The Best Keto Meatballs Recipe - Low Carb Spark (2024)

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Ioana

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These keto meatballs are moist, tender, juicy, perfect without any breadcrumbs or flour. Learn how to make low carb meatballs that are perfect for meal prep, served as appetizers and great to take to work. I provide instructions for oven baking meatballs, pan-frying or air-fryer.

The Best Keto Meatballs Recipe - Low Carb Spark (1)

Try some of the best keto meatballs and turn them into your favorite flavourful dish. Use your preferred method to cook the meatballs and then create great recipes around them. I like to serve them with marinara sauce and zucchini noodles.

TABLE OF CONTENTS hide

  • Ingredients for the Keto Meatballs
  • How to Make Keto Meatballs?
  • To Bake Meatballs
  • How to Make Meatballs in the Air Fryer?
  • More Ground Beef Recipes For You to Try:
  • The Best Keto Meatballs Recipe

Ingredients for the Keto Meatballs

The ingredients you’ll need for the keto meatballs are effortless to find and delicious. This recipe is versatile and basic. You can enhance the flavors by adding red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, or oregano.

I stick with the more basic Italian version of these meatballs and used: ground beef, parmesan, eggs, garlic, onion, heavy cream (instead of milk), salt, and pepper.

Here are all the ingredients you’ll need:

  • 1 poundground meat, 85 % lean such as beef, pork, chicken, turkey, veal or mix
  • 1largeegg,beaten
  • 1/2cupparmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/4cupheavy cream
  • 2tbspfresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 small onionfinely grated onion
  • 1clovegarlic, minced
  • 1/2tspsalt
  • 1/4tspfreshly ground black pepper
The Best Keto Meatballs Recipe - Low Carb Spark (2)

How to Make Keto Meatballs?

It’s so easy to make these meatballs. All you have to do is to combine all the ingredients with your hands and form beautiful meatballs.

How to cook meatballs? Well, that’s up to you! Whether you chose to oven bake, fry them or use the Airfryer, I give detailed instructions for all the methods.

  1. In a bowl combine the beaten egg, salt, pepper, minced garlic, chopped onion, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, parsley. Whisk to combine.
  2. Add the ground meat to the egg mixture. Use your hands to incorporate the egg mixture into the meat. Try not to overwork the meat.
  3. Form about 12 meatballs. I use a scale (not mandatory!) and weigh my meatballs to make sure they are equal. This step helps the meatballs cook evenly.
The Best Keto Meatballs Recipe - Low Carb Spark (3)

To Bake Meatballs

  1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with foil or use a silicone baking mat.
  2. Place the meatballs onto the sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes. The meatballs are ready when the outsides are brown.
  3. Serve the meatballs warm, topped with mozzarella or with Rao’s Marinara Sauce. Garnish with more freshly chopped parsley and enjoy!

How to Make Meatballs in the Air Fryer?

  1. Start by lightly greasing the basket of the Air Dryer. Combine all the ingredients and form meatballs using your hands.
  2. Set the Airfryer at 350F and cook for about 13-14 minutes until lightly browned and cooked through. I manage to fit all the meatballs in this recipe into my 6 QT Air Fryer.
  3. Serve the meatballs warm, topped with mozzarella, low carb tomato sauce, and zucchini noodles.

Fry the Keto Meatballs Method

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat add a few tablespoons of oil or bacon grease.
  2. Add meatballs and cook, occasionally turning until golden on all the sides (about 8-10 minutes).
  3. Remove from the skillet and place on a plate lined with paper towels.

More Ground Beef Recipes For You to Try:

Ground beef is such a versatile ingredient. I have so many favorite recipes using it as a main ingredient. Here are a few of them may love:

  • Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup
  • Best Low Carb Keto Chili
  • Zucchini Lasagna
  • Easy Low Carb Crack Slaw

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Description

These keto meatballs are moist, tender juicy, perfect without any breadcrumbs or flour. Learn how to make low carb meatballs that are perfect for meal prep, served as appetizers and great to take to work. I provide instructions for oven baking meatballs, pan frying or air-frying.

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground meat 85% lean such as beef, pork, chicken, turkey, veal or mix
  • 1 largeegg beaten
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • 1/4 small onion finely grated onion
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Serving Suggestions

  • Zucchini noodles
  • Mozarella
  • Rao’s Marinara Sauce

Instructions

  • In a bowl combine the beaten egg, salt, pepper, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, parsley, onion, garlic. Whisk to combine.

  • Add the ground meat to the egg mixture. Use your hands to incorporate the egg mixture into the meat. Try not to overwork the meat.

  • Form about 12 meatballs. I use a scale (not mandatory!) and weigh my meatballs to make sure they are equal. This step helps the meatballs cook evenly.

Bake in the Oven Meatballs Method:

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C. Line a baking sheet with foil or use a silicone baking mat.

  • Place the meatballs onto the sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes. The meatballs are ready when the outsides are brown.

