Enjoy homemade Italian Sausage Meatballs, a perfect blend of savory spices and herbs in each bite, ideal for any meal or occasion.
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Italian Sausage Meatballs
When it comes to comfort food, few things are as satisfying as a plate of well-seasoned, juicy meatballs. These Italian Sausage Meatballs offer just that, with an added bonus: they’re entirely gluten free and low carb.
These meatballs stand out for their perfect blend of spices and herbs, typical of Italian sausage, which infuses each bite with an unmistakable and authentic taste.
Tools Needed
The following kitchen essentials are needed to make these delicious meatballs.
How to Make Italian Sausage Meatballs
In a medium bowl, add the meatball ingredients and knead well until combined.
Form the meat mixture into evenly sized 2-3 inch round meatballs. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Sear the meatballs on all sides and place them into the bottom of the Crockpot.
In another skillet, melt the butter and saute the onions until softened.
Add the onions and remaining sauce ingredients to a bowl and spoon over the meatballs in the Crockpot.
Place the lid on the Crockpot and cook on high for 3 hours.
Are Italian Sausage Meatballs Keto Friendly?
These Italian sausage Meatballs are not only delicious and gluten free but also wonderfully keto-friendly. With only 3 net carbs per serving, they fit seamlessly into any low carb plan.
The absence of traditional breadcrumbs is key here. Instead, the recipe uses crushed pork rind crumbs that keep the carb count low without compromising the meatballs’ texture or flavor.
Meatball Ingredient Substitutions
While the recipe for Italian Sausage Meatballs is designed to be both gluten free and keto-friendly, there may be times when you need to make substitutions based on what you have in your pantry. Here are some easy swaps you can consider:
- Ground Italian Sausage: If you can’t find natural ground Italian sausage, you can use any ground sausage of your choice. For a spicier kick, try a hot sausage variety.
- Ground Beef: Feel free to substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- Pork Rind Crumbs: In a pinch, you can use toasted almond flour as an alternative to pork rind crumbs.
- Parmesan Cheese: Grated pecorino or Romano cheese can be used in place of Parmesan for a slightly different flavor profile.
- Olive Oil: If olive oil isn’t available, any neutral oil such as avocado oil or even butter can be used for cooking the meatballs. Stay away from vegetable oils.
- For the Sauce: The crushed tomatoes can be substituted with tomato sauce or diced tomatoes, depending on the texture you prefer. Similarly, chicken or vegetable broth can replace the broth in the recipe.
Remember, cooking is all about making a dish your own. Feel free to experiment with these substitutions to tailor the Italian Sausage Meatballs to your tastes and have some fun with it.
What to Eat With Italian Sausage Meatballs
Pairing the right side dishes with your Italian Sausage Meatballs can turn a simple meal into fine dining in your own home.
Cauliflower Mash: Creamy keto mashed cauliflower is a fantastic low carb alternative to traditional mashed potatoes.
- Keto Garlic Bread: To soak up the rich tomato sauce, keto cheesy breadsticks are an ideal choice to add a buttery touch to your meal.
- Roasted Vegetables: A mix of roasted vegetables such as zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant can add color and nutrition to your plate. The natural sweetness and charred flavor of the vegetables provide a lovely contrast to the savory meatballs.
- Caesar Salad: A Caesar salad with homemade keto croutons always pairs well with any kind of meatball.
- Zucchini Noodles: For those who miss the classic spaghetti and meatball combination, zucchini noodles are a wonderful low-carb substitute. These almond pesto zucchini noodles are a unique choice.
- Keto Dinner Rolls: Soft and buttery this keto buns recipe can act as a great accompaniment to mop up the delicious sauce from the meatballs. They are easy to make and add a comforting touch to your meal.
Other Keto Meatballs You Might Like
Italian Sausage Meatballs
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 1 ½ pounds natural ground Italian sausage
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup crushed pork rind crumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon basil
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the sauce
- 15 ounces crushed tomatoes no sugar added
- ½ cup broth
- ½ teaspoon basil
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon rosemary
- 2 teaspoons low carb powdered sweetener
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ onion chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add the meatball ingredients and knead well until combined.
- Form the meat mixture into evenly sized 2-3 inch round meatballs.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat.
- Sear the meatballs on all sides and place them into the bottom of the Crockpot.
- In another skillet, melt the butter and saute the onions until softened.
- Add the onions and remaining sauce ingredients to a bowl and spoon over the meatballs in the Crockpot.
- Place the lid on the Crockpot and cook on high for 3 hours.
Nutrition
Trina Krug is a Holistic Nutritionist, Integrative Health Coach and host of the Carbless Conversations Podcast. With a Master’s Degree in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, her single mission in life is to facilitate self-healing in herself and those around her through awareness, lifestyle shifts and low-carb eating. As a current Doctor of Science student, she continues her studies in functional nutrition.