16 Dishes In Disguise As Meatballs

Do a double-take on these culinary classics in a cute little meatball package. Sneaky. (Btw, this is for the Buzzfeed Editorial Fellowship, and also because meatballs.)

Do people have meatballs on the brain? (It me. I have meatballs on the brain.) Maybe it's because they're cozy and comforting and come in so many forms (well, generally they’re round, but you know what I mean). It seems like every food comes as meatball, and it's awesome. So expand your mind and your meatball repertoire, and take a dive into this delicious list of little flavor bundles.

1. Greek Lamb Meatballs with Tzatziki

Food Network / Via mastercook.com

Like a gyro and a meatball had baby… meatballs. Guy Fieri takes us all the way to Flavortown, with tender lamb, warming spices, garlicky tzatziki, and salty feta (if you can get it!).

Recipe: Greek Lamb Meatball Sliders with Tzatziki

2. Sticky Ginger Sesame Chicken Meatballs

Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

Sticky? Say no more. And best of all, lean chicken and good-for-you ginger make for a healthy twist on favorite takeout flavors.

Recipe: Weeknight Sticky Ginger Sesame Chicken Meatballs

3. Bahn Mi Meatballs

Bon Appetit / Via bonappetit.com

In or out of the sandwich, always a delight. These vibrant Vietnamese savories would also be great alongside rice noodle salad with crisp veggies and herbs.

Recipe: Pork Meatball Banh Mi

4. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

A modern classic, for when you want that Frank’s RedHot goodness without the wings. To up the Buffalo, add a stalk of finely chopped celery to the meatball mix, and toss the cooked meatballs in 1/2 a cup of warm hot sauce whisked with 2 Tbsp of butter (thank you Rachel Ray). Perfect for a certain upcoming game this weekend.

And c’mon, it has to be blue cheese (sorry ranch).

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

5. Spicy Mediterranean Meatballs

The Candid Appetite / Via thecandidappetite.com

Chef Jonathan Melendez describes these beauties as "just like a Greek salad, if a Greek salad was filled with ground beef and pork." Salad, meet meat (and gobs of melty cheese). *Joy ensues.*

Recipe: Spicy Mediterranean Meatballs

6. Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs

Food Network / Via foodnetwork.com

If ravioli were a meatball. Or if meatballs were ravioli. Meatballioli? Anyway, delicious. Submerge in marinara. Repeat.

Recipe: Meatballs a la Pizzaiola

7. Chicken Piccata Meatballs

Little Spice Jar / Via littlespicejar.com

Molto bene. Flavorful and parsley-flecked, bathing in a buttery, capery, lemony elixir: that's amore!

Recipe: Chicken Piccata Meatballs

8. Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs with Dijon Sauce

The Cookie Rookie / Via thecookierookie.com

Classy and sophisticated. The Audrey Hepburn of the meatball set.

Recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs with Dijon Sauce

9. Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Little Spice Jar / Via littlespicejar.com

Just like grandma made. But bite-sized, and served in a glossy mushroom gravy. Don't disappoint grandma: mashed potatoes 100% required.

Recipe: Mouthwatering Salisbury Steak Meatballs with Hearty Mushroom Gravy

10. Supreme Pizza Meatballs

The Candid Appetite / Via thecandidappetite.com

We've seen pizza bagels. We've seen pizza mac. We've even seen pizza salad (has lettuce, is salad). And now we have the supremest of them all: the Italian mashup of our dreams. Everyone knows without the crust there’s more room for meatballs.

Recipe: Supreme Pizza Meatballs

11. Spicy Curry Meatballs

Island Smile / Via islandsmile.org

Everything you love about curry, but spherical. If you haven't had Sri Lankan cuisine, prepare your socks: they will be knocked off. Soak up the fragrant, spicy, coconut-creamy sauce with roti, basmati rice, or Sri Lankan hoppers (honestly, it would even be good on said socks).

Recipe: Sri Lankan Beef Meatball Curry

12. Chef John’s Meatless Meatballs

All Recipes / Via allrecipes.com

Where mushrooms masquerade as meat. Keep working your magic, Chef John. You are an endless source of wisdom and culinary creativity and we bow down. (For more Chef John, “head over to FoodWishes.com. And as always, enjoy!”)

Recipe: Chef John’s Meatless Meatballs

13. Vegan Meatballs

This Savory Vegan / Via thissavoryvegan.com

These cauliflower cuties come together in a jif and have very few ingredients. Hello meatless Monday (and maybe Tuesday-Sunday).

Recipe: Vegan Cauliflower Meatballs

14. Shrimp Scampi Meatballs

Will Cook for Smiles / Via willcookforsmiles.com

Butter, wine, and shrimp can do no wrong. Serve over orzo, linguini, or with a slice of your own warm no-knead bread. Scampi, but make it meatballs.

Recipe: Shrimp Scampi Meatballs

15. Coq Au Vin Meatballs

Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

Channel your inner Julia Child, and transport yourself to France in just 30 minutes. (I'm a slow cook, so like 45?) Serve with browned butter mashed potatoes. Ooo la la!

If you have a couple more hours and want a fun project you can find Julia's classic recipe here.

Recipe: 30-Minute Coq Au Vin Chicken Meatballs with Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes

16. Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

Saucy, crispy, cheesy--it just makes sense. If you're feeling daring, rub your warm toastlets with a game-changing clove of raw garlic before piling on the goods. Chicky-chicky parm-parm.

Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatball Crostini