Meatballs without Breadcrumbs

These easy meatballs without breadcrumbs can be baked, broiled, or seared in a pan on the stove top to be used in a variety of dishes your whole family will love.

Best of all, they are not only gluten-free, but no one will taste the difference! This meatball recipe is equally as good as the best Italian meatballs made with traditional breadcrumbs. I promise!

Why are breadcrumbs used in meatballs?

Breadcrumbs serve an important role in making a great meatball. They act as a binding agent to make the meat less dense, resulting in more tender meatballs, while also soaking in moisture to ensure each bite is moist and juicy. Sometimes instead of breadcrumbs, a panade is used to make traditional meatballs instead, using fresh bread soaked in milk.

What can I substitute for breadcrumbs in meatballs?

Breadcrumbs are the most common binder used in meatball recipes, but thankfully they are not your only option. Using oats works just as well! The secret is to pulse the oatmeal in your food processor or blender to make them fine like breadcrumbs. The broken-up oats will work just as well to make tender juicy meatballs.

Using oatmeal as a substitute in meatball recipes is the best option, but you can also use any of these ideas too:

• Almond flour - This is a common substitute in keto friendly recipes.
• Shredded Parmesan cheese - This will not soak up moisture like bread or oats, but it does render small amounts of fat which will add moisture.
• Grated onion - Onion adds flavor and it will help make the meatball less dense, but it is a mediocre substitute.
• Pork rinds - Grinding pork rinds into small bits is a decent low carb alternative for those on a keto diet.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Ground beef - I use 80/20 ground beef for the best moisture and flavor. Overly lean ground beef can be too dry.
• Ground pork - You can substitute ground lamb, veal, ground venison, or more ground beef. Ground turkey can also be used, but it would be my last choice.
• Oatmeal - Old fashioned oats, or quick cooking oats both work well. Oats are naturally gluten free, but it is best to specifically look for packaging labeled as gluten free to ensure they did not come in contact with gluten during processing.
• Grated Parmesan cheese - Shredded Parmesan can also be substituted.
• Milk - You can use beef broth instead.
• Onion - Use a yellow onion or sweet onion.
• Fresh parsley - I don't recommend substituting dry parsely, it doesn't have much flavor.
• Egg - You can also make meatballs without eggs.
• Worcestershire sauce
• Fresh thyme leaves - Other fresh herbs like oregano would be a great choice too.
• Table salt
• Garlic powder - One or two fresh garlic cloves can be substituted.
• Ground black pepper

How to make them

Begin making this easy meatball recipe by pulsing the oats in a food processor until broken into small pieces, similar in size to bread crumbs. This hack can be used when making meatloaf without breadcrumbs too, by the way.

Crumble the ground beef and ground pork into smaller pieces and add them to a large mixing bowl along with the oats, Parmesan, milk, onion, parsley, egg, Worcestershire sauce, thyme leaves, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. This is easiest to do by working the meat mixture together with clean hands.

Get your hands wet to prevent the meatball mixture from sticking to your skin and roll the mixture between the palms of your hands to form balls. I recommend using two tablespoons of the mixture per ball. An ice cream scoop is a good tool to use for consistent sizing.

Place the meatballs on a baking sheet. I recommend greasing the baking sheet to prevent sticking or lining it with parchment paper or aluminum foil. The meatballs are now ready to be cooked.

Baking is the easiest way to make them. Simply bake on a sheet pan for 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven, or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.

Broiling the meatballs adds more texture by browning the exterior. This can be done 15 minutes into the baking process to finish cooking them, or you can start by broiling the raw meatballs and finish cooking them by simmering them in marinara sauce or pasta sauce.

Finally, you can also cook your meatballs in a frying pan on the stovetop instead. Place the raw meatballs in a single layer in a large skillet set over medium heat and sear the exterior of the meatballs, then add pasta sauce or tomato sauce and simmer until cooked through. The biggest problem with using the stovetop is you made need multiple skillets or have to work in batches.

Tip: Brushing the meatballs with a little olive oil will result in better browning in the oven or skillet.

How to serve them

These tasty meatballs are versatile as the star of a dinner entree or a delicious appetizer. Try using your meatballs without breadcrumbs in any of these tasty recipes:

• Spaghetti and meatballs - Always a classic!
• Meatball subs - My personal favorite way to enjoy them.
• Meatballs and gravy - A hearty alternative to pasta sauce.
• Cocktail meatballs - Great for parties!
• Meatballs with Grape Jelly and Chili sauce

How to store leftover meatballs

Your homemade meatballs should be enjoyed within five days after cooking and stored in an airtight container. For longer storage, they can be frozen for later use in a freezer bag. You can freeze cooked or raw meatballs and store for up to three months.

Cooked meatballs can be reheated in the microwave but they will taste better gently reheated in simmering pasta sauce. Raw frozen meatballs should be completely thawed and then cooked according to the recipe instructions.

This recipe was originally posted on November 11, 2021.

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