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Appetizers, Dinner, Low Carb

Easy Skillet Keto Meatballs

Whether you’re looking to top that bowl of zucchini noodles and marinara sauce, or need a tasty appetizer dish, these Keto Meatballs are easy to throw together, ready in 30 minutes and are super duper juicy!

Cast iron skillet with cooked meatballs, hot marinara sauce and garnished with fresh parsley.

Juicy meatballs drenched in Marinara or BBQ Sauce? Count me in! Meatballs have always been a favourite in my home, and I am sure we are not alone in this! Meatballs smothered in marinara sauce and piled high onto a bed of zucchini noodles is just so much better than meat sauce. Yeah, there’s more effort to put it, but 1000 times worth it!

Why you’ll love them

  1. Sooo tasty! They Keto Meatballs have the best flavour and are super duper juicy.
  2. Fast and easy! Make these delicious balls in 30 minutes from start to finish.
  3. There are more ways than one to enjoy these Keto Meatballs. Whether you need them for spaghetti or drench them in bbq sauce for an appetizer, we’ve got ya covered!

Ingredients

All necessary ingredients to make these keto meatballs.

Parmesan Cheese – I highly recommend using freshly grated parmesan cheese, because there is nothing that beats it, flavour wise. In a pinch you can use the shelf stable parmesan or pre grated.

Liquid – what type of meatball are you making? If it is for spaghetti, use the pasta sauce you have for the liquid. BBQ meatballs? Use your Low Carb BBQ SauceSwedish meatballs? Use beef stock or sour cream. Water or heavy cream can be used in place of either of these options, but you may want to use only 2-3 TBSP water instead of the 1/4 cup.

How to make Keto Meatballs

Grab a medium mixing bowl and pour in the almond flour. Grate the onion over the almond flour and then mix well.

bowl with almond flour and grated onion mixed together.

Peel and press the garlic through a garlic press or mince it finely, then add it to the bowl. Mince the parsley and add it to the bowl along with the water, salt, pepper and whisked egg.

Bowl with all ingredients except the liquid and beef, about to get mixed together.

Mix well and then knead in the ground beef until fully combined.

All ingredients mixed together with the beef on top.

Divide the beef into equal portions. I find a kitchen scale helps a lot with this. I like a medium sized meatball so divide mine into 13 – 15 balls. You could make them bigger and get 10, or make them smaller and aim for about 20. Roll each portion into a ball and then heat a large skillet on medium heat with avocado oil.

15 meatballs formed and ready to be fried.

Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to fry the meatballs in 2 batches. You do not want the meatballs to be crowded! I have a 12″ cast iron skillet that fits 15 meatballs perfectly. Once the skillet is hot, fill it with the meatballs, being sure to leave room in between each ball.

Balls in the hot cast iron skillet.

Fry for a couple of minutes before carefully turning the balls over. Continue to fry and move the balls around the skillet to ensure even cooking and browning on all sides of each ball, until the internal temperature has reached 165°.

Balls all cooked in a cast iron skillet, ready for the sauce.

If you are making spaghetti, now would be the time to add your Keto Marinara Sauce to evenly coat the balls and ensure the sauce is nice and hot, then serve over spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles!

Plate with zoodles, keto meatballs and fresh parmesan cheese.

If you are making BBQ meatballs for an entree or poking them with toothpicks for an appetizer, add a Low Carb BBQ Sauce and continue to cook until the sauce has been heated through. Serve hot!

Platter of bbq keto meatballs, each with a toothpick, ready to be served as an appetizer.

Expert Tips

  • Try this Keto Marinara or Low Carb BBQ Sauce for your tasty meatballs!
  • Are you making spaghetti? Add 1 TBSP of this Spicy Spaghetti Seasoning to the meatball mix for even more flavour!
  • Be gentle with the meatballs when moving them around the skillet. They are super juicy but this means delicate and can break apart easily if not careful.
  • Use a digital meat thermometer to ensure your Keto Meatballs are cooked to the proper temperature of 165°.
Cast iron skillet with cooked meatballs, hot marinara sauce and garnished with fresh parsley.

