The term meatball indicates a type of preparation based on meat, fish, poultry or vegetables, minced and mixed with eggs, bread soaked in milk, or even a thick béchamel and other flavouring ingredients. The mixture is shaped into balls, then flattened with hands. Meatballs can be fried or stewed.

There is one version with raw ingredients and another with cooked ingredients; the latter allows the reuse of already boiled or roasted meat or chicken.