You don't need to be following a Keto diet to enjoy our Carnivore Meatballs. These juicy, flavorful meatballs come together with only a handful of simple ingredients, and are packed with protein.
When we are looking for a no-fuss meal prep option, we turn to these meatballs. Whipping up a batch or two is effortless, and we love that they freeze well. They're perfect as a filling snack on their own, or enjoyed as part of a family dinner.
What are Carnivore Meatballs?
Carnivore Meatballs are made without the addition of breadcrumbs, letting eggs be the primary binding ingredient. Many people following a low-carb or Keto diet enjoy these meatballs, but they are a versatile favorite for anyone.
Jump to:
- What are Carnivore Meatballs?
- Why You Will Love These Carnivore Meatballs
- Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make Carnivore Meatballs
- More Recipes You Will Love
- How to Store Carnivore Meatballs
- What to Serve with Carnivore Meatballs
- Top Tip
- Frequently Asked Questions About Carnivore Meatballs
- More Recipes You Will Love
- Carnivore Meatballs
This was inspired by my Cooked Perfect Meatballs on this site, and though you can eat them on their own, they pair well with some of our favorite sides like Idahoan Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots, and Maple Brussel Sprouts.
Why You Will Love These Carnivore Meatballs
- Easy: Making homemade meatballs is simpler than you think, and even beginners in the kitchen can make them.
- Minimal Ingredients: With only 6 simple ingredients, these meatballs don't require a lot of prep.
- Nutritious: These meatballs are packed with protein, making them a great addition to your diet.
- Meal Prep: We love making multiple batches of these meatballs to keep in the freezer. They're the perfect dinner shortcut on busy weeknights, and your future self will thank you!
- Family Friendly: Even the pickiest eaters approve of these delicious meatballs.
Ingredients
Only a few ingredients are needed to make this meatball recipe, and you may even already have everything on hand already.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Medium Ground Beef: The base of your meatball mixture.
- Eggs: Acts as a binding agent to keep your meatball together.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a deliciously salty flavor.
- Sea Salt: Enhances all other flavors in the meatball mixture.
- Dried Parsley: For additional depth of flavor.
- Ground Pepper: Adds a hint of spice.
For this recipe, you'll want to have on hand a baking sheet, large mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons, and a cookie scoop.
Substitutions and Variations
Love this recipe but looking to mix it up? Here are some helpful ideas for you to change these Carnivore Meatballs.
- Meat: We use ground beef here, but feel free to use the ground meat of your choice, or a mixture of multiple types.
- Dried Herbs: You can add dried herbs other than parsley to your mixture for additional flavor. Our favorite is Italian seasoning because it combines all the main staples together in one convenient package.
- Fresh Herbs: Chop up your favorite herbs to add a burst of freshness to your meatball mixture.
- Spices: If you like spicy meatballs, add hot pepper flakes or powdered cayenne pepper.
- Cheese: If you prefer to change it up from parmesan, try your favorite grated cheese, or make a mixture of multiple cheeses.
- Stuffed: For an even more delicious variation, add a cube of cheese to the centre of each meatball before cooking for cheese-stuffed meatballs.
- Bacon: There's no denying that bacon makes everything better - try adding bacon pieces to your meatball mixture, stuffing your meatballs with bacon, or even wrapping them in bacon.
How to Make Carnivore Meatballs
Check out how quick and easy it was to make these Carnivore Meatballs in just a few simple steps.
Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease a large baking sheet.
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. By hand, mix until well combined.
Using a 2 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop, make medium sized meatballs and lightly shape into a tighter ball, then place on a prepared baking sheet.
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160F.
Cool on the baking sheet until ready to serve.
Hint: When rolling out your meatballs, try to seal any cracks in the uncooked meat before baking to seal in moisture. You can do this by pinching the meat together then lightly re-rolling into a ball shape.
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How to Store Carnivore Meatballs
This is a recipe that's so versatile that we love making multiple batches of the meatballs at the same time, to store and enjoy later.
