Recipe: Whole30 Italian Meatballs with Marinara
Inspired by the classic, these Whole30 Italian meatballs are packed with fragrant herbs, but skip the grains and dairy.
Serves4 to 6
Makes24 (1 1/2-inch) meatballs
Prep15 minutes to 20 minutes
Cook15 minutes to 20 minutes
One of the most valuable things I learned during a round of Whole30 is to seek out the foods and recipes you want to eat, and then find a way to make them Whole30-compliant. For me, herb-flecked Italian meatballs were at the top of the list. As it turns out, making a grain-free, dairy-free version is surprisingly easy, and they’re just as irresistibly tender and delicious as the classic.
Served over a pile of zucchini noodles, roasted veggies, or sautéed greens, they’re sure to satisfy a craving for a saucy Italian-style dinner. Trust me — you’ll never even miss the spaghetti.
Whole30 Meatballs Are a Big-Batch Favorite
I’m a firm believer in batch cooking — especially when following a plan like Whole30 that requires a lot of cooking. If you put in the work during a single prep session upfront, weeknight cooking becomes a whole lot easier. And meatballs are a prime candidate for batch cooking. This recipe makes two-dozen meatballs — and can be easily scaled up if you want to make even more — meaning you’ve got a few nights of easy dinners that just need to be reheated. That’s a definite win when you don’t feel like cooking.
Whole30 Italian Meatballs with Marinara
Inspired by the classic, these Whole30 Italian meatballs are packed with fragrant herbs, but skip the grains and dairy.
Prep time 15 minutes to 20 minutes
Cook time 15 minutes to 20 minutes
Makes 24 (1 1/2-inch) meatballs
Serves 4 to 6
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 2 pounds
lean ground beef
- 1
small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup
coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 3 cloves
garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon
salt-free Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons
kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon
red pepper flakes
- 1
large egg, beaten
- 2 tablespoons
olive oil
- 1 (24- to 26-ounce) jar
no sugar-added marinara sauce, such as Rao’s
Instructions
Place the ground beef, onion, parsley, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Use your fingers to work the mixture together just until all the ingredients are evenly combined. Do not overwork.
Form the mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs (about 2 tablespoons each), and place the formed meatballs on a rimmed baking sheet.
Heat the oil in a large high-sided skillet or Dutch oven over medium until shimmering. Working in batches if needed to make sure the pan is not crowded, add the meatballs, and cook, turning every minute, until browned all over, 3 to 5 minutes.
Return all the meatballs to the pan and add the sauce. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until cooked through and an instant-read thermometer registers 165°F, 8 to 10 minutes.
Recipe Notes
Make ahead: Make meat mixture the day before, form into meatballs, and place on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook. Alternatively, freeze until solid, then transfer to a resealable freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. You do not need to thaw before cooking, but the meatballs will need additional cooking time.
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.