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Nothing says welcome to family dinner night like a pile of easy-to-make homemade gluten-free meatballs that leaves you with the comforts of home even after you're gone!
Our oldest loves pasta. Not even kidding; that girl would ask for gluten-free fettuccini or spaghetti every day if I let her. Probably the main reason this mama has always been trying to find the best tasting gluten-free pasta options there are so I can make her what she loves. It's also a perfect excuse to make my easy homemade gluten-free Italian meatball recipe. I mean, we all want to make our kids happy, right? If a simple bowl of pasta and meatballs can do, then this mama is all about it.
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Ingredients.
- Ground Pork
- Ground Beef
- Egg Yolks
- Olive Oil
- Worcestershire Sauce - You can also use coconut aminos if you can't find gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.
- Spices
- Parmesan Cheese
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Ingredient substitutions.
- Beef/ pork - I use a combination of ground beef and pork to make this gluten-free meatball recipe. If you prefer, you can use one or the other. I find the combination of both gives a nice flavor and overall fat content, which keeps these juicy.
- Egg-free meatballs. - To make these egg-free meatballs, you can sub the egg yolks for an egg replacer. I've also found that adding a few tablespoons of gluten-free breadcrumbs works as well instead of using egg yolks.
- Dairy-free meatballs. - The small amount of cheese in these gluten-free meatballs is there to add extra flavor, but you can simply leave it out to make these gluten-free, dairy-free meatballs.
Making gluten-free meatballs.
- Combine the ingredients into a bowl.
- Mix the meats and the remaining ingredients gently.
- Scoop and shape the meatballs.
- Cook the meatballs. You can either do this on the stove or the oven, depending on your preference.
What is the best way to cook meatballs?
I find that cooking these gluten-free meatballs really comes down to time and preference. I've cooked them several ways, and every time they come out juicy and delicious.
- Skillet - You can easily cook these meatballs on the stove with a little bit of olive oil until they are golden and delicious. If I am cooking them on the stove, I like to finish them off in some gluten-free marinara sauce.
- In the oven. - I find baking these gluten-free meatballs in the oven to be really simple and easy. I just shape them and place the meatballs onto a baking sheet and cook them in a 400-degree oven for about 15-20 minutes until they are browned and cooked through,
- Meatballs in the air fryer. - I am only a recent convert to loving the air fryer and I have to say these gluten-free meatballs are beyond delicious cooked in the air fryer. I find cooking them at 375 degrees for about 10-15 minutes gets these nicely browned and the meatballs perfect, no matter how you're serving them.
Tips and tricks.
- Use the right fat ratio for your meats. Since this recipe calls for a mixture of ground beef and pork, it is okay to use leaner ground beef. If you are just going to use ground beef to make these gluten-free meatballs, you really want something close to an 80/20 blend of ground beef. This will help you not end up with dry meatballs.
- Do NOT overwork the meat. - Meatballs are like pie crust; the more you work it, the tougher the final results will be. You want to make sure you are gently mixing and shaping your gluten-free meatballs by hand.
- Make each meatball equal sizes. - When it comes to cooking meatballs in any sort of quantity, you want to make sure they cook at the same time. You are much less likely to have some over or undercooked meatballs in the batch if make them all the same size. I like to use a small cookie scoop to portion out my meatballs before shaping them for consistent results.
- Do NOT crowd your meatballs. - No matter how you are cooking these gluten-free meatballs, know that they need a little space. If you cook them very close together, you'll end up with meatballs that aren't always cooked evenly. They need space to breathe so they can brown and get air to cook thoroughly.
Meatball FAQ
Many meatballs, both homemade and frozen, can and do contain gluten. There are some brands that sell gluten-free frozen meatballs. It is best to make sure any frozen meatballs you are buying are gluten-free. Thankfully, making gluten-free meatballs is easy to do.
Meatballs are considered done when the internal temperature reads about 165 degrees when an instant-read thermometer is placed in the middle of the meatball.
Make ahead and freezing meatballs.
