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

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Ioana

This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you purchase through our site.

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.

Keto during holidays?Get my e-book!

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!

Subscribe Now!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to be the first who gets the latest recipes, updates and special offers.

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

The Best Keto Meatballs Recipe - Low Carb Spark (6)

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? ›

After all of the Italian meatballs I've been making lately, I consider myself a meatball expert. A good rule of thumb is to bake meatballs for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit.

Should I fry or bake my 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 tomato sauce ok on keto? ›

Tomato sauce can be incorporated into a ketogenic diet but in very moderate amounts due to its high carbohydrate content. The key to using tomato sauce on a keto diet is strict portion control and balancing it out with other low-carb, high-fat foods.

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.

Can you eat unlimited meat on keto? ›

If you're embarking on a ketogenic lifestyle, you should know that you actually can't eat a ton of meat on the keto diet. In fact, eating too much protein can kick you out of ketosis, so while meats are definitely okay in moderation on a keto diet, they shouldn't be its number one staple.

Should eggs be beaten for meatballs? ›

Moisten them with milk or water and let them stand until they absorb all the liquid. 3) beat the eggs separately before adding them to your meat mixture so it combines better. 6) If you prefer to bake instead of fry them, chill the meatballs for at least an hour before baking.

Why do you chill meatballs before baking? ›

This is especially important when working with pork, turkey and chicken, which are very wet when ground. Refrigerating gives the fat in the meat time to solidify, which helps maintain the shape. Chill your meatballs for anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, depending on their size.

Do meatballs get more tender the longer they cook? ›

Tenderizing the Meat:

As the collagen in the meat dissolves over time, it transforms into gelatin, which not only adds a silky texture to the sauce but also contributes to the overall richness and depth of flavor. The longer the simmer, the more tender and succulent the meatballs become.

Do I use parchment paper when baking meatballs? ›

If you lightly coat your hands with olive oil or cooking spray before rolling the meatballs, they will form better and crack less. Bake meatballs on parchment paper. It makes for even cooking and easy cleanup, not to mention juicy meatballs!

When to add sauce to meatballs? ›

Brown them first, then let them finish cooking in the marinara sauce. This results in a nice texture on the outside of the meatball but keeps it juicy and tender on the inside.

Why do my meatballs fall apart when I fry them? ›

Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together. Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.

Is cottage cheese keto? ›

While cottage cheese is known for its high protein content, it also contains a relatively high amount of carbs and not that much fat, making it a less-than-ideal choice for keto. A ½-cup serving of cottage cheese contains 88 calories, 2.4 g of fat, 4.5 g of carbs, and 11.6 g of protein, per the USDA.

What pasta has the lowest carbs? ›

  1. Shirataki noodles (konjac noodles) and tofu shirataki noodles. If you're counting carbs and craving pasta, these are your best bet. ...
  2. Zucchini noodles. Also known as zoodles, these are simply long strands that have been spiralized from whole squash. ...
  3. Hearts of palm noodles. ...
  4. Spaghetti squash noodles.
Oct 31, 2022

Is mayo keto friendly? ›

Mayonnaise is a great condiment for the Keto Diet because it contains high fat, low protein, and zero carbohydrates. In fact, it's a fantastic low carb condiment great for any diet.

Do you count carbs in meat on keto? ›

Meats such as beef, veal, lamb, pork, chicken, and turkey, and fish such as cod, sardines, tuna, and salmon have very low net carbs. Most green and leafy vegetables also have an extremely low keto net carb count and can be enjoyed freely.

Does keto crust have carbs? ›

Providing a crust with only 6 total grams of carbohydrates is just one way we're making sure we have delicious, nutritious pizza for everyone.

What is the net carbs for keto? ›

Keto Net Carb Diet. On the ketogenic diet, the "net carb" is the amount of carbs in a food minus the fiber and sugar alcohol. Fiber and sugar alcohol are subtracted because the body does not fully absorb them. The keto net carb diet limits daily carbohydrate consumption to 20-50 grams to induce ketosis.

What ground meat is best for keto? ›

Ground chuck is often the most popular as it's tender and juicy, and has 80% protein and 20% fat. It's an excellent choice for those who want more fat in their keto diet. If you prefer less, choose 85/15 ground beef.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dan Stracke

Last Updated:

Views: 6000

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dan Stracke

Birthday: 1992-08-25

Address: 2253 Brown Springs, East Alla, OH 38634-0309

Phone: +398735162064

Job: Investor Government Associate

Hobby: Shopping, LARPing, Scrapbooking, Surfing, Slacklining, Dance, Glassblowing

Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.