Alfredo Meatballs

Name: Alfredo Meatballs
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; ½ cup ricotta; 1 tbsp garlic paste; ¼ cup parmesan cheese (grated ); 1 tsp salt; 2 tsp Italian seasoning; 1 cup garlic croutons; 1 box Linguine noodles; ¼ cup butter; 2 tsp garlic (minced ); 3 tbsp all purpose flour; 1 cup whole milk (cold); ½ tsp fresh cracked pepper; 1 tbsp basil (fresh, chopped ); 2 oz parmesan Romano cheese (shredded); Parsley (as garnish)

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Alfredo meatballs combine delicious, cheesy meatballs with a rich, creamy alfredo sauce. These meatballs with alfredo sauce are perfect for a delicious meal everyone will love.

Overhead shot of alfredo meatballs garnished with fresh chopped parsley and shredded parmesan cheese and served with noodles on a deep-white plate. The plate is placed on a wooden table. Crispy bread pieces, parsley, a garlic bulb, parmesan cheese block, cheese grater, green and white striped kitchen cloth and a loaf of sliced bread also present on the table.

I love alfredo sauce, and I love meatballs. So I decided to put them together. They are absolutely delicious, and they never last long!

Meatballs with Alfredo Sauce

This was inspired by my other creative manicotti alfredo recipe on this site and pairs well with this amazing air fryer garlic bread.

Ingredients

You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make both the meatballs and the alfredo sauce. You'll find them all easily at your local grocery store.

For the Meatballs

Ground beef
Ricotta cheese
Garlic paste
Grated parmesan cheese
Salt
Italian seasoning
Garlic croutons

For the Alfredo Sauce

Butter
Minced garlic
All-purpose flour
Whole milk
Cracked pepper
Chopped basil
Shredded parmesan romano cheese
Parsley

Linguine noodles

See the recipe card at the end of the post for quantities.

Instructions

Making this recipe is a relatively simple affair when you break everything down. It's even beginner-friendly.

Step 1: Combine the Meatball Ingredients

Crush the croutons in a food processor or add them to a ziploc bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Then, combine the ground beef, ricotta cheese, garlic paste, grated parmesan, salt, Italian seasoning, and crushed croutons to a medium mixing bowl and mix well.

Step 2: Bake the Meatballs

Use a cookie scoop to scoop out uniform meatballs about a half-inch in diameter. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake them for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

Step 3: Make the Noodles

Make the noodles per the package directions for al dente. Then, drain and rinse them with cold water and set aside.

Step 4: Cook the Garlic and Roux

Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Then add butter and minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the flour and whisk well, then cook for another minute while whisking constantly.

Step 5: Add the Milk

Slowly add the milk about a quarter cup at a time, whisking thoroughly while pouring and between additions to prevent lumps.

Step 6: Simmer

Reduce the heat to a simmer, then stir in the black pepper, basil, and shredded cheese. Simmer, whisking constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce has thickened.

Step 7: Serve

Remove the meatballs from the oven, tossed them with the alfredo sauce, and serve them over the linguine.

Hint: Don't stop whisking! You don't want lumpy or burned sauce.

Closeup shot of forkful of meatball with alfredo sauce over a plate of more alfredo meatballs. The meatball on the fork has been half eaten.

Substitutions

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change these meatballs with alfredo sauce.

Half and Half - You can use half and half in place of milk.
Noodles - Use any of your favorite long or short noodles in this dish.
Skip the Beef - Instead of ground beef use ground pork, ground chicken, ground turkey, ground sausage or a combination
Garlic croutons - Use bread crumbs or panko crumbs instead
Garlic Paste - If no garlic paste use minced or crushed garlic or garlic powder instead
Ricotta cheese - Use full fat cottage cheese instead
Basil - use oregano, tarragon or Italian seasoning instead

Variations

Want to personalize this alfredo meatballs recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.

Spicy - Add red pepper flakes, diced cayenne or tobasco peppers or your favorite hot sauce for a kick of heat

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this instant pot buffalo chicken pasta.

Equipment

It only takes some basic equipment to make this recipe.

Measuring cups and spoons
Knife
Cutting board
Food processor
Pan
Pot
Spoon
Cookie scoop

Storage

Store the leftover meatballs separately from the noodles in an air-tight container for up to 4 days.

Tips

This is a fairly simple recipe, but I still have some tips that will help you make it even better.

Keep your pasta al dente. Never overcook it.
Whisk continually when you make the alfredo sauce so it remains smooth.
Shred your own cheese whenever possible. It tastes so much better.

Closeup shot of forkful of alfredo meatballs and noodles. With more alfredo meatballs and noodles in a white plate below

More Alfredo Recipes

Do you like alfredo recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.

FAQ

Do you have questions about alfredo meatballs? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about meatballs with alfredo sauce.

How long will homemade meatballs last?

They'll keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.

Can I freeze these meatballs?

No. Alfredo sauce is finicky at best when you freeze it, and it often gets ruined.

How do I reheat alfredo noodles?

Place the meatballs in a baking dish with a bit of water and cover them. Then, bake them at 350 for 20 minutes until heated through.