free so I used arrowroot for the dipping and left the breadcrumbs (and milk) out. They still turned out yummy. Next time may try with the milk and make sure I have some GF bread of against the grain rolls on hand.

      Reply
    5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    Primary Sidebar

    Hello! Where Is My Spoon is a blog where you will find delicious and family friendly recipes, all made from scratch. From simple healthy soups to sumptuous cakes for special occasions, all our recipes have been tried and loved by our family and our friends.

    More about me โ†’

    Potluck Recipes

    • bowl with potato salad with dill pickles sprinkled with chives.
      Potato Salad with Dill Pickles
    • napa cabage ramen salad in a gray bowl with sunflower seeds around it.
      Napa Cabbage Ramen Salad
    • feta and spinach triangles close up on a plate.
      Feta and Spinach Triangles
    • cherry loaf cake sliced on a vintage cloth with a knife and fresh fruit around it.
      Fresh Cherry Loaf Cake

    Popular Recipes

    • air fryer frozen chicken breast after cooking, one whole and one sliced piece.
      Frozen Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer
    • juicy, golden brown brats cooked on the stove in a skillet.
      How to Cook Brats on the Stove
    • lifting one piece of baked chicken breast with a spoon.
      How to Bake Frozen Chicken Breast
    • stapled sliced pork belly slices sprinkled with parsley, pool of fat in the back.
      How to Cook Pork Belly Strips

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    Info

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement

    Contact

    If you have any questions or want to work with me, please email me @ contact@whereismyspoon.co

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright ยฉ 2025 - Where Is My Spoon. All rights reserved.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.