30+ BEST Sauces for Meatballs (Simple Recipes)

Looking for a tasty meatball sauce? This handy guide covers all of the best sauces for meatballs – creamy sauces, tomato sauces, curry sauces and more!

Meatballs are a classic crowd pleaser. Whether you’re looking for the perfect dipping sauce to serve with meatball appetizers or the perfect sauce to top off the perfect meatball sub, there are plenty of sauce recipes available to choose from.

This blog post will help you find new and delicious ideas for sauces to serve up with your meatballs.

From quick and easy recipes to fun and creative ideas, there’s a sauce for meatballs for every palate.

Pick one of your favorite meatball sauces from the list below, add a couple meatball side dishes, and you’re guaranteed an amazing dinner!

The BEST Sauces for Meatballs

Close up of meatballs in skillet with mongolian sauce.
Sticky Mongolian Beef Meatballs made in under 30-minutes! The meatballs and broccoli bake together on one baking sheet for extra easy cleanup. Tossed with a delicious, thick, sweet sauce and served over rice or noodles.  
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Overhead shot of curry meatballs in grey bowl with chopsticks, topped with spicy mangoes.
Thai Curry Meatballs is a recipe that I make on the regular. I like that the ingredients are easy to find in the local grocery store, and the fact that it’s a nutritious and quick weeknight dinner option that will be on your table in just 30 minutes!
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Overhead shot of bowl of turkey swedish meatballs served on top of mashed potatoes.
Easy Ground Turkey Swedish Meatballs are a lightened-up version of traditional Swedish Meatballs. Served in a delicious, creamy sauce. Serve them over mashed potatoes, rice or egg noodles. 
Albondigas in blue bowl topped with sour cream and jalapenos.
Spanish Meatballs – or Albondigas – simmer in enchilada sauce and are topped with sour cream, radishes & cilantro. Serve them taco-style in tortillas or as an appetizer with toothpicks. 
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Spoonful of creamy garlic sauce.
This 5-minute Creamy Garlic Sauce is an easy go-to sauce you can serve with pasta, chicken, shrimp, and so much more. The flavors are rich and savory, and will keep you coming back for more!
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Crockpot Garlic Butter Chicken Meatballs with Creamy Orzo: a cozy, easy, fall-winter dinner…instant pot + stove top skillet directions too!
Get the RECIPE from Half Baked Harvest
Jaeger sauce in bowl with spoon.
This mouthwatering Jaeger Sauce is a type of German mushroom gravy. Easy to make in about 20 minutes with everyday ingredients, the finished sauce is so creamy and has incredible layers of umami, herby, and savory flavors. Serve it with schnitzel, steak, veggies, and more!
Jaeger Sauce
Meatballs in Smoky Tomato Sauce. A super hearty, tasty and easy to make one-pan dish. Meatballs in tomato sauce with black beans.
Get the RECIPE from Serving Dumplings
These easy chimichurri meatballs make a delicious, quick dinner when paired with a big salad, or serve them as a fun, dippable party appetizer—either way, they’re sure to be a hit!
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper
Get all your favorite hot wing flavors in this buffalo chicken meatballs recipe! The sour cream ranch sauce is irresistibly creamy and cooling, and you’ll devour these skillet meatballs.
Get the RECIPE from Salt & Lavender
These salisbury steak meatballs are much easier to make than tradition salisbury steak! They are cooked in a hearty onion and mushroom gravy.
Get the RECIPE from Little Spice Jar
Creamy Coconut Chicken Meatball and Noodle Curry…the perfect weeknight dinner. Made in about 30 mins, hearty, cozy, delicious + healthy too!
Get the RECIPE from Half Baked Harvest
Chicken shawarma meatballs! Paired with the most amazing creamy dipping sauce!
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper
These easy ginger turkey meatballs are loaded w/ garlic + scallion & finished in sticky ginger-soy glaze for the perfect touch of salty-sweet!
Get the RECIPE from Plays well with Butter
Get all the best chicken parmesan flavors in this mouthwatering chicken parmesan meatballs recipe! It’s a fun way to change it up, and it’s a crowd-pleasing family meal.
Get the RECIPE from Salt & Lavender
Sheet Pan Greek Meatballs and Tzatziki: Oven baked meatballs served with thick sweet potatoes fries, lots of Tzaziki, and all the “extras”!
Get the RECIPE from Half Baked Harvest
Smoky, warm, fragrant Middle Eastern spices imbue this simple sheet-pan cabbage-and-meatball dinner with big, bold flavors.
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper
You will love these paprika chicken meatballs! These tender chicken meatballs covered in a decadent paprika sour cream sauce are the perfect cold weather comfort food.
Get the RECIPE from Salt & Lavender
Crockpot Coq au Vin Meatballs: for chilly nights when you’re wanting a fancy slow-braised chicken, but need something simple and easy.
Get the RECIPE from Half Baked Harvest
Honey-sweetened homemade teriyaki sauce drizzled over tender, garlicky chicken meatballs and broccoli make for a freezer meal that deliciously redefines the whole genre.
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper
These grape jelly meatballs are a classic for parties! They’re savory and sweet and only have three ingredients, so they couldn’t be easier to make in your Crockpot.
Get the RECIPE from Salt & Lavender
French Onion Meatballs, homemade chicken meatballs stuffed with gruyère cheese, baked until melty & finished in caramelized onion sauce.
Get the RECIPE from Plays Well with Butter
These pork meatballs are sweet with a teriyaki glaze with a small kick of heat (fully adjustable for even your pickiest eater) served up with roasted broccoli.
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper
Greek Lamb Meatballs with Avocado Goddess Sauce: What’s amazing about this recipe is that even though it’s loaded with flavor and texture, it’s actually very simple and easy to make.
Get the RECIPE from Half Baked Harvest
Beef and pork meatballs in marinara sauce on a sub with melted mozzarella cheese for an Italian-American classic hot sandwich.
Get the RECIPE from Cooking with Cocktail Rings
Turkey Meatballs in a Creamy Red Curry Sauce.
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper
Sweet and Spicy Sesame Meatball Bowl with Mango Cucumber Salad: A delicious family dinner that’s easily ready in under an hour!
Get the RECIPE from Half Baked Harvest
Like a classic meatball sub, broken down and served as a soup complete with mini beef meatballs and garlic croutons in a tomato basil base.
Get the RECIPE from Cooking with Cocktail Rings
Ground beef is mixed with the same herbs and spices used in the classic North African shakshuka and then simmered in a smoky, tomato-y shakshuka sauce for a one-pan dinner that everyone will love.
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper
We absolutely love these gochujang chicken meatballs! They’re flavored with spicy gochujang, then brushed with a sweet and spicy glaze.
Get the RECIPE from Well Seasoned Studio
Soup is always pretty simple, but this chicken meatball soup recipe is as easy as easy gets. 5-ingredients, 10 minutes and dinner is served.
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper

