March 1, 2022
Juicy, gluten free, Italian baked meatballs in a basic marinara sauce are soft and tender and capture that rustic. You’ll love this easy recipe for any day of the week.
The best meatballs are tender, baked and browned in a hot oven to seal in all the juices. Simmered in robust sauce for a couple of minutes ensures they soak up all of those saucy flavors, this is an easy dinner recipe that will be a hit with your family!
Meatballs can seem like work, but this recipe is simple! The key to great meatballs are flavor & juiciness.
If you are a true Italian don’t @ me for no cheese or breadcrumbs in these meatballs.
If you believe that meatballs require breadcrumbs and parmesan I’m going to prove you wrong. These Slow Cooker Meatballs in Marinara are dairy free, gluten free, and Whole30 compliant and I can guarantee you won’t notice that those two ingredients are missing. In fact I bet you can feed these to the dairy & bread lovers in your family and non of them will notice either.
How to Freeze Meatballs:
Before Cooking:
Form meatballs and place on a baking sheet. Place baking sheet with meatballs in the freezer and let them freeze (at least one hour). Transfer to an airtight container or bag. Store in the fridge for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, let thaw overnight. Follow recipe instructions for cooking meatballs.
To freeze After Cooking:
Bake the meatballs per the instructions. Do not add the sauce. Allow the meatballs to cook before storing in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When ready to cook Defrost in fridge overnight. Follow the baking instructions from when you add the sauce.
Scrumptious Oven Baked Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 -1.5 lbs ground beef
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 C almond flour
- 1 egg whisked
- 1 tbsp italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 24 oz jar marinara
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°
- In a mixing bowl combine whisked egg, ground beef, almond flour, garlic, italian seasoning and salt and pepper. Using a fork, or your hands, fold the meat mixture together. Prevent over mixing.
- Prepare an oven safe pan or dish. Coat the bottom with olive oil. Using a cookie scoop, or your hands form ping pong ball size meatballs. Place them in the oven safe baking dish. Makes about 18
- Cover the meatballs with foil or an oven safe lid and Place meatballs in the oven and cook for 15 minutes. Remove meatballs from oven & pour the jar of marinara over the meatballs. Cook uncover for another 10-15 minute or until the sauce is nice and bubbly.
- Remove from oven, and serve over gluten free pasta, spaghetti squash or zoodles.
