Gluten-Free Meatballs: A Secret Family Recipe - MI Gluten Free Gal (2024)

ByMargaret Clegg Last Updated

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These gluten-free meatballs are perfect for any gathering or dinner. Serve them as finger food for New Year’s, make them up with spaghetti, or add sweet and sour for an Asian inspired meal. The sky’s the limit!

Gluten-Free Meatballs: A Secret Family Recipe - MI Gluten Free Gal (1)

Secret Family Recipe

My dad was known for one signature dish. Every family gathering, you can almost bet that he would bring his gluten-free meatballs. These juicy meatballs were present at every Christmas party, family potluck, and any other time there’s good cause for a celebration.

My dad claimed them as a “secret family recipe”, but I’m choosing to pass this on to you! So welcome to the family, and make a batch of these great meatballs. I hope your family enjoys them as much as we have.

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Gluten Free Adaptations

In all honesty, this recipe for gluten-free meatballs underwent some alterations since its inception. In my younger years, my dad made these with beer, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, and Lipton’s Onion soup mix. Fast forward to post celiac diagnosis, and regular beer is a no-no. (As is Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix.) You can leave the beer out, if you want. If you choose to use beer, make sure it is made from gluten free grains, not a gluten removed one like Omission or Space Rock.

Gluten Free Beers You Could Safely Use
– Redbridge
– New Grist
– Green’s Beer- Any flavor
– Glutenberg
– Ground Breaker Brewing
– Ghostfish
Alt Brew (in Wisconsin)

Gluten Free Onion Soup Mix
Simply Organic French Onion Dip Mix
Mom’s Place Gluten Free Onion Soup Mix
Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mixfrom The Country Cook

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Gluten Free Corn Flakes & Breadcrumbs

Kellogg’s Corn Flakes are not gluten-free because they contain malt. Instead, look for corn flakes that are truly gluten-free, such as the one manufactured by Nature’s Path or Arrowhead Mills. Another great possibility is to used crush Corn Chex. Chex underwent a huge reformulation years ago and took out all the malt from their cereal. I use crushed Corn or Rice Chex all the time in recipes.

Now, I don’t even use corn flake crumbs. I am in love with Aleia’s Gluten Free Breadcrumbs. They come in various flavors. I would stick with the plain breadcrumbs if you plan to add barbecue sauce to these. However, if you plan to pair them with spaghetti, I highly recommend using their Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs. They’re my absolute favorite!

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Sauce It Your Way

While these gluten-free meatballs are used best with my dad’s signature sauce, they’re pretty versatile. You could add other seasonings based on how you’d like to use them. Add Italian seasoning and serve them with marinara and spaghetti. (They’d work great as a meatball sub this way too!) Or prepare The Cookies Rookie’s Swedish Meatball gravy with a GF flour blend, and serve these meatballs over hot gluten free noodles

Add a pinch of Chinese Five Spice and serve them with a sweet and sour sauce over rice. One could also leave them plain and place them in a kid’s lunch with dipping sauce for a fun hands-on meal. The possibilities truly are endless. These freeze and thaw really well, sans sauce, so make up a batch in advance for your next gathering!

Gluten-Free Meatballs: A Secret Family Recipe - MI Gluten Free Gal (5)

Gluten Free Meatballs

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 4 lbs ground beef (I used ground sirloin, my dad uses ground chuck)
  • 1/4 c chopped onion
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 c gluten-free beer (OPTIONAL)
  • 1 tbsp garlic salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 pkg gluten-free onion soup mix (I used Riega)
  • 2 c gluten-free corn flake crumbs

Sauce

  • 3 c ketchup
  • 3 c grape jelly
  • 1/4 c bbq sauce (I prefer Stubb's)

Instructions

  1. Line cookie sheet with tinfoil and coat with cooking spray.
  2. Mix ingredients in large bowl with fork or potato masher. (You can mix with your hands as well. If so, I highly suggest removing rings first.)
  3. Using a 1 oz (#40) scoop, gather a portion of the gluten-free meatball mixture. Drop in the palm of your hands and roll into a ball.
  4. Bake gluten-free meatballs in the oven, one sheet at a time, at 350 for 15 minutes. I highly suggest flipping them after 7 minutes.
  5. Remove baked meatballs from cookie sheet and place in crockpot or dish with lid. Repeat until all meatballs are cooked.
  6. In a medium sauce pan, combine ketchup, grape jelly and barbecue sauce. (The barbecue sauce is optional, but I highly suggest it to cut the sweetness of the sauce.) Cook until jelly melts completely. Allow to cool.
  7. Finally, layer cooked meatballs and sauce in slow cooker. Cook on low heat for at least 4 hours. Stir occasionally so sauce does not burn.

Did you make this recipe?

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Looking for recipes for other types of meatballs? Sweet and sour or Swedish meatballs? Check out this post from Fearless Dining that lists14 gluten free meatballs recipes!

