Free Printable: Low Carb and Keto Food List
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These are gluten free Low Carb Meatballs Originally inspired by Healthy Yum readers asking for a great Keto Meatballs Recipe No crumbs. That was in 2017, and I’ve made about gajillion times since then. They’re now a favorite of everyone in my family, including my kids – I hope these Italian tomato meatballs make it to your family’s favorite list too.
These contain delicious combinations beefaromatics and cheese, and for a plate Zucchini Pasta and Italian Tomato Sauce. (You can also make a Tomato Patties The ingredients are similar. 🙂 These aren’t completely carb-free meatballs, but they’re pretty close…and they taste like the real thing!
Are Meatballs Keto?
Most meatballs are made with breadcrumbs so they are not suitable keto diet。 However, you can easily make low carb meatball recipes using a different binder than make it keto friendly.
These keto meatballs use Wholesome White Almond Flour instead of crumbs. The neutral flavor and ultra-fine grind of this flour blend seamlessly with the recipe, delivering the same taste and texture as classic meatballs—all with fewer carbs! This is the only one I use for meatballs.

Why You’ll Love This Keto Meatballs Recipe
- Meaty and delicious
- soft and juicy texture
- simple ingredients
- 30 minutes total
- No skillet or griddle required
- 2.5 grams net carbs
- Keto, Low Carb & Gluten Free

Ingredients and Substitutes
This section explains how to choose the best low-carb meatball ingredients, what each ingredient does in the recipe, and substitution options.For measurements, see recipe card below.
- Wholesome White Almond Flour – This flour creates the best texture for keto meatballs while cutting carbs, but you can use other binders. See the changes below!
- grated Parmesan cheese – This also acts as a binder. For convenience, I used pre-grated Parmesan cheese. If you need them to be dairy free, you can substitute extra ground almonds.
- italian seasoning – I do it myself Homemade Italian Seasoning (Takes 5 minutes!), but you can also use store-bought seasoning.
- sea salt and black pepper – Simple savory.
- Sugar Free Coconut Milk Drink – Makes keto-friendly meatballs tender and juicy.You can also replace it with a different keto milkSuch as almond milk or heavy cream.
- onion – Grate with a box grater. I used a white onion, but any variety will do.
- Egg – Combine with meat, flour, cheese and herbs to keep meatballs from falling apart.A sort of flax eggs Will work here too.
- garlic – Fresh minced garlic adds the best flavor, but you can also use canned minced garlic For your convenience, if you prefer. If using canned, this recipe calls for 1 tablespoon minced garlic.
- fresh parsley – I highly recommend using fresh herbs for the best flavor, but you can substitute 2 tsp dried parsley for 2 tbsp fresh herbs if desired. You can also use other herbs like fresh basil.
- Ground beef – A classic choice for keto meatball recipes. I used 85% lean ground beef, but you can use any variety you like. You can also easily substitute ground chicken, turkey or pork.
- Italian Tomato Sauce – a classic ingredient for low carb Italian meatballs.I do it myself Homemade Marinara SauceBut you can easily substitute store bought sugar free…or try Keto Alfredo Sauce, Sugar Free Pizza Sauceor Argentinian Chili 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 powder – Be careful with this substitute. It causes the meatballs to dry out, so use 1/4 the amount, and even then I still personally don’t recommend it.
- flaxseed meal (regular or gold) – Very good, but can get slimy if you use too much. I originally had this recipe made with golden flaxseed meal, but it is no longer recommended.
- broken pigskin – These are salty, so reduce the salt if you are using them as a binder.
- grated Parmesan cheese – Not ideal on its own, but works well mixed with other binders such as almond flour.
- ground sunflower seeds – Add a 1:1 almond flour substitute to these meatballs, if desired.
- other peanut or tree nut flours

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 recipe card below.
- Prepare. Preheat oven. line a bakeware Line with parchment paper or foil (grease if using foil).
- Stir in dry ingredients. in a large mixing bowlstir together grated Parmesan cheese, ground almonds, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and black pepper.
- Add wet ingredients. Add milk, minced onion, eggs, garlic and fresh parsley. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes.


