Have you ever wondered how long you can cook meatballs at 400 degrees F? Meatballs are soft, tender, easy to make and delightful to taste. It is usually a combination of beef, other vegetables and spices.
So how long should it be cooked at 400 degrees F?
Typically, meatballs cook at 375 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes. You can also cook them at 350 to 400 degrees F.
At 400 degrees, you can bake a 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inch meatball for 18 to 25 minutes. Anything longer than that will result in a dried meatball. That’s because the higher the temperature the less time you need to cook your meatballs. You can cook your meatballs for 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Also, the time for cooking your meatball depends on the size. So, ensure your meatball is cooked all the way through. A good way to tell that your meatball is cooked through without using an instant meat thermometer is to press them.
If they are soft and squishy when you press them, then they are not well cooked all the way. But if you press them and they fall apart, then they are well-cooked.
A well-cooked meatball should be brown on the outside and inside.
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How Long to Cook Frozen Homemade Meatballs in Oven?
The time it takes to cook a frozen homemade meatball surely differs from the ones taken from room temperature or thawed meat. If you bought your meatball frozen, this will affect the cooking time and required temperature.
Typically, you bake your frozen meat 50 percent longer than you would when they are thawed.
Factors that Affect the Baking time of Meatballs
Several factors may either increase or lower the baking time of your meatball. Here are a few of them:
- Meatball Size: As a rule of thumb, the larger the meatball, the more time required to bake.
- Meatball Type: Vegetarian meat requires less time to cook than meat. Vegetarian meatballs will bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 350 to 375 degrees F. While at 400 degrees F, it will take about 12 to 15 minutes. This is opposed to the ideal temperature for baking meatballs, which is about 20 to 25 minutes at 375 degrees F.
- Frozen or thawed: frozen meatballs take longer time to bake than thawed.
What Sides to Serve with Meatballs?
Some of the side dishes you can easily serve meatballs include the following:
- Vegetable salad
- Steamed rice
- Mashed potatoes
- Spaghetti
- Noodles
- Green beans, asparagus, broccoli
- Corn
- Bread for meatball subs
Tips and Guidelines for Cooking Meatball
Here are some tips to help you make the perfect meatball every single time.
- Use homemade breadcrumbs instead of those from the store. It will make your meatball tastier as store-bought breadcrumbs are not as fresh and flavorful as the ones you have in the house.
- Spice it up by adding various ingredients and flavors.
- Use different seasonings like ham, cheese, etc.
Wrap Up!
The ideal time for baking a meatball is 350 to 400 degrees F, and depends greatly on the meatball size and type of meatball you are making. It also depends on whether you are cooking a frozen or thawed meatball.
Use an instant meat thermometer to check whether your meat is ready for better results. A well-cooked meatball will read 160 degrees F on a thermometer.
Meet Natalie P. Williams, the editor-in-chief of fryerly.com. With a background in journalism and a passion for healthy eating, Natalie has built the blog into a trusted source for air fryer cooking tips, tricks, and recipes.
