Get ready to impress your whole family with this Gluten-Free Meatballs Recipe! This simple yet flavorful dish is bound to become a family favorite in no time. With a perfect blend of savory ingredients and a hint of sweetness from the caramelized onions in the sauce, these meatballs are sure to leave everyone asking for seconds. And the best part? This easy recipe comes together in a flash, so you'll have dinner on the table in no time.
My original meatball recipe was one of the first dinners I made for my husband when we first started dating. The recipe required simmering the meatballs for hours, and most days, ain’t nobody got time for that!
I finally came up with a gluten-free meatball recipe that is perfect for busy weeknights and tastes like it has been simmering on the stove all day. Pair it with your favorite pasta for a delicious and easy dinner.
If you are looking for more Italian-inspired recipes check out my Linguine Bolognese, Pasta Alla Salmon, or my Grilled Peach And Burrata Salad.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Easy to make: With simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, even beginner cooks can whip up a batch of these juicy meatballs in no time.
- Customizable: Whether you prefer lean ground beef, pork, ground turkey, or a combination of meats, you can tailor this recipe to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs.
- Versatile: Serve these meatballs with your favorite sauce, on top of gluten-free pasta, as a meatball sub, or as a tasty appetizer – the possibilities are endless!
Ingredients
- Grass-Fed Butter: Kerrygold Butter is my go-to.
- Onion: Grab yourself a couple of sweet onions for this recipe. One onion will be grated into the meatballs and the other will be thinly sliced and carmelized for the sauce.
- Egg
- Ground Beef: I wholeheartedly believe, that for the optimal flavors you need good quality beef. Not only does grass-fed beef taste better, but it’s also better for you (source)! Grass-fed beef is higher in omega 3’s (anti-inflammatory) while conventional beef is high in omega 6’s (pro-inflammatory). We’ve been getting all of our meats from Moink Box for years now; Moink is owned and operated by farmers who offer ethical meat boxes delivered straight to your doorstep. You can of course grab grass-fed beef at your local grocery store. It's also helpful to stock up when it goes on sale.
- Salt: Use Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
- Black Pepper
- Oregano: I use dried for this recipe, but fresh would also work
- Thyme: Dried, but fresh herbs will also work.
- Parsley: Fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley.
- Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs: Use your favorite gluten-free bread crumbs or make your own!
- Calabrian Chili Marinara Sauce: This Calabrian chili marinara sauce from Rao’s is a limited edition item. If you can’t find it, you can use their regular marinara sauce and add in some Calabrian chilis.
- Gluten-Free Pasta: I’m a huge fan of Jovial’s pasta. For this recipe, I use their Tagliatelle, and it is superb.
- Parmesan Cheese: The parmesan is optional. If you are dairy-free you can leave it out, but I love a nice sprinkle of fresh parmesan to top off the dish.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Step 1. In a large skillet over low heat melt the butter and add 1 thinly sliced onion and a pinch of salt. Sautee the onion for 30-45 minutes or until caramelized
Step 2. In a large bowl grate the second onion, then add the ground beef, egg, parsley, oregano, thyme, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper.
Step 3. Gently combine the meatball mixture with your hands.
Step 4. Using a cookie scoop, measure out 12 meatballs and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 5. Bake your meatballs for 15 minutes at 425 degrees f.
Step 6. In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling add a large pinch of salt and cook your pasta according to the package directions.
Step 7. Once the onions have carmelized, add a jar of Rao’s Calabrian Chili Marina sauce to the pan and simmer.
Step 8. Add the meatballs to the tomato sauce and simmer for 5-10 minutes while the pasta finishes cooking.
Step 9. Once the pasta is done, drain the pasta and add the noodles directly to the sauce. Toss gently with tongs.
Step 10. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
Substitutions and variations
- Mix Up The Meat: If you are not a fan of ground beef you can make this recipe with ground chicken, turkey, pork, Italian sausage, or meat substitute. You can also use any combination of ground meats.
- Experiment With Flavors: Feel free to experiment with the meatball flavors. You can add in onion powder, garlic powder, or Italian seasoning,
- Low-carb option: Replace the breadcrumbs with almond flour with finely ground pork rinds for a low-carb alternative that's still packed with flavor. You can also serve these meatballs with zucchini noodles or over spaghetti squash.
- Less Spice: If you don’t care for the touch of spice in this recipe, you can use regular marinara sauce instead of the Calabrian chili version.
- Extra Spice: If you are a fan of spice and the Calabrian chili sauce does not provide enough heat, try adding a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce as it simmers.
- Dairy-Free: If you are dairy-free you can swap the butter for olive oil, and omit the Parmesan cheese.
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What to serve with meatballs
- Gluten-Free Pasta
- Zucchini Noodles
- Spaghetti Squash
- Roasted Veggies
- Mashed Potatoes
- Fresh Green Salad
- Polenta
- Risotto
- Gluten-free bread for meatball subs or sliders
Storage and reheating
If you have any meatballs remaining, allow them to cool then store them in an airtight container. They will last in the fridge for 3-5 days.
These gluten-free meatballs also freeze beautifully. Once they're cooled, place them in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to three months.
To reheat, simply thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and warm them up in sauce on the stovetop.
Top tip
To avoid tough meatballs, don’t overmix the meat mixture! You will want to mix everything together with your hands until just combined, this will create tender meatballs.
FAQ
Most meatballs are not gluten-free as they are usually made with regular breadcrumbs. This recipe calls for gluten-free breadcrumbs, making these gluten-free meatballs!
Absolutely! These gluten-free meatballs are perfect for meal prepping. Simply cook them according to the recipe, let them cool completely, and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Of course! While we recommend a mix of beef and turkey for the ultimate flavor and texture, you can use ground chicken, pork, or even plant-based meat alternatives to suit your preferences.
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Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Easy Gluten-Free Meatballs Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Butter
- 2 Onions
- 1 Egg
- 1 lb Ground Beef grass-fed
- 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Thyme
- ¼ cup Parsley chopped
- ¼ cup Breadcrumbs gluten-free
- 19 oz Calabrian Chili Marinara Sauce rao's
- 9 oz Gluten-Free Tagliatale Pasta jovial's
- Parmesean cheese to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet over low heat melt the butter and add 1 thinly sliced onion and a pinch of salt. Sautee the onion for 30-45 minutes or until caramelized.
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
- In a large bowl grate the second onion, then add the ground beef, egg, parsley, oregano, thyme, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper.
- Gently combine the meatball mixture with your hands.
- Using a cookie scoop, measure 12 meatballs and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake your meatballs for 15 minutes.
- In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling add a large pinch of salt and cook your pasta according to the package directions.
- Once the onions have carmelized, add a jar of Rao’s Calabrian Chili Marina sauce to the pan and simmer.
- Add the meatballs to the tomato sauce and simmer for 5-10 minutes while the pasta finishes cooking.
- Once the pasta is done, drain the pasta and add the noodles directly to the sauce. Toss gently with tongs.
- Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
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