Gluten Free Chicken Meatballs in Garlic Lemon Sauce

Absolutely love the zesty blend of garlic and lemon? These baked gluten free chicken meatballs are an absolute delight! This is an easy gluten free meal that’s quick to whip up. They’re bursting with incredible flavor, especially with the added freshness of basil. Plus, there’s no shortage of flavorful sauce, perfect for serving over pasta or alongside some Whipped Mashed Potatoes. These Buffalo Turkey Meatballs are another family favorite.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You’re going to adore these homemade chicken meatballs. Not only are these baked chicken meatballs easy to make, but their vibrant mix of garlic, lemon, and fresh basil creates an unbeatable flavor combo. The best part? You’ll have plenty of delicious sauce to pair them with your favorite pasta or my irresistible Whipped Mashed Potatoes. Get ready to indulge. They’re so good!

Ingredients You Will Need

Ground Chicken: helps absorb the flavors of the seasoning and sauce easily, making it a good choice for these meatballs. I love Grass Roots Coop for my meats.

Almond Meal/Flour: is finer and made from blanched almonds. Meanwhile, almond meal is coarser and often includes the almond skins in its preparation.

Egg: in this recipe acts as a natural binder by providing the necessary cohesion to hold the ingredients for the meatballs together. It ensures they maintain their shape and texture.

Salt and Pepper: salt enhances the overall flavor of the dish and ground black pepper adds a gentle heat.

Onion: I like yellow onion for this recipe. It has a bolder flavor than sweet onions. However, you can certainly use sweet if you prefer.

Ghee: incorporating ghee into this sauce adds a rich, nutty flavor. Fourth and Heart is my favorite.

Lemon: or lemon juice adds a fresh, bright, and tangy element. This can help balance the richness of the other ingredients.

Garlic: incorporating garlic adds a savory note that enhances the dish with its bold and aromatic flavor.

Fresh Basil: the freshness complements the other bright flavors in this dish and adds a nice aroma.

Coconut Cream: is ideal for dairy-free dishes. It provides a creamy texture with a taste that is very mild and usually hidden by other flavors.

Chicken Bone Broth: you have the option of using either chicken bone broth or regular chicken broth. The bone broth offers enhanced health benefits along with a richer flavor profile. My favorite is Kettle and Fire .

Paprika: A touch of paprika in the sauce imparts a subtle smokiness to the overall flavor.

Instructions

Preheat oven: your oven to 350°F.

Prep the meatballs: combine all of the meatball ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix well. Form into 12 meatballs. Be careful that you don’t roll them too hard, which can make their texture too dense.

Bake the meatballs: the meatballs until they are no longer pink, which should take about 10 minutes.

Start the sauce: while the meatballs are baking, melt the ghee in a large skillet. Add the onions, cooking until they are translucent and then incorporate the garlic, stirring for one minute.

Add your liquid: broth and coconut cream to the large skillet. Simmer on low for 10 minutes.

Incorporate some acidity: add the lemon juice, salt and pepper, then simmer for 5 more minutes.

Place the meatballs in: once the sauce is ready, add the meatballs in and toss to fully coat them in the sauce.

Make it fresh: add basil, stirring it in gently. Then sprinkle in the paprika. Add lemon slices to the pan for an extra burst of flavor.

Simmer it: for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Don’t overwork the mixture: When shaping the meatballs, be mindful not to overwork the mixture. Excessive rolling or handling can result in denser meatballs.

Watch the baking time: Bake the meatballs for about 10 minutes or until they’ve lost their pink color. Allow them to gently finish cooking in the sauce to retain their tenderness and prevent dryness.

Recipe Variations

Switch up the protein: For a poultry or beef twist on gluten free meatballs, simply substitute ground chicken with ground turkey or beef. The change in protein offers a different flavor profile while maintaining the gluten free aspect of the dish.

Change how you serve it: These gluten free chicken meatballs are so delicious on their own. They also pair nicely with pasta, over mashed potatoes, over cauliflower rice or white rice. There are so many possibilities!

Try an air fryer: While the oven works great to cook these meatballs, you can also make air fryer chicken meatballs instead of baking in your oven.

Storage Tips

You can store these Gluten Free Chicken Meatballs in the fridge for 4-5 days when placed in a sealed airtight glass container. They’re also freezer-safe for up to 6 months.

FAQs About Gluten Free Chicken Meatballs

How do you keep gluten free chicken meatballs from falling apart?

To prevent chicken meatballs from falling apart, consider using a binder like eggs or a mixture of eggs and a bit of almond flour (like in this meatball recipe) or gluten free breadcrumbs. This helps hold the meatballs together without compromising texture.

What are gluten free chicken meatballs made of?

Gluten free meatballs typically use ground chicken or another meat. They are combined with ingredients like herbs, spices, eggs, and a gluten free binder such as almond flour or gluten free breadcrumbs.

What can I use in meatballs instead of breadcrumbs?

Instead of breadcrumbs, I love opting for almond flour as this recipe calls for. Incorporating eggs will also help keep the meatballs together. You could also opt to use panko or some grated cheese to help too.