These gluten-free meatballs are one of those dishes that you can easily make ahead of time and freeze. You can either freeze them raw or cooked. I personally prefer to freeze them cooked, but it is up to you to decide what you want to do.
Don't want to freeze meatballs? - These uncooked gluten-free meatballs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours before being cooked.
Freezing meatballs. - I love making a double batch of this gluten-free meatball recipe to freeze and have on hand for a quick and easy dinner when the week gets busy.
Raw.
- Arrange the meatballs on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer for about 30 minutes to chill.
- Then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag for storage for up to two 2 months.
- There is no need to defrost them before cooking them. Just add an additional 5-7 minutes to your cooking time, depending on your cooking preference.
Cooked:
- Cool the meatballs completely.
- Arrange the meatballs on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
- Transfer the meatballs to a freezer-safe container or bag for storage for up to 2 months.
- When you are ready to eat them, simply defrost the meatballs overnight and cook them as you like. I like to slip cooked ones into a gluten-free marinara sauce to reheat easily.
How to serve meatballs.
These gluten-free meatballs really are such a versatile recipe to make because you can serve them in so many ways. I personally have made these and served them with simple gluten-free pasta and some of my homemade gluten-free pasta sauce. My kids love them paired with my gluten-free pesto. You could even get your hands on some delicious gluten-free buns and turn these meatballs into gluten-free meatball subs. (Schar and Canyon Bakehouse both made delicious gluten-free buns.) There is no wrong way to serve these gluten-free meatballs.
More quick and easy dinners.
Want more gluten-free quick, and easy dinners to love? Check out a few of my favorites below.
📖 Recipe
Quick and Easy Gluten-free Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Ground Pork
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- 2 Large Egg Yolks See notes for making these egg-free meatballs.
- 2 Cloves Garlic minced
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce You could also use coconut aminos.
- 2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Cup Parmesan or ecorino Romano Cheese optional
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients into a bowl.1 Pound Ground Pork, 1 Pound Ground Beef, 2 Large Egg Yolks, 2 Cloves Garlic, 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil, 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce, 2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning, 1 Teaspoon Salt, ¼ Cup Parmesan or ecorino Romano Cheese
- Gently mix the meat and other ingredients until you have a uniform mixture.
- Shape the meatballs into desired size.
On the Stove
- Add a little bit of extra olive oil to a skillet over medium heat.
- Place the meatballs in batches in the skillet, making sure not to overcrowd them.
- Once the meatballs are browned, cover the skillet, lower the heat to low, and continue cooking until the meatballs are firm and cooked through. This should take about 15 minutes total.
In the Oven
- If you are cooking the meatballs in the oven, preheat the oven to 400 °F.
- Place the meatballs onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the meatballs for 10 minutes, and then turn the meatballs over with a spatula.
- Continue baking the meatballs until they are browned and cooked through 10-15 minutes.
Meatballs in the air fryer.
- Preheat your air fryer to 375 °F.
- Place your meatballs, not crowded, in the air fryer and cook them for about 10 minutes.
- Rotate the meatballs and then cook them for an additional 5-10 minutes or until they are browned and cooked through.
Notes
- Use the right fat ratio for your meats. Since this recipe calls for a mixture of ground beef and pork, it is okay to use leaner ground beef. If you are just going to use ground beef to make these gluten-free meatballs, you really want something close to an 80/20 blend of ground beef. This will help you not end up with dry meatballs.
- Do NOT overwork the meat. - Meatballs are like pie crust; the more you work it, the tougher the final results will be. You want to make sure you are gently mixing and shaping your gluten-free meatballs by hand.
- Make each meatball equal sizes. - When it comes to cooking meatballs in any sort of quantity, you want to make sure they cook at the same time. You are much less likely to have some over or undercooked meatballs in the batch if make them all the same size. I like to use a small cookie scoop to portion out my meatballs before shaping them for consistent results.
- Do NOT crowd your meatballs. - No matter how you are cooking these gluten-free meatballs, know that they need a little space. If you cook them very close together, you'll end up with meatballs that aren't always cooked evenly. They need space to breathe so they can brown and get air to cook thoroughly.
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