  • Serve the meatballs warm, topped with mozzarella or with Rao’s Marinara Sauce. Garnish with more freshly chopped parsley and enjoy!

Air Fryer Method

  • Start by lightly greasing the basket of the air fryer. Combine all the ingredients and form meatballs using your hands.

  • Set the Airfryer at 350°F/180°C and cook for about 13-14 minutes until lightly browned and cooked through. I manage to fit all the meatballs in this recipe into my 6 QT Air Fryer.

  • Serve the meatballs warm, topped with mozzarella, low carb tomato sauce, and zucchini noodles.

Fry the meatballs

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat add a few tablespoons of oil or bacon grease.

  • Add meatballs and cook, occasionally turning until golden on all the sides (about 8-10 minutes).

  • Remove from the skillet and place on a plate lined with paper towels.

Notes

Store the leftover keto meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Make-ahead keto meatballs: You can shape meatballs a day ahead and keep them in the refrigerator.

Freeze uncooked meatballs:Prepare the balls through step 3, then arrange them in a single layer onto a baking sheet and freeze. Transfer them to a container and freeze for up to 1 month. Before cooking, thaw the meatballs in the refrigerator overnight.

Freeze cooked meatballs: Arrange the completely cooled meatballs in a single layer onto a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Thaw the frozen meatballs in the refrigerator overnight or thaw them directly from the freezer!

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving.

Calories

159kcal

Total Carbs

1g

Net Carbs

1g

Protein

11g

Fat

12g

Fiber

0.1g

Sugar

0.4g

How do we calculate the nutrition info?

These nutrition facts listed are determined using nutrition information from the USDA Food Database. Our nutrition facts are accurate, but if you are using different products, please make your calculations. Net carb count is calculated by subtracting both fiber and sugar alcohols because they don’t raise blood sugar.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword low carb, meatballs

Tried this recipe?Mention @LowCarbSpark or tag #LowCarbSpark!

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The Best Keto Meatballs Recipe - Low Carb Spark (5)

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Ioana

Ioana is a food and travel lover. Her greatest passion is developing mouthwatering recipes that are comforting, easy to make, and budget friendly! She firmly believes that cooking should be fun! About me...

The Best Keto Meatballs Recipe - Low Carb Spark (2024)

FAQs

Are frozen meatballs keto friendly? ›

Most meatballs you find in the freezer aisle have breadcrumb fillers and a significant amount of carbs. And the gluten-free versions are just as bad, and sometimes even worse. I did come across one brand of paleo and keto meatballs at one point, but they were exorbitantly expensive and required online ordering.

Are restaurant meatballs keto friendly? ›

Most meatballs are made with flour or breadcrumbs and really aren't very keto friendly. However, this keto meatball recipe uses almond flour crumbs and can be enjoyed on any low carb or keto diet.

Why are meatballs not keto? ›

Typically, meatballs contain bread or breadcrumbs as the main ingredient. This helps the balls maintain their shape. The presence of bread is a direct Keto violation, but all is not lost.

How many carbs are in keto meatballs? ›

Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
Total Carbohydrate 1.3g0%
Dietary Fiber 0.3g1%
Sugars 0.2g
Protein 13.9g28%
10 more rows
Oct 7, 2021

What meat is not keto-friendly? ›

Examples of meat products to avoid:
  • Breaded meats.
  • Bacon with added sugar.
  • Processed meat that could have hidden carbs.
  • Processed meats high in nitrates.
  • Plant-based proteins.

Can you eat unlimited meat on keto? ›

Meat and poultry are popular with people on the keto diet because they're high in fat and very low in carbs. However, scientists have found links between eating too much meat on a regular basis and health conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and excess weight.

Can I eat M&M on keto? ›

Yes Tim, m&m's are made with corn syrup now. Guaranteed to ruin Keto. The other trouble is that when you eat “sweet stuff” like that you are blunting your taste.

Do frozen meatballs have carbs? ›

There are 243 calories in a 3 oz (85.000g) serving size of Meatballs, frozen, Italian style. The calorie breakdown is 70% fat, 11% carbs, and 20% protein.

How many carbs are in frozen meatballs? ›

Foster Farms Cooked Frozen Italian Style Meatballs (1 serving) contains 5g total carbs, 5g net carbs, 8g fat, 16g protein, and 160 calories.

Can you eat frozen food on keto? ›

When choosing a frozen meal on keto, the most important consideration is the carb content. Most people on this diet aim to eat 20–50 grams of net carbs per day. Thus, you should carefully check the nutrition labels of frozen meals. Many are high in carbs, even if it may seem like they wouldn't be.

Are frozen meatballs considered processed meat? ›

Frozen meat balls, at least reasonably high quality ones, are simlpy ground meat rolled into ball shapes. Nutritionally, they're identical to the meat pre-grounding. Commercially prepared and frozen meatballs are definitely processed meat. Contains mechanically separated chicken beef and pork.

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