- Stir in the beef. Using your hands, mix the ground beef into the egg and seasoning mixture until just combined.
- Form keto meatballs. with a small cookie scoop Or use your hands to form mixture into 1-inch (2.5-cm) balls. Place on a lined baking sheet.


- bake. Cook the tomato meatballs in the oven until almost done.
- optimal. Add marinara sauce on top of each meatball. Return to oven to bake.


- Serve. Garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley.

Tips for the Best Keto Meatballs
Easy Keto Meatballs Always a hit, and with these tips, they just get even better!
- Soak the dry ingredients in (some kind of) milk. Let the dry ingredients soak in your container for a few minutes Keto milk of choice before adding the meat. Not only does it allow flavor to develop, it also allows moisture to penetrate dry ingredients more thoroughly, improving texture.
- Do not over mix. If you do this, you’ll end up with tough meatballs. Add the meat last and mix just until combined.
- Gently form low carb meatballs. Don’t pack too much meat, or your meatballs will be very dense.A sort of small cookie scoop Perfect for this. If you’re using your hands instead of a spoon, make sure they’re cold (wash them with cold water first) and lightly oiled. This prevents sticking and ensures that the fat in the meat does not break down before cooking.
- Bake or fry for a golden top. If you want the meatballs to brown, you can pan fry them lightly or place them under the broiler. Think about this ahead of time, and if you’re going to be roasting or frying, get them out of the oven early so you don’t overcook them at the end.
storage instructions
- shop: Cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Meal Prep: Store in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for several months.
- Reheat: Reheat this low-carb meatball recipe in the microwave or oven at 350 degrees F until heated through.
- freeze: To freeze these (almost) carb-free meatballs, place them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet (without the sauce) and freeze until set. Transfer to freezer bags. No need to thaw before reheating.

Ways to Serve Low-Carb Meatballs
This low-carb meatball recipe is the perfect staple for an Italian dinner or delicious party food. Here are my favorite ways to serve:
More Keto Meatball Recipes
Meatballs are one of my favorites keto dinner, so I have many recipes. Try these next time!
Keto Meatballs (Low Carb Meatballs)
This tomato meatball recipe is juicy and delicious every time! Italian Low Carb Meatballs are made in just 30 minutes with simple ingredients.
Prepare: 15 minute
chef: 15 minute
all: 30 minute
Serving Size: 6 (adjust according to recipe)
recipe video
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raw material
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instruct
Click a time in the instructions below to start the kitchen timer while you cook.
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in a big bowlstir together grated Parmesan cheese, ground almonds, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and black pepper.
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brush In milk, grated onion, eggs, garlic and fresh parsley. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes.
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Stir in the ground beef by hand until fully combined. (Do not over mix as the meatballs will become tough.)
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Form mixture into 1-inch (2.5-cm) balls and place on a lined baking sheet. (A sort of small cookie scoop this size Works great for this. If using your hands, touch lightly and don’t pack the meatballs too tightly. )
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bake 10-12 minutes, until the meatballs are almost done. (If you want them to be more golden, you can put them under the grill for a few minutes.)
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Serve the salsa on top of each meatball.Return to oven to bake 3-5 minutes, until the sauce is hot and the meatballs are cooked. Garnish with extra fresh parsley.
recipe notes
Serving Size: 6 1″ meatballs
Nutritional information is based on using 85/15 ground beef and may vary slightly with brand of marinara sauce.
nutrient content
Amount per serving. Serving sizes in recipe instructions above.
calories 301
fat 21.5 grams
protein 23.8 grams
total carbohydrates 3.5 grams
net carbs 2.5 grams
fiber 1 g
sugar 1.7 grams
Nutrition facts are provided politely. Questions about calculations or why are you getting different results?Please see our nutrition policy.
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