- Refrigerator: Once cooled, place in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freezer: For your meatballs, whether they are cooked or uncooked, you can line them on a baking sheet and pop them in the freezer. Once fully frozen (about 2-4 hours), place them into a freezer bag and pop them back in the freezer for up to 6 months. I like to double bag them, and remove as much air out of the first bag as I can. Alternatively, you can vacuum-seal them as well. I love this FoodSaver, that I got on Amazon.
- Reheating: Thaw in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or stovetop until warmed through.
- Make Ahead: To make your meatballs ahead, follow the instructions 1-3 and then pop them in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to bake. To make your mashed potatoes ahead, follow all steps above. Let them cool, and pack into an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, until needed.
What to Serve with Carnivore Meatballs
If you are looking for ways to balance your meals and include a protein-heavy meatball, here are some pairing suggestions. Alternatively, if you follow the Carnivore Diet or Keto Diet, you will know what to avoid.
- Maple Brussels Sprouts: We can't resist the sweet and savory flavors in our Maple Brussel Sprouts.
- Potatoes: The ultimate versatile side, enjoy these meatballs with potatoes in any form. We love our Idahoan Mashed Potatoes, or the Yukon Gold mash in our Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes.
- Sweet Potatoes: Whether they are mashed, roasted in the oven or the air fryer, or baked, we love sweet potatoes as a side to these meatballs.
- Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots: For a simple side dish that comes together quickly with a blend of sweetness from the shallots, earthy, slight heat from the garlic and the snap of the green beans, try our Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots.
- Honey and Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots: Add subtle, caramelized sweetness to your plate with Honey and Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots.
- Roasted Broccoli: Roast broccoli florets with some olive oil, garlic, and parmesan for a deliciously crispy side.
- Cranberry Sauce: Add a hint of sweetness to balance the savory flavors of this dish with our Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce.
- Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle on your favorite herb (like parsley, chives, or thyme) to garnish your plate with a pop of fresh color.
- Steamed Vegetables: For a more simple and light option, to make a well-rounded meal.
- Salad: We love putting together a quick garden salad as a fresh side to contrast the rich flavors of this dish.
- Corn: Whether you opt for creamed corn or corn on the cob, it's a great side option.
- Asparagus: Roasted asparagus adds delicious earthy flavor to these meatballs and mashed potatoes.
- Zucchini Fritters: When they're in season, for a crispy and satisfying side, we love making Zucchini Fritters using fresh zucchini from our garden.
- Pasta: Make your favorite pasta dish as a base for the addition of these tasty meatballs. It doesn't get any more classic than spaghetti with meatballs.
Top Tip
Any singular or blend of ground meats will work well with this recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carnivore Meatballs
Do you have questions about Carnivore Meatballs? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions.
By using a cookie scoop, you will ensure an even size across every meatball. This makes for a consistent flavor and bake time. We like using a 2.5" cookie scoop.
We suggest a combination of beef and pork, or even veal for the best flavor. With that being said, meatballs are very versatile and can be made with any meat of your choice. If you are looking to make a leaner meatball, you can try ground turkey or ground chicken.
Your meatballs are fully cooked when their internal temperature reaches 160F (for a beef meatball) or 165F (for a chicken meatball). We recommend investing in a meat thermometer to make checking on this as easy as possible.
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Carnivore Meatballs
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Cookie Scoop
Ingredients
- 2 lbs medium ground beef
- 2 eggs large
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease a large baking sheet.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. By hand, mix until well combined.
- Using a 2 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop, make medium sized meatballs and lightly shape into a tighter ball, then place on a prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160F.
- Cool on the baking sheet until ready to serve.
Notes
- The average yield for this recipe is 18 meatballs, but this may vary depending on the size of your meatballs and how densely you pack them.
- If you want to freeze uncooked meatballs, you can after step 3.
- Try to seal any cracks in the uncooked meat before baking to seal in moisture. You can do this by pinching the meat together then lightly re-roll into a ball shape.
- Customize your meatball mixture with your favorite dried or fresh herbs and grated cheese of your choice.
Nutrition
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Eva Filer says
So juicy and delicious!
Abi says
Can I use ground chicken and follow the same recipe? Looks amazing by the way.
Eva Filer says
Absolutely! You just want to make sure when using chicken you are cooking them to 165F instead of the 160F mentioned in the post for ground beef. Thank you, enjoy!