When I first went gluten free, it was so hard to find recipes that cater to more than one food allergy or restriction. After that, making sure every single one of my recipes cater to people with multiple dietary restrictions and/or food allergies was so important to me! These gluten free meatballs are gluten free and perfect for someone with celiac disease. They are also nut free and have a dairy free option.
Made with simple ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes, these juicy and tender meatballs bake in just one pan, saving you time and cleanup. They’re perfect for serving over pasta, zucchini noodles, or with a side salad! They can be easily prepped for delicious lunches throughout the week, just like my gluten free buffalo meatballs and my gluten free pesto meatballs.
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.
- Just mix everything together, scoop, bake, and top! No fancy techniques required.
- Bake the meatballs directly in the skillet, eliminating the need for an extra baking dish and reducing dishes.
- With minimal prep and cooking time, this recipe is ideal for busy weeknights when you need a fast and delicious meal.
- Easily double or triple the recipe to make a larger batch for meal prep. 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, while 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: 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 cheesy flavor. Use your favorite dairy-free cheese like cheddar or mozzarella if needed.
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.
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.
Mozzarella: For topping. Use a ball of fresh mozzarella, shredded mozzarella or any dairy free alternative.
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.
- 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.
- You can make these tender meatballs in a slow cooker as well but cooking time will vary.
- 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. Cook on medium-low heat to medium heat.
recipe variations
- To make these gluten free meatballs low carb, serve over spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles. You can also replace the gluten free breadcrumbs with pork rind breadcrumbs which are lower in carbs. Pork rind breadcrumbs are easy to find in your local grocery store.
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.
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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