Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
Get It Now- Are Meatballs Keto?
- Why You’ll Love This Keto Meatball Recipe
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make Keto Meatballs
- Tips For The Best Keto Meatballs
- Storage Instructions
- Ways To Serve Low Carb Meatballs
- More Keto Meatball Recipes
- Recommended Tools
- Keto Meatballs (Low Carb Meatballs) Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
These gluten-free low carb meatballs were originally inspired by Wholesome Yum readers, who were asking for a great keto meatballs recipe without breadcrumbs. That was back in 2017, and I’ve made them about a gajillion times since then. They’re a favorite now for everyone in my family, including my kids – and I hope these Italian keto meatballs make their way into your family’s favorite list, too.
These contain a flavorful mix of beef, aromatics, and cheese, and make the great base for a plate of zucchini spaghetti with marinara sauce. (You can also make a keto meatloaf with similar ingredients.) These are not quite no carb meatballs, but they are pretty close… and they taste just like the real thing!
Are Meatballs Keto?
Most meatballs are made with breadcrumbs, so they would not be suitable for a keto diet. However, you can easily make a low carb meatball recipe using a different binder instead to make it keto friendly.
These keto meatballs use Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour instead of bread crumbs. The neutral flavor and ultra fine grind in this flour blends seamlessly into the recipe to deliver a taste and texture just like a classic meatball — all with fewer carbs! It’s the only one I use for meatball making.
Why You’ll Love This Keto Meatball Recipe
- Meaty, savory flavors
- Tender, juicy texture
- Simple ingredients
- 30 minutes total time
- No skillet or pan frying needed
- 2.5g net carbs
- Keto, low carb, and gluten-free
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best low carb meatball ingredients, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour – This flour creates the best texture for keto meatballs while cutting carbs, but you could use other binders. See variations below!
- Grated Parmesan Cheese – This also acts as a binder. I used pre-grated parmesan for convenience. You can replace with additional almond flour if you need them to be dairy-free.
- Italian Seasoning – I make my own homemade Italian seasoning (takes 5 minutes!), but you can also use a store-bought seasoning.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper – For simple savory flavor.
- Unsweetened Coconut Milk Beverage – Makes keto friendly meatballs tender and juicy. You can also substitute a different keto milk, such as almond milk or heavy cream.
- Onion – Grate with a box grater. I used a white onion, but any variety works.
- Egg – Binds to the meat, flour, cheese and herbs to keep meatballs from falling apart. A flax egg will also work here.
- Garlic – Fresh minced garlic adds the best flavor, but you could also use jarred minced garlic for convenience if you prefer. If using jarred, you would need 1 tablespoon of minced garlic for this recipe.
- Fresh Parsley – I highly recommend using fresh herbs for the best flavor, but if needed, you can substitute 2 teaspoons dried parsley in place of the 2 tablespoons fresh. You could also use other herbs, like fresh basil.
- Ground Beef – The classic choice for a keto meatballs recipe. I used 85% lean beef, but you can use any variety you prefer. You could also easily substitute ground chicken, ground turkey, or ground pork.
- Marinara Sauce – Makes a classic topping for low carb Italian meatballs. I make my own marinara sauce homemade, but you can easily swap in a sugar-free store-bought one… or try my alfredo sauce recipe, sugar-free pizza sauce, or chimichurri sauce instead.
VARIATION: Use a different binder.
These Italian keto meatballs are made with almond flour (my personal favorite!), but you have other options:
- Coconut flour – Be careful with this substitute. It can lead to dry meatballs, so use 1/4 the amount, and personally even then I still don’t recommend it.
- Flax seed meal (regular or golden) – Pretty good, but can be slimy if you use too much. I originally had this recipe made with golden flax seed meal, but now don’t recommend it anymore.
- Crushed pork rinds – These are salty, so reduce the salt if you use them as a binder.
- Grated Parmesan cheese – Not ideal on its own, but great mixed with other binders, such as almond flour.
- Ground sunflower seeds – A 1:1 almond flour replacement in these meatballs, if needed.
- Other ground nuts or nut meal
How To Make Keto Meatballs
This section shows how to make low carb meatballs, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Prep. Preheat the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil (grease if using foil).
- Stir dry inredients. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the grated Parmesan cheese, almond flour, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and black pepper.
- Add wet inredients. Mix in the milk, grated onion, egg, garlic, and fresh parsley. Let the mixture sit for a couple of minutes.
- Mix in beef. Using your hands, mix the ground beef into the egg and seasoning mixture, until just incorporated.
- Form keto meatballs. Use a small cookie scoop or your hands to form the mixture into 1 in (2.5 cm) balls. Place on the lined baking sheet.
- Bake. Cook keto meatballs in the oven, until barely done.
- Top. Add marinara sauce to the top of each meatball. Return to the oven and bake.
