Easy Keto Low Carb Meatballs Recipe – Italian Style

Name: Easy Keto Low Carb Meatballs Recipe - Italian Style
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup Grated parmesan cheese; 1/4 cup Sunflower seed meal ((or almond flour if not nut-free)); 1 tbsp Italian seasoning; 3/4 tsp Sea salt; 1/2 tsp Black pepper; 1/4 cup Unsweetened coconut milk beverage ((can also use almond milk or heavy cream)); 3 tbsp Onion ((grated)); 1 large Egg; 3 cloves Garlic ((minced)); 2 tbsp Fresh parsley ((chopped)); 1 lb Ground beef; 3/4 cup Marinara sauce

This Italian-style gluten-free low carb meatballs recipe is so easy - just 30 minutes to make! They are keto, nut-free & make a perfect dinner or appetizer.

By Maya on April 12, 2017

59 Comments

Before jumping to the recipe card, don't miss the HELPFUL RECIPE TIPS in the post! I hope you'll find them useful and will love this low carb recipe!

Easy Keto Low Carb Meatballs Recipe - Italian Style - If you're looking for an easy low carb meatballs recipe, Italian style, this is it! These keto meatballs take just 30 minutes to make, and are perfect for low carb dinners and appetizers alike. Detail: low-carb-meatballs-italian-style-keto-gluten-free-nut-free-2

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These gluten-free low carb meatballs were inspired by my readers. Making keto meatballs Italian style has been on my list for a while now, but several reader requests for an easy low carb meatball recipe brought it to life sooner than I planned for.

They are not quite no carb meatballs, but they are pretty close… and they taste just like the real thing!

Options for Low Carb Meatballs Without Breadcrumbs

Keto meatballs are actually not so different from regular ones. Whether you’ve made one kind or the other before, the basics are the same.

You just need meat, binders, seasonings, and moisture. Just like in a meatloaf. And, I’m happy to share my tips and tricks with you!

Here are the basic binder options that could be used in a low carb meatball recipe:

Almond flour
Coconut flour
Flax seed meal (regular or golden)
Crushed pork rinds
Grated Parmesan cheese
Ground sunflower seeds
Other ground nuts or nut meal

Not all of these will work the same way. Coconut flour will be very drying, for example.

I originally had this recipe made with golden flax seed meal, but now don’t recommend it. It can lead to a slightly slimy texture that can be off-putting for some people.

Instead, I recommend using a combination of Parmesan cheese and either almond flour or sunflower seed meal. The taste is identical with both, so it’s up to you. Almond flour might be a little easier to find, whereas sunflower seed meal is nut-free.

Tips for How To Make Low Carb Meatballs

The best keto meatballs are tender and juicy and taste just like real ones! Use these tips to get just that.

Soak the dry ingredients in (some kind of) milk.

To make your keto friendly meatballs tender and juicy, soak the dry ingredients in your milk of choice. Use coconut milk beverage for nut-free or unsweetened almond milk otherwise. Heavy cream also works fine.

Letting everything soak for a few minutes before adding the meat goes a long way in improving the texture of your meatballs, so don’t skip that step! Not only does it let the flavors develop, it also lets the moisture soak into the dry ingredients more thoroughly.

Adding the meat last prevents overworking it by avoiding repeated mixing, which is also helpful in improving tenderness.

Don’t over-mix the meat.

If you do, you’ll end up with tough meatballs. Add the meat last and mix only until combined.

Form the keto meatballs gently.

You don’t want to pack the meat too much, or your low carb meatballs will be dense. A small cookie scoop is great for this.

If you use your hands instead of a scoop, make sure they are cold and lightly covered in oil. This prevents sticking and ensures that the fats in the meat don’t break down prior to cooking.

Broil or pan fry for a golden top.

If you want your meatballs browned, you can lightly pan fry them or place them under the broiler. Take this into account ahead of time, taking them out of the oven a little early if you plan to broil or pan fry, so that you don’t overcook them at the end.

Low Carb Ways To Eat Meatballs

Looking for what to serve with keto meatballs? Here are a few ideas:

Skewer them with little appetizer forks
Include them as part of a meatball casserole
Serve them on top of zucchini noodles or baked spaghetti squash

How To Store Keto Friendly Meatballs

This keto meatball recipe is perfect for meal prep or making ahead, because they store very well. Toss ’em in the fridge for up to a week for quick keto dinners on weeknights.

To freeze these (almost) no carb meatballs, arrange them in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. After that, you can transfer them to a freezer bag. To serve, they can go into the oven straight from the freezer.

Easy Keto Low Carb Meatballs Italian Style:
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The recipe card is below! Readers also made these similar recipes after making this one.

Tools To Make This Low Carb Meatball Recipe:

Click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.

Glass bowls – This set is perfect for keto meatballs… and a million other things.
Small cookie scoop – Makes it quick and easy to form the low carb meatballs.
Baking sheet – This one has a silicone non-stick surface, so you can even skip the parchment paper or foil if you want to.