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Low carb meatballs are so easy to make and the perfect mid-day snack if you are on a low carb, high protein diet. Made with lean ground turkey and vegetables and no breadcrumbs, they can also be served for dinner with zucchini noodles and your favorite pasta sauce!
I’ve always struggled with snacks when switching my lifestyle to a low carb diet. I just love carbohydrates. Bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, pizza- I love it all and my diet before I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes included all of it in large quantities. Specially around snack time.
Over the past few years, I’ve managed to find substitutes for mid-day snacks that keep me full without adding the pounds.
These easy low carb turkey meatballs are one of my favorite in-between meals to keep me satisfied and away from unhealthy choices.
If you are switching to a low carb or keto diet, give these a try and I would suggest that you even start substituting your snacks before you jump head first into a low carb diet.
I believe small changes are a lot easier to stick to in the long run. Switching your snacks first will also give you confidence that you can do the whole deal.
Easy Low Carb Turkey Meatballs
These low carb turkey meatballs are also low calorie and low fat. A great combination if you are trying to loose weight and eat healthier without sacrificing the taste.
It really is easy to make, all you need is a large bowl or a food processor. I like using a food processor because it makes everything much easier and the cleanup is a breeze.
The trick to uniform meatballs – with the right amount of vegetables and seasoning in each – is to start with vegetables first and only add the turkey in the very end. Protein doesn’t like to be overly processed or it gets tougher.
Depending on the size of your food processor, you might need to do 2 batches so that the vegetables and oats are evenly distributed in the ground turkey.
What is a Low Carb Alternative to Breadcrumbs?
Meatballs are already a lower carb food, but usually contain breadcrumbs which is a no-no in most low carb diets. To make meatballs healthier, you have a few options depending on your diet and goals:
- Oats (diabetic friendly)
- Almond or other nut flours
- Flax seed meal
- Cheese
Oats are a complex carb which is good for helping diabetics keep blood sugar steady, but if you to cut as many carbs as possible go for almond flour or cheese.
Just be mindful that you are adding quite a bit of fat to an otherwise low fat recipe.
Is This Recipe Keto?
It depends on how many carbs you consider keto. If you consider 20 grams or less for a day, then this recipe may contain too many carbs for you. To make it fully keto, take out the oats and vegetables (onion and carrot) and instead add cheese and spinach (for moisture).
Do These Low Carb Turkey Meatballs Freeze Well?
Yes! And it freezes wonderfully. In fact, I like to make a big batch of these (3 lbs) and freeze them. When I am ready to have them, I just wrap them in a wet paper towel and microwave for a minute or two on high power. The wet paper towel prevents the meatballs from drying it out.
Low Carb Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey 93% lean
- 1/4 onion
- 1 bunch parsley
- 1 carrot
- 3 stalks celery
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp chipotle pepper (optional)
- 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup quick oats
- olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F.
- Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
- Use a food processor to chop all vegetables into small pieces. Add the seasoning and egg and give it a pulse to mix.
- Add the oats and ground turkey and pulse it until well combined or if your food processor is not big enough, use a large bowl to mix the remaining ingredients.
- Use a 1/3 cup measuring cup to form uniform meatballs and place it on the baking sheet. Brush meatballs with olive oil or spray it with canola oil.
- Bake it for 15 minutes, flip meatballs and bake for another 10 minutes or until done.
Notes
Nutrition
If you enjoyed this recipe for easy low carb turkey meatballs, you might also enjoy these:
- Carne Asada Recipe
- Grilled Korean Pork Chops
- Keto Bread in 90 Seconds
- Low Carb Chocolate Delight
- Best Tuna Salad
- Low Carb Turkey Meatballs
- Low Carb Breakfast Egg Muffins
- Low Carb Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
- Oven Baked Salmon with Honey, Ginger, Wasabi Glaze
If you liked this recipe, you might also like Beef Gyudon!
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Recipe written May 2019 and updated August 2020.
This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and participant in other programs, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
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