Meatballs are back on the meal prep menu with this low carb and high protein recipe! These Easy Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs are packed with flavor, can be made in your slow cooker, oven, or air fryer, and use common ingredients you might already have.

Start these meatballs by adding into a large mixing bowl 1 1/2 pounds of either lean ground beef, turkey, or chicken. I went with 93/7 ground turkey today.

If you’re using a less lean meat say below 90/10 you may want to consider making these in either the oven or air fryer which we’ll talk about how to do below.

Continue with 2 large whole eggs, 3/4 cup of bread crumbs, 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. This is your base, nothing else is needed.

With that said, I also like to add in 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons of minced garlic, and some chopped up onion for texture. Some of my other favorite things to add into these?

Other Meatball Ingredients

• Smoked Paprika
• Curry Powder
• Basil
• Crushed Red Pepper
• Chili Powder
• Hot Sauce
• Mustard
• Bell Peppers (texture)

After you’ve decided what to do add in, mix all of those ingredients together. Keep mixing until everything looks incorporated. I like using my hand(s) to do this.

Stuffed Mozzarella Meatballs

From here, you’ll need some mozzarella cheese. You can use mozzarella sticks, a block, or some pearls. What you want to use will depend on the size you’re making them. For smaller meatballs, pearls work great. For bigger meatballs? Sticks or a block.

To incorporate your mozzarella, roll your meatball out and press in with your thumb. You’ll want to press in far enough that a piece of your mozzarella cheese will fit/stick into the middle of it. Place your piece of mozzarella in and enclose it while rolling it out again.

Repeat until all of your mix is gone and your easy mozzarella stuffed meatballs are ready for the next step!

I used mozzarella pearls with the size meatballs I made here. If I were making bigger meatballs (see below) I’d simply chop some mozzarella sticks or block up accordingly.

Cooking Your Meatballs

Onto the last step, choosing how you’d like to prepare your stuffed meatballs! Slow cooker? Oven? Air fryer? The choice is yours…

Slow Cooker Meatballs

Place your meatballs into your slow cooker and pour over a jar of your favorite pasta sauce. Make sure your sauce is evenly distributed over the top.

Turn your slow cooker on high for around 2 1/2-3 hours or low for 5-6 depending on the size meatballs you’re making. You’ll know they’re done when they reach 165F/73C.

Air Fryer or Oven Meatballs

If you’re using a fattier/less lean meat and don’t want all the extra juice you can make these in the air fryer or oven.

To do this, all you need to do is to put them onto a baking or air fryer sheet and into whatever you’re using on 400F/204C for around 11-14 minutes in the air fryer or 20-25 minutes in the oven. Make sure to flip them halfway through cooking!

Again, remember that your cooking time will depend on how big your mozzarella stuffed meatballs are. The most accurate way to know if they’re done is to use a food thermometer (I link to mine below)!

My favorite things to pair these with? Pasta, rice, or vegetables for a lower carb option. Let me know your favorite thing to pair these with in the comments below!

How about some Protein Pineapple Whip for dessert?