Easy one pan meals make weeknight dinners so much easier! Juggling multiple dietary restrictions and allergies is really hard. I’ve been doing it since I was in my 20s, and I’ve found that the easier the dinner recipe, the less stress I feel around dinner time! These gluten free meatballs are perfect for someone with celiac disease. They are also an easy nut free dinner recipe and has a dairy free option.
This recipe is made with simple ingredients and it is a 30 minutes easy dinner recipe!, These juicy and tender meatballs bake in just one pan, make it a one pan meal which saves you time and cleanup. I love how easily these meatballs are for delicious lunches on the go for work, just like my gluten free buffalo meatballs and my gluten free pesto meatballs.
You know I love easy weeknight chicken recipes! If you love this recipe you’ll also love my one pan chicken teriyaki and my sticky spicy chicken!
why you’ll love this allergy friendly recipe
- These gluten free meatballs use only 5 basic ingredients, most of which you likely already have on hand. To me there is nothing easier than a recipe where you already have all the ingredients.
- Just mix everything together, scoop, bake, and top! No fancy techniques required. I like to use a cookie scoop to make all the meatballs the same size!
- I love this recipe because I bake the meatballs directly in the skillet, eliminating the need for an extra baking dish and reducing dishes. I literally would rather do ANY other chore than dishes.
- With minimal prep and cooking time, this recipe is ideal for busy weeknights when you need a fast and delicious meal. When my husband and I have busy days its a great recipe for us to prepare ahead of time and we always look forward to coming home to it.
- AND the best perk of this recipe is you can easily double or triple the recipe to make a larger batch for meal prep. I LOVE cooking these for a large party and also to meal prep for an easy at work lunch. Portion cooked meatballs and sauce into containers for grab-and-go lunches throughout the week.
ingredients & substitutions
These gluten free meatballs are juicy and flavorful. The breadcrumbs add a bit of crispy texture on the outside, which is hands down my favorite part! I talk about texture a lot on my podcast and these meatballs have TEXTUREEEE! The ground chicken stays tender on the inside. The parmesan cheese and garlic and herb seasoning give the meatballs a savory garlicky flavor with a hint of cheese.
taste & texture
Ground Chicken: This is the main protein in the gluten free meatballs. You can use ground turkey instead if you prefer. Any type of ground meat will work here including lean ground beef or ground pork.
Gluten-Free Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs: I use gluten-free breadcrumbs add bulk and texture to the meatballs. Look for pre-made ones labeled gluten-free. You can substitute with a mixture of finely crushed gluten-free crackers in place of gluten-free bread crumbs.
Parmesan Cheese (or Dairy-Free Alternative): This adds my favorite cheesy flavor. Use your favorite dairy-free cheese like cheddar or mozzarella if needed. It also helps to keep the meatballs crispy on the outside and soft in the center, just how I like them!
Garlic and Herb Seasoning: This create a flavorful meatball. You can buy store bought or mix together a blend of dried herbs like garlic powder or fresh garlic, fresh parsley, onion powder, oregano, fresh basil, and thyme in a small bowl instead. Any fresh herbs or italian seasoning also works! Option to season with a little bit of black pepper and sea salt for best results.
Egg: This helps bind the ingredients together. You can’t really substitute this, but if you have an egg allergy, there are vegan egg alternatives online.
Mozzarella: For topping. Use a ball of fresh mozzarella, shredded mozzarella or any dairy free alternative.
Marinara sauce or tomato sauce: For topping the gluten free meatballs. You can use whatever your favorite sauce is from spaghetti sauce to marinara sauce or tomato sauce. You can use a store bought option or a homemade option.
If you also love an easy recipe with tomatoes like me, check out these 20 easy tomato recipes!
directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an oven-safe skillet.
- In a large bowl, create the meat mixture with ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese (or dairy-free alternative), garlic and herb seasoning, and egg. Mix well until everything is evenly incorporated. Be careful not to overmix the meat mixture in the large mixing bowl, as this can make tough meatballs.
