Easy Gluten Free Meatballs

When you’re craving Italian food, try these gluten free meatballs.

They’re tender, flavorful, and super hard to resist when you slather them in marinara and stuff them in a sub with cheese.

The Best Keto Meatballs Without Breadcrumbs

There are a couple of ways to make the best gluten free meatballs. The first is with gluten free crackers or breadcrumbs, and the second is with almond flour.

I’ve made both and enjoy both.

But I find the added oils from the ground nuts make the meat insanely tender! So that’s my go-to recipe.

These gluten free meatballs are keto-friendly, Whole30-approved, grain-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, and 100% delectable. 

And between the chicken stock, ground beef, ground pork, and seasonings, they’re so tasty, you’ll want to make them all the time!

I usually make a double batch, then freeze a bunch for later. That way, I have them on hand whenever the mood strikes.

Serve them with pasta in these gorgeous black and blue pasta bowls, in a sub, or in sticky BBQ sauce. Yum!

Ingredients

I find a blend of beef and pork makes the best meatballs. But if you want them extra lean, try them with beef and turkey.

• Almond Flour - make sure it’s ground quite well so they don’t leave the meatballs grainy
• Chicken Stock - for flavor and to help the mix stick together
• Olive Oil - to cook the onions
• Yellow Onion and Garlic- for flavor
• Ground Beef + Pork - beef gives it the richest flavor while the pork adds a nice salty kick
• Eggs - to bind everything
• Fresh Parsley + Italian Seasoning - for flavor
• Salt and Pepper- to taste

How to Make the Best Gluten Free Meatballs

This recipe is enough for 20-24 meatballs.

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C / 425ºF, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and add a wire rack on top.
2. Stir the almond flour with the stock and leave it to soak.
3. Dice the onions and mince the garlic. Then cook the onions over low heat until soft.
4. Add the garlic, mix well, then add them to the almond flour.
5. Stir and let cool slightly.
6. Mix the ground beef and pork, eggs, parsley, salt, pepper, and Italian seasonings into the almond flour.
7. Scoop into portions and place on the wire rack.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until brown and slightly crispy.

*If you want to freeze the meatballs, scoop them onto a lined baking sheet and place them in the freezer until they’re solid. Then, transfer them into a freezer bag or airtight container and store them for up to three months.

How to Serve Gluten Free Meatballs

This recipe makes the most tender and delicious meatballs. So I recommend making a big batch and keeping them in the freezer for later.

Here are my favorite ways to use them:

• In a meatball sub
• With pasta and red sauce
• Fried in BBQ sauce and served with sweet potato fries
• Glazed in grape jelly
• Served with tender onions, fluffy quinoa, and a dollop of Greek yogurt

Recipe Variations

These gluten free meatballs are tasty, but pretty mild. Of course, that means they work well in a ton of different dishes.

That said, if you want something with more oomph, check out these fun recipe variations:

1. Asian-Inspired Meatballs

• Swap the almond flour with 40 grams of coconut flour.
• Add 1 tablespoon of finely minced ginger with the garlic.
• Use green onions instead of yellow onions.
• Skip the Italian seasoning and use 2 tablespoons of soy sauce or tamari instead.

2. Spicy Mexican Meatballs

• Add 2 tablespoons of chili powder and 1 teaspoon of cumin.
• Use cilantro instead of parsley.
• Add 1/2 cup of chopped jalapeños.

3. BBQ Meatballs

• Mix 2 tablespoons of BBQ sauce with the stock and almond flour.
• Add 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika.
• Use 1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh chives instead of parsley.

4. Vegan Meatballs (Gluten-Free & Meat-Free)

• Swap the ground beef and pork with cooked and mashed lentils or chickpeas.
• Use vegetable stock instead of chicken .
• Use a flaxseed or chia egg instead of whole eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or chia seeds + 2.5 tablespoons water per egg, let sit for 15 mins).

5. Turkey and Cranberry Meatballs

• Replace the ground beef and pork with ground turkey.
• Add 1/4 cup of finely chopped dried cranberries.
• Use sage instead of Italian seasoning.

6. Seafood Meatballs

• Swap the ground beef and pork with finely chopped shrimp and fish (I like salmon).
• Use vegetable broth + 1 tablespoon of fish sauce.
• Add 1 tablespoon of lemon zest and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.