- Serve. Garnish with additional parmesan and fresh parsley.
Tips For The Best Keto Meatballs
Easy keto meatballs are always a hit, and with these tips, they’ll be even better!
- Soak the dry ingredients in (some kind of) milk. Let the dry ingredients soak for a few minutes in your keto milk of choice before adding the meat. Not only does it let the flavors develop, it also lets the moisture soak into the dry ingredients more thoroughly and improves texture.
- Don’t over mix. If you do, you’ll end up with tough meatballs. Add the meat last and mix only until combined.
- Form low carb meatballs gently. Don’t want to pack the meat too much, or your 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 (wash in cold water first) 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.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Meal prep: Store in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for several months.
- Reheat: Reheat this low carb meatball recipe in the microwave or in the oven at 350 degrees F, until heated through.
- Freeze: To freeze these (almost) no carb meatballs, arrange them in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet (without sauce) and freeze until solid. Transfer to a freezer bag. No need to thaw before reheating.
Ways To Serve Low Carb Meatballs
This low carb meatball recipe is the perfect main for an Italian dinner or a delicious party food. Here are my favorite ways to serve them:
- Keto Pasta – Zucchini noodles, keto egg noodles, spaghetti squash, or even zucchini roll ups all pair well with this keto meatball recipe. Melt mozzarella cheese on top for a tasty finish.
- Salads – Antipasto salad, avocado Caprese salad, or chopped Mediterranean salad are all great veggie sides to the meatballs.
- Keto Breads – Low carb bread recipes like keto garlic bread, cauliflower breadsticks, or garlic parmesan chaffles are a great side to meatballs. Use keto hot dog buns to make a meatball sub.
- Vegetable Sides – Enjoy this dish with sauteed mushrooms, sauteed broccoli, or pan fried zucchini.
- Serve As An Appetizer – Skewer them with little appetizer forks and serve them with other appetizers like keto stuffed mushrooms or keto fried pickles.
More Keto Meatball Recipes
Meatballs are one of my favorite keto dinners, so I have lots of recipes for them. Try these ones next time!
Recommended Tools
- Baking Sheet – Made in the USA with a quality nonstick surface.
- Glass Bowls – This set is perfect for keto meatballs and includes many sizes.
- Small Cookie Scoop – Makes it quick and easy to form the low carb meatballs.
Keto Meatballs (Low Carb Meatballs)
This keto meatballs recipe is juicy and flavorful every time! Italian low carb meatballs take just 30 minutes, with simple ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil (grease if using foil).
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In a large bowl, stir together the grated Parmesan cheese, almond flour, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and black pepper.
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Whisk in the milk, grated onion, egg, garlic, and fresh parsley. Let the mixture sit for a couple of minutes.
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Mix in the ground beef using your hands, until just incorporated. (Don't over-mix to avoid tough meatballs.)
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Form the mixture into 1 in (2.5 cm) balls and place on the lined baking sheet. (A small cookie scoop this size works well for this. If using your hands, use a gentle touch and don't pack the meatballs too tightly.)
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Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the meatballs are barely done. (If you want them more golden, you can place them under the broiler for a couple of minutes.)
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Top each meatball with marinara sauce. Return to the oven and bake for 3-5 minutes, until the sauce is hot and meatballs are cooked through. Garnish with additional fresh parsley.
Did You Like It?
Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 6 1″ meatballs
Nutrition info is based on using 85/15 ground beef, and may vary slightly depending on marinara sauce brand.
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
111 Comments
Carolyn
0Hello this sound’s so good i’m making them tonight trying to fine new Keto recipe’s
Jennifer
0These are the best meatballs and I love that they are low carb!
Katie
0Such a great meal idea, or even appetizer snack!
Sarah Skaggs
0Love these meatballs, they are a go-to recipe now!
Journa Liz Ramirez
0I had these meatballs top on our favorite spaghetti, it was a hit! My kids can’t get enough of it. Glad these are healthy meatballs.
C
0These are absolutely divine. Very flavorful. I wouldn’t change a thing. I made these with the WY marinara(spaghetti) sauce, which was also flavorful and fresh tasting.
Angela
0As I was eating I thought, “these are the best meatballs ever”. At about the same time as I thought that thought, my husband says, “those were the best meatballs ever”. Thanks for the amazing recipe!
Julie W
0Absolutely delicious
Joanne Atkinson
0These were so incredibly easy to make but oh so utterly delicious. I tipped a tin of canned tomatoes over the meatballs as well as the tomato passata spooned on top. Will be using this recipe again and again. Thanks.
silvana
0Hi I would like to try this recipe tonight, it sounds so good. I know you said coconut flour can be used in place of the almond, was just wondering how much to use?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Silvana, You will want to use 1/4 the amount of almond flour.