How to serve these Keto Meatballs

SpaghettiWell of course spaghetti! I like to use either spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles and my homemade Keto Marinara Sauce. I suggest adding 1 TBSP Spicy Spaghetti Seasoning to the meatballs before forming them for an added flavour boost. Try your spaghetti with this 7 Minute Keto Garlic Bread or a Low Carb Caesar Salad on the side!

BBQ Meatballs – I absolutely love bbq meatballs for dinner. Pair them with a big ol’ salad and I’m in meatball heaven! They also make an excellent appetizer. Form the meatballs a bit smaller and coat them with this easy and delicious homemade Low Carb BBQ Sauce.

Here are some other beef recipes you might like

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Easy Skillet Keto Meatballs

These super duper juicy Keto Meatballs are easily made in a skillet and are perfect for Spaghetti & Meatballs, Swedish Meatballs or BBQ Meatballs!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine Canadian, Low Carb
Servings 4 servings
Calories 317 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ¼ cup almond flour
  • ½ small white or yellow onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley
  • ¼ cup parmesan freshly grated
  • ¼ cup liquid see note 1
  • 1 ½ tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 egg whisked
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil

Optional

  • 1 tbsp Spicy Spaghetti Seasoning see note 2

Instructions
 

Directions

  • Add the almond flour to a mixing bowl, grate the onion overtop and then mix well. Peel and press the garlic through a garlic press or mince it finely, then add it to the bowl. Mince the parsley and add it to the bowl along with the parmesan, sauce, salt, pepper, whisked egg and, if adding, the spicy spaghetti seasoning. Mix well and then knead in the ground beef until fully combined.
  • Divide the beef into equal portions. I find a kitchen scale helps a lot with this. I like a medium sized meatball so divide mine into 13 – 15 balls. You could make them bigger and get about 10, or make them smaller and aim for about 20. Roll each portion into a ball and then heat a large skillet on medium heat with the avocado oil.
  • Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to fry the meatballs in 2 batches. You do not want the meatballs to be crowded! I have a 12" cast iron skillet that fits 15 meatballs perfectly.
  • Once the skillet is hot, fill it with the meatballs, being sure to leave room in between each ball. Fry for a couple of minutes before carefully turning the balls over *see note 4. Continue to fry and move the balls around the skillet to ensure even cooking and browning on all sides of each ball, until the internal temperature reaches 165° *see note 5.
  • If you are making spaghetti or Swedish meatballs, now would be the time to add your Keto Marinara Sauce or Keto Mushroom Sauce to evenly coat the balls and ensure the sauce is nice and hot, then serve over spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice!
  • If you are making BBQ meatballs for an entree or poking them with toothpicks for an appetizer, add a Low Carb BBQ Sauce and continue to cook until the sauce has been heated through. Serve hot!

Video

Notes

  1. Liquid – what type of meatball are you making? If it is for spaghetti, use marinara sauce for the liquid. BBQ meatballs? Use your Low Carb BBQ Sauce. Swedish meatballs? Use beef stock or sour cream. Water or heavy cream can be used in place of either of these options, but you may want to use only 2-3 TBSP water instead of the 1/4 cup.
  2. Are you making spaghetti? Add 1 TBSP of this Spicy Spaghetti Seasoning to the meatball mix for even more flavour!
  3. Try this Keto Marinara, Creamy Keto Mushrooms Sauce or Low Carb BBQ Sauce for your tasty meatballs!
  4. Be gentle with the meatballs when moving them around the skillet. They are super juicy but this means delicate and can break apart easily if not careful.
  5. Use a digital meat thermometer to ensure your Keto Meatballs are cooked to the proper temperature of 165°.
 
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition facts are an estimate only! The ingredients you choose could have different nutritional values than the ingredients I have used.
Deduct fibre from the total carbs to get 1.9 g net carbs per 1/4 lb meatballs. (4 meatballs if the batch is divided into 16)

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25lbCalories: 317kcalCarbohydrates: 2.9gProtein: 27.6gFat: 21gSodium: 1039mgFiber: 1g
Keyword keto meatballs
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