This basic meatball recipe is easy to make. No frying! Flavored with shallot, tomato paste and a hint of Dijon mustard, these simple meatballs are incredibly tasty. My boys and their friends love them!
Meatballs are also a great make ahead dinner dish. Often, when I have a busy day, I’ll make these meatballs the night before, let them cool, and refrigerate them. The next evening, I throw them in a baking dish with glass lid, cover them with a jar of my favorite tomato sauce, and heat the meatballs and sauce in the oven at 350º for half an hour while I get the rest of dinner ready. Lately, I’m in the habit of serving these over Paleo pasta, along with Caesar salad, and roasted broccoli.
Swapping out high-carb processed food such as pasta for super food vegetable noodles is a win-win. Sometimes I wonder why I ever ate traditional pasta. Vegetable noodles are just as good!
Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large egg
- 1 shallot, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon coconut flour
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, egg, and shallot
- Mix in tomato paste, mustard, coconut flour, salt, pepper, and baking soda
- Use a ¼ cup scoop to form meatballs
- Place meatballs on a parchment paper lined baking sheet
- Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, or until instant read thermometer reads 175°F
There’s nothing like spaghetti and meatballs. It’s a great comfort food dish and one of those rare dinners that everyone in my family loves.
Although it’s not traditional, we often have Spaghetti and Meatballs on Friday nights for Shabbat dinner. What is your favorite dish to serve for dinner? Do you like beef dishes? Do you prefer chicken, or fish? Leave a comment and let me know!
Joanne says
These meatballs sound great but do you have a dairy free gluten free vegetarian version? My son is just starting the SCD and seeing how lentils are no longer allowed, what would be a good healthy sub? Thx for your help!
Elana says
Joanne, yes these are dairy-free and gluten-free meatballs :-)
Estelle says
Can I make this as a meatloaf? Certainly I’ll bake it for about an hour. Thanks.
Elana says
Estelle, I haven’t tried that so not sure :-)
Nora says
Hi,
I’m new to this SCD. You’re recipe looks delicious but leaves me confused because my list shows that tomato paste is not allowed on this diet. Am I correct or is it okay as long as it is limited?
Elana says
Nora, thanks for your comment! Typically tomato paste would not be allowed on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. That was because my late friend Elaine Gottschall was concerned that it would contain sugar or corn syrup. Since this tomato paste only contains organic tomatoes I think it’s ok for SCD :-)
Sups says
I thought the reason was aluminum contamination in tomato paste cans. Am I wrong? Even I am very new to SCD and am learning new things every day.
Elana says
Sups, thanks for your comment! From what I recall Elaine telling me decades ago, tomato paste may not have been considered SCD due to the fact that it usually had additives like sugar.
Larry mullins says
Elana, I just found your site and made the soda bread.It turned out great
Keep up the good receipts,
Larry m
Elana says
Thanks Larry! Here’s a link to that recipe in case others would like to try this fan-favorite Irish Soda Bread:
https://elanaspantry.com/irish-soda-bread/
Have a lovely day!
Elana
Stephanie says
I made these with Dark Turkey & Beef. I forgot the baking soda. I formed them into balls approx 27g and sauteed them in a skillet with EVOO. Roughly macros are 15.5g fat, 0g carbs, 7g protein. I served them with a quick marinara over sauteed zoodles. ❤ Many thanks for your super tasty inspiration!!
Stephanie says
Oops. Sorry. The macros are per 27g meatbal (about 1.5″ in diameter. Small but powerful!!)
Elana says
You’re welcome Stephanie!
Kathryn says
Thank you for this recipe! These are absolutely perfect in every way. They also freeze very well. I will keep these in regular roatation and will have some stashed in my freezer forevermore!
Elana says
Kathryn, thanks for letting us know these are perfect in every way!
Mary says
Do you cook them before freezing?