These 19 best sauces for meatballs will be a hit, featuring a wide range of flavors and textures, from light and spicy to rich and savory.
Extra juicy and flavorful meatballs that ooze with creamy, tomatoey, light sauce or glaze are just the perfect weekday or weekend meals the entire family will love!
Most home cooks would instantly think about tomato or cream sauce for meatballs.
However, there are so many sauce recipes that pair extremely well with this dish, whether it’s chicken, pork, beef, or seafood.
Overall, they are savory, sweet, garlicky, or slightly salty.
However, the trick to making them juicy involves a few secrets that will make this dish a crowd-pleaser, especially when served at a party.
To ensure that your sauces are complimented with delicious meatballs, make sure that you pick the right meat.
You also have to add moisture, keep things cold, taste the mixture, and be gentle when forming them.
Finally, it’s better to bake them instead of frying them, so they turn out more flavorful without the additional oil.
Without further ado, let’s start with these sauces for meatballs that will surely take everyone’s breaths away.
Don’t miss out on one of the most paired sauces for meatballs, #17, the classic Honey Garlic Sauce!
Moroccan cuisine involves a lot of spices, making their dishes slightly earthy, spicy, and sweet, with appetizing bright flavors.
Using ground spices is better because it gets infused into the sauce quickly, and you’ll know why once you taste this Moroccan Meatball Sauce.
You can either cook this sauce in a pan or in a slow cooker, so you’ll have a delicious sauce ready when you’re home.
If you’re craving something tangy, this Hawaiian Sauce drizzled over your juicy dish would be the most unforgettable dish in your weeknight meals.
You get a bit of spice, briny, and sweet profiles with just the right kick of tang from the pineapples.
The brown sugar gives you that good sweetness, while the chili sauce offers that heat, which is a good balance from the zesty notes of pineapple.
Tradition never gets old as this Simple Tomato Sauce can elevate the taste of meatballs, especially when served with pasta.
This is the sauce you can make in minutes, as you only need four ingredients to whip this up.
Grab extra virgin olive oil, finely chopped onions, ground black pepper, and tomato puree.
Heat the olive oil, cook the onions until it becomes translucent, and add the tomato puree and bring to a boil.
Season with salt and pepper, and your sauce is ready!
You’re missing half of your life if you haven’t tried Swedish meatballs.
I recommend cooking the most tender and juiciest Swedish meatballs and pairing them with this lovely, rich, and creamy sauce.
The gravy is made with either beef or chicken broth, simmered and thickened to perfection, with other ingredients like flour, butter, heavy cream, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, parsley, and lemon zest.
Try this Sweet & Sour Sauce if you’re short on time and want something quick and easy with so many contrasting flavors.
Serve this at a party, and this crave-worthy dish will be gone in minutes!
Plus, making this means you only need two ingredients: ketchup and grape jelly.
Once your guests try this sauce, they’ll never even know there is grape jelly.
6. Orange Sauce
Nothing reminds you of summertime barbeque with friends and family than this drool-worthy Orange Sauce that gives you a perfect blend of sweet and tangy.
This sauce isn’t only suitable for this classic dish, but you can also drizzle this over your chicken to make orange chicken or fried tofu.
Just make sure you get good orange juice, maple syrup, minced garlic, ginger, and brown sugar.
You can add some red pepper flakes if you want to kick things up a notch and make this spicy.
In Italy, this Brown Butter Sage Sauce is a famous go-to glaze for meatballs, which is also called “burro bruno e salva.”
You can toss this with gnocchi, mushroom ravioli, and butternut squash if you’re craving something different.
It’s quick to make and incredibly impressive when served on a platter.
You’d want to grab a beer or wine to pair this dish with!
If you’ve had enough of the red sauce or creamy gravy, try this green sauce for a refreshing and slightly spicy sauce for the entire family.
This Chimichurri Sauce is spectacular when paired with the juiciest meatballs, as it brings you bright flavors.
You’ll get an enjoyable herbaceous note from the combination of parsley and cilantro.
The jalapeno or Fresno chili also gives this sauce a good kick.
Who would’ve thought Vodka and meatballs go together?
This Vodka Cream Sauce recipe is just the perfect sauce, especially if you’re craving something with oomph.
Make this traditional cream sauce and give it a twist for a more modern flair.
You must add some herbs, beef broth, fire-roasted tomatoes, and heavy cream.