Donna
0These were the first meatballs I’ve made probably in more than a decade. The tips for how to keep them tender were very helpful and effective, making the most of the increased cost of even hamburger these days. I ate the meatballs plain because they were so good. My cookie scoop only gave me 30 balls rather than 36 (6 servings at 6 meatballs each). I will cut down the salt a little bit next time for my own preference. Thanks for the recipe!
Wholesome Yum A
0Could you cook these in a slow cooker?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Amanda, I think cooking these meatballs in crock pot will make them too wet. They can, however, be transported and kept warm in a crock pot for serving.
Robin Gee
0FanTASTIC!! My husband, an Italian, absolutely loved these meatballs, as did I!!
I doubled the recipe.
Easy to make. I followed your wonderful recipe but added a few substitutions, based on what I had on-hand…dried parsley, dried chopped onions (that I put into a zipper bag and crushed with a rolling pin), 1/2 heavy cream and 1/2 half and half.
Cooking time was perfect. I used a bit of a heapingTBL spoon to measure them. Used 2 baking pans with parchment paper.
Rao’s roasted garlic pasta sauce in the quantity recommended was perfect. Topped with grated Parmesan and Romano cheese was the crowning touch to a perfect, special meal!
Paired with a romaine salad, it was heavenly! Thank you~!
Cheryl
0Love, love these! Just made this week and eating the last of them tonight. So good, very flavorful, great texture and taste! Will definitely make again. Thank you!
Theresa
0I used this recipe as a base for something I was making off the top of my head. I like experimenting with recipes and this one fits the bill for me. I used ZA’ATAR for my spice mix, dijon, siracha turmeric, and a blend of super seeds ground up. It was amazing. I served it with my own mix of a kind of Ratatouille.
R Arant
0Delicious!!! Just the perfect amount of flavor. I made them with almond milk. Will definitely make again, kids loved. May I recommend using American Wagyu beef? The fat in Wagyu is unique and so flavorful. I’m a huge fan recently. I use OKLAHOMA WAGYU and they ship nationwide.
Larkin
0The BEST meatballs i have ever made! These were SO GOOD! I did not have almond flour so I used coconut flour and used 2 T of that. I used onion and garlic power as I did not have a fresh onion or garlic on hand. Also I used heavy cream as I that is what I had. I added 2 t of Worcestershire. So although I made revisions to what I had on hand these were delicious. I would have never thought to made meatballs like this. Even my picky eater ate them AND i served them with spagetti squash! Thank you so much for this recipe!
Rebecca
0The most easy and delicious meatballs every time! Personally I cook them in a frying pan and they turn out great
Dawn O'Donoghue
0Absolutely delicious! Thank you. My husband didn’t even realise they are keto..
Elaine
0Excellent tender meatballs. I subbed heavy whipping cream for almond milk as I did not have any.
Christine
0These meatballs are AWESOME! Lovely and moist. My 7 1/2 month old granddaughter absolutely loved them. Easy to make, basic ingredients that most everyone has in their fridge/pantry. This recipe is not just a “will make again” recipe. It’s a “MUST make again” recipe.
Trish A
0I’m kind of late to the show here. Has anyone cooked these in an AirFryer yet? Thanks.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Trish, Yes, these can cook in an air fryer. Depending on the style of air fryer you have, you may have to cook them in batches.
Carol Ann
0My husband raved about these and wanted them again the next night. It’s seldom that he gets excited about food.
Donna
0To freeze, do you do so before or after cooking?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Donna, Freeze these meatballs after cooking.
Jocelyn
0Hi there! Looking forward to trying this recipe. How many carbs per serving would you omit if you did not use this marinara sauce?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Jocelyn, I’m not sure, but you can enter the recipe into an online recipe calculator to get new macros without the sauce.
Linda Horte
0Hello, I know the serving size for this is 6 meatballs, can you tell the me approx. how many meatballs this recipe makes in total, thank you.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Linda, The recipe makes 36 1″ meatballs in total.
Dhara
0Is there a vegetarian keto version of meat balls?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Dhara, Sorry, I don’t have a vegetarian version of meatballs. Best of luck on your search!
Alicia warming
0LOVE these meatballs. So quick and easy and full of flavor! Even my italian boyfriend loves them!!!
Brandi Hougland
0Has anyone ever tried cooking these in a crockpot or cooking them and then keeping them warm in a crockpot?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Brandi, I think cooking these meatballs in crock pot will make them too wet. They can, however, be transported and kept warm in a crock pot for serving.
Ellen
0I’ve made these meatballs in the past using the original recommendation of flax seed and loved it. Since I still have tons of flax seed on hand, I was going to use it again. Is it 1/4 cup whether we use flax seed or sunflower seed meal? Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Ellen, Yes, the amount is the same for almond flour, sunflower seed meal, and flaxseed meal.
DEE
0Would you add the marinara sauce even if you were going to freeze them?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Dee, You could freeze them with or without the marinara, but without is best.
