My kids love meatballs. I love meatballs. My husband does too, but he’s on the gaps diet, so he doesn’t get any right now. Poor guy. Who knew meatballs would turn into one of our favorite gluten free recipes?
Occasionally we serve them with sweet and sour sauce for something different, but our favorite way to eat them is in easy homemade barbecue sauce, and served over rice. So good! Add a green salad or steamed broccoli, and you have a meal.
I’ll tell you a little secret that I’ve learned through trial and error: meatballs aren’t picky. So say you’re allergic to eggs; Add a few tablespoons of milk instead, or if you’re allergic to dairy too, simply leave them out altogether. In that case though, you’ll want to add some oil or lard in order to keep your finished meatballs from being too dry.
Along that same vein, most meatball recipes call for breadcrumbs, which is why, as a person adhering to a gluten-free diet, you can’t just eat the meatballs served at your church potluck. Been there, done that, (Gabriel) regretted it. But since meatball recipes aren’t picky at all, using gluten-free substitutions is easy!
If you happen to have gluten-free breadcrumbs, that’s great! But since I didn’t, I just used rice flour along with gluten-free oatmeal. I know that not all celiacs can handle oatmeal, and if you can’t, I highly recommend using gluten-free bread crumbs instead. However, you can substitute rice flour or flaked quinoa, or another choice of grain/flour as you choose. You’re meat will form into a ball regardless of what you use, so just make sure it tastes good. 🙂
Gluten Free Meatballs
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/4 cups chopped onion
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup oatmeal
- 2 Tablespoons rice flour
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375º Fahrenheit
- Mix all ingredients together and form into one inch balls.
- Arrange on a cookies sheet so that meatballs do not touch each other.
- Bake for 30 minutes until cooked through.
- Remove from cookie sheet using a spatula while meatballs are still hot. (You don’t actually have to remove them so much as unstick them from the pan)
- Serve as desired.
- Alternatively, you can fry the meatballs in a skillet. They hold together surprisingly well as you stir them around – just be sure to do it gently.
- Enjoy!
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Bdeetz says
Where’s the sauce that’s pictured?
Elise says
Here: https://www.frugalfarmwife.com/article/easy-homemade-barbecue-sauce/ 🙂
Marcy says
How many meatballs does this recipe make?
Elise says
It should make 30-40 1″ balls.
Heather Guliani says
If using gluten free breadcrumbs, do you eliminate the rice flour? How much breadcrumbs do you use?
Elise says
Yes, you can substitute breadcrumbs for the rice flour, no problem. 🙂
Leslie says
If you cant have egg whites and just yolks can you use just the yolk? if not how much oil should you use. Will these freeze well?
Elise says
Yes, you can use just the yolks – two yolks equal one whole eggs, and they do freeze very well. 🙂
Chelsea says
Hey there,
Since these are gluten free and it says 1/2 cup of oats..did you meant gluten free oats? And if not, will gluten free oats work the same?
Elise says
Yes definitely gluten-free oats!
Chelsea says
Thank you! Cant wait to try them.
Kate North says
What can you use in place of an egg if you”re dairy free?
Elise says
You could leave it out, but eggs are not dairy, so you should be fine.
Jamie says
What is your sweet and sour sauce recipe for the meatballs?
Elise says
I usually use a homemade barbecue sauce like this one.
Kathy says
Is this white rice flour or brown rice flour? I just have brown rice flour. Thanks!
Elise says
Either one works!
Geri says
Is oatmeal gluten free ??