This article provides a comprehensive guide to making keto-friendly garlic butter meatballs, a delicious and easy meal that's perfect for a weeknight dinner. This recipe combines the comforting flavors of traditional meatballs with the health benefits of a low-carb diet. You can choose from several variations, including chicken, turkey, or beef meatballs, and serve them with zucchini noodles or your favorite pasta.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This recipe is a winner for several reasons:
- Delicious and Nutritious: This meal is both satisfying and good for you. It lightens up the classic meatballs and spaghetti by using zucchini noodles and a flavorful sauce.
- Easy to Make: The recipe requires basic ingredients and simple steps, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Family-Friendly: Even kids will enjoy rolling the meatballs and eating this tasty dish.
- Versatile: There are many ways to customize this recipe to your liking, from the type of meat you use to the side dishes you serve.
- Low-Carb and Gluten-Free: This recipe is perfect for those following a keto or gluten-free diet.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make these delicious keto garlic butter meatballs:
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb ground turkey or ground chicken or ground beef
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasonings
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Challenge Salted Butter, melted
- 1/3 cup plain bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup finely diced onion
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 clove garlic, pressed
For the Garlic Butter Sauce:
- ½ cup unsalted butter or Challenge Salted Butter (6 tablespoons)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice or Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 4 cloves garlic, minced or 2 cloves garlic, pressed
- 2 tbsps. parsley, chopped or 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
- ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Optional Ingredients:
- Zucchini noodles (zoodles) or your favorite pasta
- Garam Masala
- Curry Powder
- Turmeric
- Marinara sauce
- Sliced mushrooms
- Diced onion
- Spinach
- Ricotta cheese
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create your own keto garlic butter meatballs:
Preparing the Meatballs
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) or 350˚F. If baking, line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Combine the meatball ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground meat (turkey or chicken or ground beef), shredded mozzarella, egg, pepper, red pepper flakes, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasonings, melted butter, bread crumbs, diced onion, parsley, parmesan cheese, and pressed garlic.
- Mix well: Use your hands to mix the ingredients until everything is evenly combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Form the meatballs: Scoop the mixture with an ice cream scooper or spoon and roll it into balls. Aim for 2-inch meatballs.
- Bake the meatballs: Spread oil over a baking dish and arrange the meatballs evenly. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Making the Garlic Butter Sauce
- Melt the butter: In a small bowl or saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Be careful not to let it simmer or burn.
- Add garlic and lemon juice: Remove from the heat and stir in the minced garlic and lemon juice.
- Add parsley: Stir in the chopped parsley.
Cooking the meatballs in a skillet (Alternative Method)
- Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat.
- Once hot, add the meatballs and turn to brown on each side for 1-2 minutes. I usually turn them 3-4 times. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Add the lemon juice the the skillet ad deglaze by scraping the bottom of the pan with a spoon or spatula.
- Add 6 tablespoons of butter and garlic and stir until melted, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons of parsley.
- Place the meatballs back in the skillet and toss or turn to coat them with the garlic butter sauce.
- Then transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the meatballs reach 165˚F.
- If you don't have an oven-safe skillet, you can transfer the meatballs and garlic sauce to a casserole dish and finish cooking for 15-20 minutes.
Combining and Serving
- Add sauce to meatballs: If baking, once the meatballs are baked, transfer them to a skillet with the garlic butter sauce. Toss to coat.
- Cook zoodles (optional): If using zucchini noodles, spiralize the zucchini. In a frying pan over low to medium heat, cook the zoodles for about 3-5 minutes, until tender-crisp.
- Serve: Serve the garlic butter meatballs over zoodles or your favorite pasta. Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese and parsley, if desired.
Tips for the Best Keto Garlic Butter Meatballs
- Choose high-quality ground meat: Using high-quality ground turkey, chicken, or beef will result in more flavorful and tender meatballs.
- Don't overmix the meat mixture: Overmixing can make the meatballs tough. Mix until just combined.
- Brown the meatballs: Searing the meatballs before baking adds flavor and texture.
- Use a meat thermometer: Ensure the meatballs are cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for food safety and optimal tenderness.
- Chop ingredients finely: Chop the onion and parsley finely for the best flavor distribution.
- Deglaze the pan: After browning the meatballs in a skillet, deglaze the pan with lemon juice or stock to scrape up any browned bits and add flavor to the sauce.
- Don't overcook the meatballs: Overcooking can make the meatballs dry and tough.
- Customize the sauce: Feel free to add other herbs and spices to the garlic butter sauce, such as red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.
Serving Suggestions
These keto garlic butter meatballs are incredibly versatile and can be served in a variety of ways:
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- With Zoodles: For a low-carb option, serve the meatballs with zucchini noodles.
- Over Pasta: If you're not strictly keto, serve the meatballs over your favorite pasta, such as spaghetti, penne, or egg noodles.
- As Meatball Subs: Use the garlic butter meatballs to make Italian meatball subs.
- On Pizza: Cut the meatballs into quarters and use them as a topping for pizza.
- With Lemon Rice: Serve the meatballs with lemon rice for a flavorful and satisfying meal.
- As an Appetizer: Serve the meatballs on a platter with toothpicks as a delicious appetizer.
Variations
Here are a few ideas to customize your keto garlic butter meatballs:
- Garlic Butter Beef Meatballs: Substitute ground beef for ground turkey or chicken. Reduce to 1 egg.
- Spicy Meatballs: Add extra red pepper flakes to the meatball mixture or the sauce for a spicier kick.
- Indian-Inspired Meatballs: Add Garam Masala, Curry Powder, and Turmeric to the meatball mixture for an Indian-inspired flavor.
- Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs: Stuff the meatballs with a small cube of mozzarella or provolone cheese for an extra cheesy surprise.
Storing and Freezing
- Storing Leftovers: Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. Reheat them in the oven, air fryer, or microwave.
- Freezing Meatballs: Freeze the meatballs before or after baking. Place the meatballs on a lined sheet pan in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. When ready to eat, bake them straight from frozen with a few extra added minutes. It’s easier to make the garlic butter sauce fresh than freeze it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overmixing the meatball mixture: This can result in tough meatballs.
- Overcooking the meatballs: This can make them dry and rubbery. Use a cooking thermometer to check for doneness.
- Using too many bread crumbs: This can make the meatballs too loose.
- Not using enough bread crumbs: This can prevent the meatballs from holding together.
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