- Drizzle olive oil on the bottom of the skillet to keep the meatballs from sticking.
- Use a medium cookie scoop to portion the meatball mixture into uniform balls. Gently roll each ball between your palms to smooth out any cracks. Place the raw meatballs in the prepared skillet in a single layer, leaving a little space between them.
- Add to preheated oven and bake for 15-25 minutes, or until the gluten free meatballs are cooked through and golden brown on the outside. An internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) is ideal for safe consumption.
- Once the juicy meatballs are cooked, remove them from the oven and top with your warmed sauce and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with a pinch of additional garlic and herb seasoning for extra flavor, if desired.
- Add the large skillet back to oven and bake for another 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and sauce is warmed.
expert tips & tricks
- Drizzle olive oil on the bottom of the skillet to keep the gluten free meatballs from sticking. No one wants to clean a pan that meatballs are stuck to.
- You can also bake the homemade gluten-free meatballs on a sheet pan, a parchment paper prepared baking sheet or a dutch oven in the oven. Bam! Easy clean up!
- You can make these tender meatballs in a slow cooker as well but cooking time will vary. But again creates a perfect one pan meal with an easy clean up.
- Serve over gluten-free pasta or gluten-free spaghetti or on a gluten free roll for fun meatball subs. You can even serve over spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles for a lower carb option.
- You can make these gluten free italian meatballs on the stove top as well. Follow all the instructions and instead of adding the skillet to the oven, cook on the stove top. The amount of time to cook them will vary but this is a great option that takes a similar amount of time and still has the best flavor. I like to cook on medium-low heat to medium heat so they don’t overcook.
recipe variations
- To make these gluten free meatballs low carb, serve over spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles.
- Another low carb hack I’m absolutely obsessed with is replacing the gluten free breadcrumbs with pork rind breadcrumbs. Pork rind breadcrumbs are easy to find in your local grocery store. Such as easy swap!
serving, storing and meal prepping
Once baked, serve your gluten free meatballs hot over a bed of pasta, zucchini noodles, or with a side salad.
You can store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container.
To reheat, thaw frozen meatballs in the fridge overnight in a sealed container or defrost them gently in a skillet with a little sauce.
I love making these for work lunches! They are super easy to heat up. For meal prep, simply bake the gluten free meatballs as directed and allow them to cool completely. Portion them into individual containers with your favorite marinara sauce for a quick and easy grab-and-go lunch throughout the week.
Looking for more allergy friendly easy recipe?
If you make this recipe and enjoyed it, I would really appreciate a review! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok and Pinterest. Purchase my cookbook Easy Allergy Free Cooking. Join my exclusive weeknight meal plan group for 5 weekly 30-minute dinner recipes plus a weekly grocery shopping list. The weeknight meal plan also has an accompanying podcast as well! I would love for you to follow along!
Baked Gluten Free Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 cup gluten-free Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese or your favorite dairy-free alternative
- 1 tsp garlic and herb seasoning
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an oven-safe skillet.
- In a large bowl, create the meat mixture with ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese (or dairy-free alternative), garlic and herb seasoning, and egg. Mix well until everything is evenly incorporated. Be careful not to overmix the meat mixture in the large mixing bowl, as this can make tough meatballs.
- Drizzle olive oil on the bottom of the skillet to keep the meatballs from sticking.
- Use a medium cookie scoop to portion the meatball mixture into uniform balls. Gently roll each ball between your palms to smooth out any cracks. Place the raw meatballs in the prepared skillet in a single layer, leaving a little space between them.
- Add to preheated oven and bake for 15-25 minutes, or until the gluten free meatballs are cooked through and golden brown on the outside. An internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) is ideal for safe consumption.
- Once the juicy meatballs are cooked, remove them from the oven and top with your warmed sauce and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with a pinch of additional garlic and herb seasoning for extra flavor, if desired.
- Add the large skillet back to oven and bake for another 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and sauce is warmed.
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Nutrition
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