Gluten-Free Meatballs (No Eggs & No Dairy)

Healthy and flavorful, gluten-free meatballs are the perfect comfort food! They’re easy to make and delicious over noodles, rice, or cauliflower rice.

Meatballs are one of my favorite go-to dinners! They always make for a delicious, hearty meal that pairs well with various sides, and my husband and I love them. I make them all year round, but they’re especially good on cold fall or winter days when you want classic comfort food.

Now that we avoid processed grains, most meatball recipes just don’t work for us. Processed bread crumbs are one of the most common ingredients in delicious meatballs, but I’ve found an even better way to make meatballs! These meatballs are so flavorful and made without any processed grains. Now we can feel great about eating meatballs as much as we want!

Why You’ll Love Gluten-Free Meatballs

Classic Italian flavor – Made with plenty of Italian herbs and seasonings, these meatballs are full of delicious flavor.

Easy recipe – Gluten-free meatballs make for a delicious simple meal!

Gluten, egg & dairy free – These are made without 3 of the most common allergens, so almost everyone can enjoy them.

No processed ingredients – Many meatballs call for breadcrumbs or other types of processed ingredients, but not this recipe!

Great freezer meal – Meatballs freeze wonderfully, so make a double batch so you can store some in your freezer for later!

Crowd pleasing recipe – Almost everyone loves meatballs, so they’re the perfect dish to serve anywhere!

How to Serve Gluten-Free Meatballs

Meatballs are traditionally served over pasta, but there are so many other delicious ways to eat them! Here are a few of my favorite ideas:

• Cauliflower rice (my family’s favorite)
• Rice
• Quinoa
• Mashed potatoes
• Italian bread
• Roasted potatoes
• As meatball sandwiches

If you don’t need the recipe to be dairy free, you can top the meatballs with parmesan cheese!

Feel free to come up with your own creative ways to serve meatballs. No matter how you eat them, they will be delicious!

Tips for Making the Perfect Gluten-Free Meatballs

Anyone can make fair meatballs, but there are some easy tricks you can do to take your meatballs to the next level! Just like most gluten-free recipes, the small details make a big difference.

1. Don’t overmix the meatballs – This is a sure way to end up with tough meatballs.
2. Resist the urge to bake them faster – Cooking them longer and slower makes for a more tender and flavorful meatball.
3. Form the meatballs gently – You don’t have to pack the meat together into tight balls.
4. Make evenly-sized meatballs – This helps to make sure that all the meatballs are done at the same time.

How to Store Leftovers

You can store leftover gluten-free meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. When you’re ready to eat them, reheat in the oven for best results.

Can I Freeze Gluten-Free Meatballs?

Yes, meatballs are one of my favorite freezer meals! You can freeze leftovers or make a big batch just to store in the freezer for later. To do so, after they have cooked and cooled, place them in an airtight container or plastic freezer bag.

Freeze meatballs for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to eat them, you can reheat them in the oven from frozen or first let them thaw overnight in the fridge.

FAQs

Can I use regular flour instead of oat flour? – Yes, if you don’t need the recipe to be gluten free, you can use regular flour instead.

Do I have to use ground beef? – No, ground pork or turkey will also work for this recipe. Some people even like to mix ground beef and pork for meatballs! Since ground turkey is so lean, when I cook with it, I like to add a small amount of oil to the meat.

If you want to make these meatballs extra nutritious, you could even replace a small amount of the meat with ground liver!

Can I use almond or coconut flour? – No, nut flours are completely different from flour made with grain, and cannot be directly substituted.

Tools You May Need

Cheese grater or handy chopper

Mixing bowls

Measuring cups and spoons

9″ x 13″ glass baking dish

Garlic press

Food processor (if you’re making your own oat flour)

This post contains affiliate links which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure  here.

Ingredients for Gluten-Free Meatballs

Ground beef – Grassfed organic is the best beef, but you can use whatever type you prefer.

Oat flour – Homemade or store-bought. If you need this recipe to be gluten free, make sure to use gluten-free oat flour.

Tomato sauce – Canned or homemade.

Tomato paste – If you prefer, you can substitute ketchup.

Apple cider vinegar

Coconut aminos – You can substitute Worcestershire sauce if you prefer.

Onion

Garlic cloves – Minced.

Spices

Salt – Sea salt or Himalayan

How to Make Gluten-Free Meatballs

First preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

Next, peel and grate the onion using a cheese grater or chop it in a handy chopper until it almost turns to puree. Place the onion in a small bowl with the oat flour and stir so that the oats can absorb some of the juice.

While it’s soaking, you can make the sauce. In a bowl, stir together the tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, 1/2 teaspoon of oregano, sage, and basil, and garlic and onion powders.

Now we’ll mix the meatballs. In a large bowl, combine the meat, onion and oat mixture, tomato paste, minced garlic, the rest of the herbs and spices, and salt. Stir together using your hands, being careful not to over mix.

Next, form the meatballs into approximately 1 1/2 inch balls and place beside each other in a 9 x 13 inch glass baking dish. Finally, pour the sauce evenly over the meatballs.

Place them in the oven for 50 – 60 minutes or until they’re cooked through.

Enjoy immediately as a delicious dinner!

If you try this recipe, let me know in the comments! Tag me on Instagram @violet_rightathome

More Gluten-Free Meal Ideas

Slow Cooker Indian Chicken Curry

Chicken & Cilantro Enchiladas with Extra Cheese

Simple Salisbury Steak – Gluten & Egg Free