Keto Meatballs
Keto Meatballs are a tasty and easy way to serve up dinner or make as an appetizer this week. Juicy and flavorful meatballs with sausage and ground beef. Baked to a golden brown for the ultimate baked meatballs recipe. Pair with a keto friendly pasta sauce, your favorite dipping sauce or eat alone.
Meatballs with ground beef and sausage offer tons of flavor. When you use two types of meat, it brings out the delicious flavor of the meat combining. I have made these for a quick dinner and also served up with toothpicks in them for appetizers for parties and even holiday events.
If you are looking for new keto recipes to try, I highly recommend giving this recipe a try. Let me walk you through some tips and tricks of making meatballs, so you end up with the best meatballs every time, even if it is your first time making them.
My Italian-inspired easy keto meatballs will become an instant family favorite after they try one bite. I guarantee they can’t eat just one. This easy recipe is also gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, sugar-free, and Trim Healthy Mama friendly.
Ingredients
Ground Beef – In most of my meatball recipes I do use ground turkey but the flavor of the beef is great in this particular recipe.
Italian Sausage – Make sure to find a sausage made without added sugar.
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – Part-skim or whole milk mozzarella will both work.
Grated Parmesan Cheese – The grated parmesan cheese replaces the breadcrumbs used in traditional meatballs. You can also use finely shredded parmesan cheese or romano cheese. If you would like a dairy-free recipe you can use almond flour, almond meal, or crushed pork rinds.
Large Egg – The egg acts as a binder to help the ground meat mixture hold together.
Dried Minced Onion & Garlic – I use dried minced onion and garlic to save on time but you can sub in fresh if you prefer. Garlic powder and onion powder can also work.
Dried Parsley – Alternatively, you can use fresh parsley, dried basil, fresh basil, or an Italian seasoning blend.
Salt – A general rule of thumb is to use a teaspoon of salt per pound of meat but the parmesan in this is also salty so I use less salt in this recipe.
How To Make Keto Meatballs
First Step: Start by preheating your oven. Then spray down your casserole dish or baking sheet with a cooking spray to prevent sticking. Alternatively, you can line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Second Step: In a large bowl, you want to combine all the ingredients in the recipe card and mix it, so it is well combined.
Expert Tip: One of the biggest tips I can share is not to overmix the ground meat when making low carb meatballs. If you do, you will end up with a very tough and dense meatball. Go light on the hand when mixing, and you will have a light and juicy meatball that you can serve up.
Third Step: Then make your meatballs! I like to use an extra large cookie scoop to use to help make similar-sized meatballs but you can make them by hand if you prefer. This recipe makes around 24 meatballs. Make sure when you lay them down in a single layer in the casserole dish that you leave a small space between them.
Fourth Step: Bake the Italian meatballs for 30 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked all the way through.
Variations
Types of Meat – I have found that meatballs with sausage and ground beef offer the best flavor. When you combine Italian sausage and ground beef, it will bring out so much more flavor, which you want to have in meatballs. You can use any meat you choose such as ground pork, ground veal, ground turkey, ground chicken, or turkey sausage.
Swedish Meatballs – Try my Keto Swedish Meatballs if this caught your eye!
Common Questions
Meatballs Without Breadcrumbs
You read that right, these gluten free keto meatballs without breadcrumbs are delicious. You don’t need breadcrumbs to make a good meatball, and this recipe will show you that. To give make these meatballs low carb we had to leave out the crumbs. I’ve seen other recipes that use pork rinds but I don’t think they are necessary. The cheese and egg act like the binders. Trust me; you won’t miss the bread crumbs or pork rinds!
Do You Pan Fry or Bake Meatballs
You are more than welcome to pan fry or bake meatballs. For these keto meatballs, I opted for baking instead of cooking in a skillet. As it gets close to the baked meatballs being close to done, they will begin to get golden brown and a little crispy on the outside. You don’t have to fry these meatballs to help bring out the flavor and great texture.
Can You Freeze Keto Meatballs?
Yes. It is easy to freeze any leftover meatballs you might have. This keto meatball recipe is great for meal prep. Freezing meatballs is a great way to make sticking to a keto diet easier. Let me walk you through how to quickly freeze keto meatballs.
After your meatballs cook, allow them to cool. Then once cooled transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container. Place in the freezer for up to three months. If you use a vacuum sealer the shelf life will be extended.
Then just thaw and reheat the meatballs for later when you want them. You can warm up in the microwave or even the oven. Just heat until it is warmed all the way through.
How Long Can You Store Meatballs In The Fridge?
After your low carb keto meatballs have been cooked, you are welcome to store your meatballs in the fridge for up to three days. Anything after you will want to toss them out. If you know you won’t eat them in time, consider freezing for later.
Give this meatball recipe a try today. This is my go-to meatball recipe that we have used for a long time.
What To Serve With Low Carb Meatballs?
These taste great on their own but here are some pairing options:
Pair with zucchini noodles and a Keto Marinara Sauce (if you don’t want to make your own tomato sauce without added sugar, such as Rao’s, will work).
Missing pasta? Try these Keto Raviolis.
With Cauliflower Rice or Mashed Cauliflower.
Baked Spaghetti Squash is a great sub for noodles!
Serve as an appetizer with your favorite low carb dipping sauce.
Use these in my Meatball Casserole.
Zucchini Salad with Lemon and Feta is a great light side dish.
Want a complete one-dish meal? Try my Keto White Lasagna!
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Keto Meatballs with Sausage and Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/3 cup grated or shredded parmesan
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp dried minced onion
- 2 tsp dried minced garlic
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400. Spray a sheet pan or casserole dish with cooking spray
- Combine all the ingredients for the meatballs and mix thoroughly.
- Make about 24 meatballs and put them on the prepared pan.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through.
Notes
Nutrition
More Keto Italian Dinner Recipes
Italian Baked Chicken with Sausage
Originally Published Jun 3, 2019. Revised and Republished April 11, 2023.
Question: my digestive system doesn’t like mozzarella cheese, so I try to avoid it at all costs. Is there a suitable substitute for it? Or can I simply leave it out without totally ruining the meatballs?
You can leave it out.
What kind of sausage ground or from casings?
Ground sausage. If you buy sausage in casings you need to remove them. That is easiest by slicing down one side with a kitchen shears and then peeling the casing off.
I tried the recipe precisely and the meatballs were good. I tried again but this time added a half cup of crushed up pork rinds and they were much lighter and tastier. This’ll be my go-to meatball recipe.
These meatballs are tender and full bodied, something I didn’t expect. Went very well with the marinara.
Thanks for the recipe. Best meatballs I’ve made.
I have tried so many low carb meatball recipes, and this one is our absolute favorite. You really don’t need pork rinds or almond flour as an alternative to breadcrumbs, in my opinion it just makes the meatballs dry, even if you add in cream with some recipes I’ve tried. These are PERFECT!
Sooo tasty and flavorful! These meatballs have earned a regular spot on our Keto friendly menu, so delicious!
Delicious meatballs with full flavor and good texture! My whole family loved them.
Just made these last night and they were great! awesome flavor and a keeper for us. Even my non-keto husband loved them. Thank you!
Meatballs are very tasty. You do need to mix well to incorporate but when you make the meatball you don’t want to squash it down and make a solid. They come out perfect.
These were sooo good! I have tried a dozen different keto meatball recipes, and these have been my favorite. I love the combo of beef and Italian sausage.
I’d rather have meaty meatballs over pasta any day! Yum!
Using the beef and sausage really makes this recipe stand out! Love it!
How informative recipe! I have learnt so much about KETO. Thank you!