Donna Reuter
0I made this tonight for myself, they were great! Even my hubby and son hand some and had no idea they were low carb! Thank you!
Pamela Marceaux
0Maybe I’m missing it on your recipe but how many meatballs does this make? I want to make sure I’m making them the same size so the macros are the same. Thanks
Wholesome Yum L
0Hi Pamela, the serving size is 6 meatballs and each serving is 6 one inch meatballs.
Brandi
0Hands down the best meatballs EVER!! Entire family devoured them!
Krissy
0Since starting on Keto, my family has been missing my homemade gravy (tomato sauce) and meatballs. In order to get the gravy right, I have to cook the meatballs in it for 3 hours. Will these meatballs hold up to that?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Krissy, Yes, they will! Sounds delicious!
Mel
0Best meatball recipe I’ve found! Love it. Thanks!
Teresa
0I want to use ground pork rinds for my filler do I use 1/4 cup?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Teresa, Yes, use the same amount as the almond flour.
Susan
0These were delicious! If freezing would you suggest freezing before or after baking in marinara sauce?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
1Thank you, Susan! Freezing before baking in marinara would work best, but if you did it the other way it would still be okay.
Carla
0These were the best meatballs I have ever made!!! My family loved them.. thank you so much for sharing.. I made them in the air fryer, 7 mins on 400 .
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much for sharing, Carla! Great to know they worked in an air fryer.
Jenn S.
0These meatballs were super light, moist and tender! Absolutely delicious. I will definitely make these again. I paired them with a low sugar pasta sauce and homemade keto bun for meatball subs and it was a real treat.
Angel Bidel
0Used Hemp seeds for a binder and found some very low carb sauce and this made a wonder meal!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Great idea, Angel! Thanks for sharing!
Jill
0I keep kosher and don’t mix milk and meat, so I can’t use the parmesan cheese in this recipe. Do you have an idea of what to substitute? Thanks 🙂
Btw, my husband is allergic to nuts (so no ground almonds).
What a challenge!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jill, You can replace the almond flour with sunflower seed meal. Most likely you can replace the Parmesan with more sunflower seed meal as well, but I haven’t tried it to say for sure.
Ivette
0Used turkey instead but these were so moist. My bf said to save this recipe so we can eat it again
Wholesome Yum A
0I made this tonight. I didn’t have the flax seed meal. I used the almond meal, unsweetened almond milk. We enjoyed the meal.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Amanda! I’m glad you liked them.
Beth
0Honestly, these were incredibly delicious! I used ground flaxseed as the recipe suggests, and unsweetened almond milk. I misjudged the size, so I had to refigure the serving size. It was a great recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
1I am so happy to hear that, Beth! Have a nice day!
Rebeca
0I’m doing keto but I’m doing dairy free. Would I need to substitute the cheese?
Sherry
0You could try using Nutritional Yeast aka “Nooch” in place of the Parmesan..
Maya | Wholesome Yum
1Hi Rebeca, If you are dairy-free you wouldn’t be able to use the cheese. If you’re not nut-free, almond flour would likely work instead.
Aubyn
0These were delicious! I used regular flax seed meal and could not taste any flaxyness. Also I mixed the meat with the wet and dry ingredient mixture in the food processor, pulsing just a few times and they came out beautifully tender. Might be a good way to avoid overworking. Served without the marinara but with zucchini noodles and your keto Alfredo mixed with some marinara to reduce carbs. It was amazing! Thanks for the recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Aubyn! I am so happy you enjoyed the meatballs! Have a great day!
Sarah
0This smelled divine as it was cooking! Tasted equally as good. Had it with zucchini “zoodles” (trying the Keto diet right now). The only thing I’d change next time is add another egg, as these were a little too crumbly. Thank you, Maya! Looking forward to checking out your other recipes.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you for stopping by, Sarah! Please come back soon!
Rebekah
0I want to use these for mini burgers on a toothpick. Does it matter if I leave the marinara off?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Rebekah, Yes, you can do that!
Cynthia
0My husband and I just started the keto diet so I have been trying to make things that we both love. Oh my goodness! These are the best meatballs ever!
I did not have any flaxseed so I subbed almond flour, dried parsley (about 3 teaspoons) and dried minced onion that I reconstituted.
After I baked them, I put them into a baking dish with some low carb marinara, topped with mozzarella and baked it more until the mozzarella turned a nice shade of brown.
I served it with spinach alfredo and zucchini noodles.
Our favorite meal YET.
THANK YOU, thank you, thank you for your recipe. I will be repeating this meal for sure!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Cynthia! That sounds absolutely delicious!
Kaitlin W
0Could I use almond flour instead of flaxseed meal? Would it stay 1/4 cup?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Kaitlin, Yes, you can! The amount would be the same.