How to Make Ahead and Store

Many of these meatball sauces can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead. 

More Sauce Recipes

What to Serve with Saucy Meatballs

Did you Make Any of These Meatball Sauces?

Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of sauces for meatballs. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

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Meatballs simmering in curry sauce in skillet.

30+ BEST Sauces for Meatballs

Looking for a tasty meatball sauce? This handy guide covers all of the best sauces for meatballs – creamy sauces, tomato sauces, and more! Try these Thai Curry Meatballs. It's a nutritious and quick weeknight dinner option that will be on your table in just 30 minutes!
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

Turkey Meatballs:

Coconut Curry Sauce:

  • 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 shallot (minced)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 can (14 ounce full-fat coconut milk)
  • 2-3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste (depending on how spicy you like it)
  • 2 Tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons ginger paste (or finely minced ginger)
  • Large handful of baby spinach
  • 1 Tablespoon lime juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro and/or basil (roughly chopped)

Spicy Mangos:

  • 1 fresh mango (diced)
  • 1 serrano pepper (seeded and minced)
  • 1 lime (zested and juiced)

For Serving:

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450-degrees.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together egg, garlic, ginger and soy sauce. Add ground turkey, breadcrumbs, and green onions. Mix until just combined.
  • Form the meat into tablespoons sized balls (about 15-20 meatballs) and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cooked through.
  • Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic and cook until shallot becomes translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Add coconut milk, curry paste, soy sauce and ginger. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Add the cooked meatballs and simmer about 5 minutes, until they’re well coated in the sauce.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in spinach, lime juice, cilantro and/or basil. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
  • Combine mango, serrano, lime zest and lime juice in a small bowl.
  • Serve meatballs and curry sauce over bowls of rice topped with spicy mango mixture.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Equipment

Cookie Scoop
Large Skillet
Mixing Bowl

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 527mg | Potassium: 541mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1903IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 2mg

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