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

The Best Keto Meatballs Recipe - Low Carb Spark (4)

The Best Keto Meatballs Recipe

4.97 from 29 votes

Prep time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Yelds 12 meatballs

Author Ioana Borcea from LowCarbSpark.com

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

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

The Best Keto Meatballs Recipe - Low Carb Spark? ›

How many carbs are in keto meatballs? These meatballs have 2.6g of carbs and 1g of fiber per serving. That comes to 1.6g net carbs per serving of 5 meatballs.

How many carbs are in keto meatballs? ›

How many carbs are in keto meatballs? These meatballs have 2.6g of carbs and 1g of fiber per serving. That comes to 1.6g net carbs per serving of 5 meatballs.

Is it better to bake meatballs at 350 or 400? ›

In an oven preheated to 350 degrees F, these meatballs should be fully cooked through and evenly browned in about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the meatball should read at least 165 degrees F.

Is Rice good for keto? ›

One of the initial food categories to steer clear of on the keto diet is grains and starchy foods. Examples include wheat, rice, corn, and oats, which are rich in carbohydrates. These goods can have a notable impact on blood sugar levels and impede the body's ability to enter ketosis.

Are meatballs high in carbs? ›

There are carbs in meatballs. A traditional meatball made with breadcrumbs can have between 3 to 12 grams of carbs per meatball. If you are looking for low carb meatballs, try this keto meatball recipe. It is easy to make and great for meal prep.

How many net carbs will kick you out of keto? ›

Eating more than 50 grams of carbs may disrupt ketosis.

Some people can eat more and still stay in ketosis, whereas others may need to restrict their carb intake more in order to stay in ketosis.

How many net carbs can I have with keto? ›

On the keto diet, you are allowed to have no more than 50 grams of net carbs per day – and the fewer, the better! But by focusing on “net” rather than “total” carbs, you won't be denying your body the essential fiber it needs for proper function.

Should meatballs be covered when baking? ›

Covering them with foil can help when reheating, but you will still want to remove it during the last few minutes of cook time in the oven. How do you keep meatballs moist when baking? The key is in the preparation! Make sure to handle the meat as little as possible and mix the ingredients just until combined.

Is it better to pan fry or oven bake meatballs? ›

Baking will result in meatballs with a crunchy exterior, though the caramelisation achieved from frying will be superior. Baked meatballs take the least amount of effort, as you'll only need to turn them once or twice throughout the cook and you can make a larger batch at once.

Is peanut butter OK on keto? ›

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

Which fruit is keto? ›

Keto fruits by definition are low in carbohydrates. You still need to exercise portion control with most keto-friendly fruits to be within the limits of a keto diet. Keto-friendly fruits include avocados, watermelon, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe, star fruit, and blackberries.

Which beans are best for keto? ›

Among these, black soybeans and green beans have the lowest carbs, potentially making them better for a keto diet. On the other hand, chickpeas, pinto beans, and navy beans have high carbs. You might want to avoid these if you're strictly following a 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.

Is tomato allowed in keto? ›

Can you eat tomatoes on the keto diet? "Tomatoes are keto," says Abby Langer, R.D., author of Good Food, Bad Diet. "They're low in carbs, so they fit perfectly into keto." One whole medium tomato contains roughly 5 grams of carbohydrates, of which 1.5 grams are fiber and 3 grams are sugar.

Do you count carbs in meat on keto? ›

Meat and poultry are considered staple foods on the keto diet. Fresh meat and poultry contain no carbs and are rich in B vitamins and several important minerals. They're also a great source of high quality protein, which may help preserve muscle mass during a very low carb diet ( 18 , 19 , 20).

Does keto crust have carbs? ›

According to the Blaze nutrition calculator, a pizza with classic dough packs 14 grams of carbohydrates per slice. Blaze's new keto crust weighs in at only three grams of carbs per slice. It substitutes wheat flour for flaxseeds, eggs, cheese, and other ingredients.

How many carbs are in an average meatball? ›

Popular Types of Meatballs
Beef Meatballs
Fat(g)Carbs(g)
1 small1.841.06
1 medium3.692.12
1 large5.533.18
31 more rows

How many carbs are in meatballs without sauce? ›

Meatballs, without sauce, beef (3 ounce) contains 9.4g total carbs, 8.7g net carbs, 14.2g fat, 16.5g protein, and 236 calories.

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