African Meatballs
Published Apr 05, 2017
Updated Sep 30, 2025
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African Meatballs are loaded with flavor, browned in oil, then simmered in a rich tomato sauce. Serve over rice or pasta for the perfect dinner!
I should really call these West African and/or Central African meatballs because not all of Africa makes meatballs like this. North African meatballs are quite different.
There is something you must do as soon as you make the first batch of these meatballs. You must grab some and fit them into your mouth (translation: eat them). And this you must do when these meatballs are still somewhat warm. They are epic in every way.
Ingredients
Here is the cast of characters for the meatballs:
Some nice ground beef, garlic cloves, egg, seasoning cubes, onions, parsley, breadcrumbs, salt and, white pepper. Now let me tell you something about breadcrumbs: you could substitute with crushed butter crackers. They are amazing!
How To Make African Meatballs
All you need to do is chop your parsley, garlic, and onion, then add all the ingredients, including the ground meat and bread crumbs (or small bread cubes), into a large mixing bowl. You could replace the beef with ground turkey if you like. White or black pepper works here perfectly.
Mix them until they marry completely.
Talking about marriage, I am thrilled by how much yesterday’s post inspired you guys to have better marriages. We do not want merely okay marriages, just like we do not want merely okay meatballs!
Okay, I use an ice cream scoop to scoop out portions of the mixture evenly. You can simply use your hands to mould them into small round balls directly if you prefer.
Now heat up some vegetable oil and fry away, baby!
The meatballs are ready when they are no longer pink in the middle. They should be brown to the core. Remove them and place on a paper towel.
This is the point where you should absolutely make out with a meatball or two. They are divine!
Now, these African meatballs are already amazing, but the magic doesn’t end there! Chop up ingredients for some tomato sauce.
The key ingredients here are tomatoes, garlic, basil and onions. Then saute, simmer and season to perfection (no worries, all details in recipe below).
It even gets better. Dump your meatballs into this and simmer together.
Oh my! Who wants some meatballs??
This meatball recipe could be served with:
- Any boiled pasta of choice – my favourite is spaghetti!
- Boiled rice.
- Bread – it will make the perfect sandwich with this milk bread!
Meatballs, how I love thee!
More African Recipes
If you make this recipe please leave a star rating below. Your rating helps others find the recipe plus I love hearing from you! Thank you!
Meatballs in Tomato Sauce – West African Style
Ingredients
Meat Balls
- 2 pounds ground beef (about 1 kg)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup bread crumbs or crushed butter crackers
- 3 sprigs parsley – finely chopped
- ½ medium onion – finely chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic – minced
- ½ teaspoon white or black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 small cubes Maggi
- 1 cup canola oil for frying
Tomato sauce
- 2-3 roma tomatoes – chopped or crushed
- ½ medium onion – chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic – minced
- 2 sprigs basil – finely chopped
- 2 small cubes Maggi
- Salt
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
Instructions
- Put all ingredients for the meatballs into a large bowl and mix until everything is well incorporated.
- Scoop out the mixture with your hands or with an ice cream scoop then mold into balls. To make the balls easily, wet your hands and repeat as needed.
- Heat oil in a pan on medium high then put in the meatballs to cook. Turn the sides from time to time for about 10 minutes or until the meatballs are thoroughly cooked. The balls are cooked when they are no longer pink but brown in the middle.
- Pour out some oil from the pan, leaving some for the sauce. Saute onions until fragrant then add in chopped tomatoes and cook until dehydrated. Add in tomato sauce then cook together stirring from time to time for about 15 minutes.
- Add in garlic, basil, salt and seasoning cubes (Maggi) then cook together for another 5 minutes. Add water as needed to adjust the consistency of the sauce.
- Add meatballs to the tomato sauce and stir well making sure the sauce coats the meatballs. Then let them simmer together for another 5 minutes.
- Go ahead and enjoy your life! Meatballs in tomato sauce could be eaten with any boiled pasta of choice, boiled rice or bread (pssst they make the perfect sandwich filling). Enjoy!
Notes
- Any boiled pasta of choice – my favourite is spaghetti!
- Boiled rice.
- Bread – it will make the perfect sandwich with this milk bread!
I followed your recipe for African meatballs and tomato sauce today, delicious. I’m having a meatball sub for lunch tomorrow. This will be my go to meatball recipe from now on.
So happy to hear that, James.
Looks yummy bt Where can i get bread crumbs in bamenda?? Is it d local bread or???
Hin Lum, you can get breadcrumbs by simply heating up old bread then crushing it into crumbs. Hope this helps.
Perfect. Your recipees are very explicit.
Your recipes are just as beautiful as you look on that pic if that’s you. Really I want to specially thank you. you have thought me many little secrets about many African meals. Thank you again. Lots of love
Awww, thank you so much, Telma. So glad to inspire you.
Hi Pre,
i just made the meatballs sauce with rice…phew i’m relieved. Was so scared that the balls may scatter in the sauce. I’m off work today. Hubby is off work too and i just wanted something i had never done. Yea 2 servings and a silly smile later, then “love, so nice! hmmm delicious! Please i hope you kept some in the fridge for another day?” lol
For someone who doesn’t like food from the fridge, that was something. Thanks keep it up. You’re impacting on us.
I just need to wait for my girls to come home for Easter holidays and i’ll wow them too
Wow, this makes me so happy, sis Claudine! Hope you kept some in the fridge for your sweetie. Please greet the girls for me. Thanks so much for the feedback and the love and support!
Hey dear I’m so gonna do this one of these days! Looks so yum 😋
Please let me know how it goes, dear. Enjoy!
Looks nice & Yummy i like meatballs i am going 2 try this receipe tnx.
You are most welcome.
Thanks for your delicious meal. It comes with a great relief. I appreciate it so much.
You are welcome, Christine!
Thanks dear aleast i hv learnt sumtin 4rm u free of charge . I hope when am going to do mine it will be perfect like ur own meatballs.
I hope so too Glory. Just follow my exact instructions and you should be fine. Please let me know how it goes.
Wow I love meatballs but never tried doing it myself thanks for the recipe it will guide me do mine.Its so awesome!!!!
Awww you are welcome, dear Patience.
bonjour precious porrquoi les miennes s’ecrasent toujours?
Hi Bertille, please follow my exact measurements for best results.