**This post is NOT sponsored by any of the above named brands. However, this post does include Amazon Affiliate Links. This provides me a small commission fee. However, this does not influence the cost of your purchases. Thank you for helping to support this website!**

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Gluten-Free Meatballs: A Secret Family Recipe - MI Gluten Free Gal (2024)

FAQs

What can I use instead of breadcrumbs in meatballs gluten-free? ›

For a gluten-free substitute to traditional breadcrumbs, look for gluten-free corn tortilla chips. You can use these crunchy crumbs to coat chicken cutlets and fish fillets, or you can fold crushed tortilla chips into your meatball mixture for a crowd-pleasing family dinner idea.

What brand makes gluten free meatballs? ›

Rosina Gluten-Free Italian Style Meatballs | Rosina Food Products.

Can I replace breadcrumbs with flour? ›

Nope. Use cracker crumbs or oatmeal instead of breadcrumbs. Flour would yield a gummy weird textured meatball. Or add other items that can act as filler, minced garlic, onions, mushrooms, peppers, even potatoes, grated cheese, along with beaten egg.

What is a gluten-free substitute for bread crumbs? ›

Almond flour (sometimes sold as almond meal) has a coarse texture and a nutty flavor, making it a great gluten-free substitute for bread crumbs.

What can I substitute for gluten free breadcrumbs? ›

Substitution / Alternatives For Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs
  • Homemade almond flour or almond meal.
  • Corn flakes (not all corn flakes are gluten free, so be sure to check ingredients)
  • Gluten-free crackers.
  • Rolled oats (used certified gluten free)
  • Crushed nuts.
  • Gluten free pretzels.
  • Potato chips.
  • Rice or Corn Chex cereal.
Apr 22, 2020

Are Walmart brand meatballs gluten-free? ›

This product has 1 ingredient with gluten and 4 ingredients that may have gluten.

What is the best gluten-free meat? ›

You may also need to be careful when shopping for lunch meat. While plain ham, turkey, chicken, and roast beef don't contain gluten, deli meat and pre-packaged meats might. Deli meat often contains ingredients other than the meat itself which means there's also a potential for cross-contamination.

Which cooked perfect meatballs are gluten-free? ›

Deliciously Gluten Free. Our Gluten Free Italian Style Meatballs are certified gluten free and are made with authentic Italian spices like garlic, parsley and oregano. They're excellent with gluten free pasta or on a salad.

What can I use in place of breadcrumbs for meatballs? ›

I have used: fresh bread, crackers, cooked rice, corn flakes, quinoa, quick oats, mashed potato flakes, dry malt o meal cereal, and crushed gingersnaps for a spicy Asian-ish meatball. Anything starchy works.

Does Worcestershire sauce gluten-free? ›

Ingredients. The original Worcestershire sauce included barley malt vinegar, making it unsafe for someone with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. However, there are many different versions of Worcestershire sauce, including gluten-free versions.

Does Velveeta contain gluten? ›

Kraft (the company that makes Velveeta) has a trusted policy to disclose any allergens on their nutrition label and there are no warning that indicate that Velveeta cheese contains any gluten ingredients. Furthermore, the gluten-free and celiac community is in agreement that Velveeta should be considered gluten-free.

Is panko gluten-free? ›

Yes. Providing Panko Breadcrumbs are made with gluten free bread and are processed and cooked in a gluten-clean environment, they are safe for people with Coeliac Disease (Celiac) and other gluten or wheat avoidant conditions.

What can I use if I don't have breading? ›

Sunflower seeds, almonds, and sesame seeds are all great breadcrumb alternatives. Chop larger nuts finely in a food processor. Seeds like sesame are already small enough and can be used as is. Use a variety of nuts as a coating for chicken, fish, or pork; just pulse them finely so they will stick.

What is a gluten-free substitute for breadcrumbs in meatloaf? ›

¼ cup Pork Panko , or crushed up pork rinds – if you don't have this or don't want to use it, just use another 1/4 cup almond flour in it's place.

What can I use to bind meatballs instead of breadcrumbs? ›

Oats are a great breadcrumb substitute when used as a binder in meatballs or meatloaf.

What can I use to bind instead of breadcrumbs? ›

Nuts Or Seeds

Sunflower seeds, almonds, and sesame seeds are all great breadcrumb alternatives. Chop larger nuts finely in a food processor. Seeds like sesame are already small enough and can be used as is. Use a variety of nuts as a coating for chicken, fish, or pork; just pulse them finely so they will stick.

What is a gluten-free substitute for panko? ›

Crushed potato chips make a great substitution for panko bread crumbs and are an ingredient most people have in their cabinets already. As an added plus, they're naturally gluten-free, depending on the type used. Chips are already crispy, so there's no need to toast them before substituting.

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