Paleo meatballs with marinara sauce have been a staple in my house for a long time! And it’s no surprise, because everyone loves this healthy paleo meatball recipe. They are versatile and full of flavor, and you can’t tell that they aren’t regular meatballs. Serve up these paleo Italian meatballs as an appetizer, over spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles as a meal, or stuffed into paleo bread as a meatball sub. No matter how you eat them, I know you’ll love them!
How To Make Paleo Meatballs
While this gluten-free meatball recipe may look like it has a long ingredient list, it comes together super easily! And you’ll love how flavorful my grain-free meatballs are, so it’s well worth throwing a few extra ingredients together. 🙂
Here’s how to make paleo meatballs:
- Mix together gluten-free meatball ingredients. Mix together pork, beef, spinach, parsley, egg, egg white, seasonings, and red pepper flakes in a bowl.
TIP: Mix well with your hands just until combined, but don’t overmix so you don’t end up with tough meatballs.
- Roll meatballs into tablespoon-sized balls. Place them on a cutting board as you go.
TIP: You can also use a cookie scoop to make them uniform in size.
- Heat coconut oil in a pan. Working in batches, fry the dairy-free meatballs until they are golden brown.
- Make the sauce. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, onion, garlic, and seasonings to the same pan and bring to a simmer.
- Cook meatballs with sauce. Place cooked meatballs back to skillet and cover with sauce. Allow them to simmer until heated through.
Are Meatballs Gluten-Free Or Paleo?
Yes, these paleo meatballs without bread crumbs are gluten-free!
Most meatball recipes or prepared meatballs you’ll find in stores have breadcrumbs in them and aren’t gluten-free, so definitely take a look at the ingredient list as wheat is a common ingredient.
We’re using eggs as the binder in these gluten-free Italian meatballs, so even gluten-free flours were not necessary. However, if you prefer you can make these paleo meatballs with almond flour if you want a grain-free flour as a binder.
Are Meatballs Healthy?
Yes, these easy paleo meatballs are healthy! They are full of protein and even pack in some veggies, too!
The full nutrition facts can be found below the recipe card, but here are the highlights per 3 meatballs:
- 344 calories
- 2 grams carbohydrates
- 21 grams protein
- 1 gram fiber
Do I Have To Use Both Pork And Beef For Paleo Meatballs?
I prefer the flavor and texture of juicy meatballs and get great results when I combine ground pork and ground beef. But no, you don’t have to use just pork and beef in this meatball recipe.
You could use any combination of ground meats – beef, pork, turkey, or chicken. I wouldn’t suggest using fat-free meats like extra-lean turkey or chicken, but the lean versions will work fine too.
How Do You Store Paleo Meatballs?
Store this paleo meatball recipe in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheat the paleo Italian meatballs in the microwave for a couple of minutes, or reheat them in a skillet on the stovetop until they are heated throughout. I prefer this method because they are less likely to dry out.
Can I Freeze Paleo Italian Meatballs?
Yes, you can freeze paleo meatballs for 3-4 months.
You can freeze them either with the sauce, or without:
- Without the sauce: Freeze them on a cookie sheet until they are frozen solid. Once they are solid, you can transfer them to a freezer bag.
- With the sauce: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then heat on the stove or in the microwave until heated through.
More Paleo Meatball Recipes
It’s no secret that I love paleo meatball recipes! I think they make the perfect paleo dinner ideas, because you can do just about anything with them. Here are some favorites to try:
- Healthy Turkey Meatballs – These turkey meatballs are loaded with flavor, and they only take 30 minutes to make. Low carb, too!
- BBQ Chicken Meatballs – Everyone loves this fun twist on BBQ chicken!
RECIPE CARD
Easy Italian Paleo Meatballs Recipe
You're going to love this easy paleo meatballs recipe. Smother these paleo Italian meatballs with marinara sauce and serve them for an appetizer or meal!
Ingredients
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Paleo Meatballs
- 1 lb Ground pork
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 1/2 cup Spinach (chopped)
- 1/4 cup Parsley (chopped)
- 1 large Egg
- 1 large Egg white
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp Sea salt
- 1/2 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tbsp Coconut oil
Optional Sauce
- 1 14.5-oz can Crushed tomatoes
- 1 14.5-oz can Tomato sauce
- 1 6-oz can Tomato paste
- 1/4 Yellow onion (finely chopped)
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
- Sea salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
More TIPS about this paleo recipe in the post above!
In a large bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients, except coconut oil. Use your hands to mix well, until thoroughly combined. Do not overmix.
Roll into tablespoon-sized balls and arrange on a cutting board.
Place a large skillet over medium heat, add coconut oil, and melt.
Add meatballs, and cook in batches, until golden-brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Remove from pan and set aside.
Add all the sauce ingredients to the same pan, stir to combine, and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 7-8 minutes.
Add the meatballs back into the pan, cover with sauce, and cook for 5 minutes, or until heated through.
Recipe Notes
Serving size:Â 3 meatballs
Nutrition Information Per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols (though the latter are rarely seen on this site), because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
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3 Comments
Madeline Slough
I used turkey and it was a pain to pan fry, I will definitely not do that again..
Rose
Can these meatballs be baked in the oven? I don’t like frying foods.
I haven’t tried them yet but would like to if I don’t have to fry them.
Thanks
Valerie Luquire
Delicious! I made the meatballs with ground beef and chicken because that is what I had on hand and they were amazing and husband approved! Severed over spaghetti squash, very filling. We will definitely be making them again.