National Meatball Day is an annual celebration held on March 9th, dedicated to honoring one of my favorite things to eat, meatballs! There is nothing quite like a perfectly made meatball with a crisp outside layer and melt in your mouth soft interior. Paired with an amazing pasta sauce, it is something that will always be a good option when trying to figure out what to eat. Aside from the most common Italian style, I am also a huge fan of Albondigas with fresh herbs like oregano and mint. And, of course, the Swedish Meatballs at Ikea.

This fun food holiday recognizes the global appeal of meatballs, which can be made from a variety of ingredients including beef, pork, veal, chicken, fish, lamb or even plant-based alternatives for vegan options.

While the exact origins of the day are unclear, it’s a perfect excuse to indulge in classic dishes like spaghetti and meatballs, meatball subs, or international variations such as Swedish köttbullar, Italian polpette or Middle Eastern kofta. Meatballs have been around for a long time, with evidence of similar dishes dating back to ancient Roman cookbooks.

How to celebrate? Cook up your own recipes, visit restaurants or share photos of your meatball creations on social media with hashtags like #NationalMeatballDay.