This is also best when served on rigatoni and tender beef meatballs.
If you’re thinking about having meatballs keto approved for your family on a Saturday night, this Jalapeno Cream Sauce would be a perfect choice.
You get just the right kick from the jalapenos and the richness from the heavy cream and cream cheese.
Don’t forget to include this Indian Butter Sauce in your next intimate gathering or on your weeknight dinners.
This Indian Butter Sauce is super flavorful that you’ll probably never want another sauce for meatballs again.
Once you cook them, coat them with this sauce and enjoy the bold flavor.
You won’t regret including this menu on your next simple get-together with friends and family.
This easy Tomato Basil Sauce is another alternative if you’re craving tomato-based sauce for this classic dish.
You’ll undoubtedly feel like a winner after making them and serving them with this delicious and rich sauce with hints of pepper, anise, and mint from the cup of fresh parsley.
Don’t restrict yourself to Italian marinara sauces or creamy gravies for meatballs during your upcoming party; try going Korean for a change.
This Gochujang Drizzle is just the perfect glaze for those chicken, turkey, or beef meatballs, making this an extremely versatile sauce.
This Gochujang-based sauce offers rich, slightly spicy, sweet flavor profiles that will make you down those delicious bad boys in seconds.
14. Sour Cream Sauce
Here’s another rich and creamy sauce for just about anything, even tacos or burritos!
This is a favorite among those who love a bit of flair in their dish.
With its tangy and sour taste, don’t be surprised if those meatball plates will be empty in minutes once you serve them in an intimate gathering.
We can’t end this list of meatball sauces without trying this Japanese Ponzu Glaze that gives you just the right oomph.
The tender and flavorful meatballs will go well against the tangy taste of this Ponzu Glaze, reminding you of an excellent zesty vinaigrette.
It’s not too bold, yet not too light, giving you a good balance of savory and citrusy.
Craving for that crave-worthy lemon sauce?
Don’t miss this Greek Lemon Sauce that will offer you enough zesty flavors, making you remake this sauce all year round.
You have to grab a handful of ingredients, such as eggs, lemon, and salt.
And you’ll get a silky, tangy, and utterly luxurious sauce!
You can never go wrong with a classic Honey Garlic Sauce for this traditional dish or just about any cooked or grilled meat you can think of.
The sweetness from the honey cuts through the intense and pungent flavors of the garlic, making this sauce a well-balanced glaze for meatballs.
Plus, this one is a crowd favorite, as honey and garlic are the perfect tandem if you want to elevate your dish.
18. Yogurt Sauce
Nothing can get creamier than this Yogurt Sauce!
You’ll savor the rich and smooth sauce that is a match made in heaven with your perfectly-cooked juicy, tender meatballs.
To make this sauce incredibly delicious, select fresh lemon juice, Greek yogurt, fresh dill, and English cucumber as your base ingredients.
19. Guajillo Sauce
If you’re fond of chilies, this Guajillo Sauce will make every intimate get-together or all-out party worth your while.
Guajillo peppers offer smoky, tangy, fruity notes with hints of tea and berries.
However, this sauce isn’t as bold as any other spicy sauce, as guajillo chilies offer a very mild heat profile.
The bottom line
You can never go wrong with these meatball sauces for your next family dinners or get-togethers.
The fun part is these sauces only require a few ingredients to get them perfectly right.
So if you’re excited about an upcoming party, try these simple sauces to create the best experiences for your guests.
BEST Sauces For Meatballs
These 19 best sauces for meatballs will be a hit, featuring a wide range of flavors and textures, from light and spicy to rich and savory.
Ingredients
- Moroccan Meatball Sauce
- Hawaiian Sauce
- Simple Tomato Sauce
- Swedish Sauce
- Orange Sauce
- Brown Butter Sage Sauce
- Chimichurri Sauce
- Vodka Cream Sauce
- Jalapeno Cream Sauce
- Indian Butter Sauce
- Tomato Basil Sauce
- Korean Gochujang Drizzle
- Sour Cream Sauce
- Japanese Ponzu Glaze
- Greek Lemon Sauce
- Honey Garlic Sauce
- Yogurt Sauce
- Guajillo Sauce
Instructions
- Skim through our Sauces for Meatballs list.
- Select the recipe you’re looking for.
- Prep the ingredients as instructed.
- Spill your thoughts on our Facebook page!